Nick Jones on the creative history behind Shoreditch House

When we first set up shop in Shoreditch back in 2007, the area was quite different. It hadn’t become the hub for high-end shops and eateries is today – but it was home to a buzzing creative community.

We found our home in the Tea Building (named because of its origins as a tea-packing plant) after I got a call from Robert Saville. His advertising agency, Mother, was already in the building, and he thought it would make a great spot for a club. He was right. 

When I visited the empty floors of the old warehouse, I was wowed. The building, the area, the potential – it was all there. It immediately felt like the kind of place I wanted to hang out in. In the UK, we already had Soho House 40 Greek Street, Electric House and Babington House – Shoreditch felt like the missing piece of the puzzle.

Shoreditch House was an easy place to design, because it had such soul anyway. We wanted a gymnasium, a big House Kitchen, plenty of seating – the House even had a bowling alley when it first opened. And of course, the rooftop pool. People forget that there weren’t many rooftop pools in London at that time, and it felt quite exciting. Bedrooms came a little later, then the Cowshed spa – we kept adding new ingredients to the mix along the way. 

We really caught a moment in east London by settling into the neighbourhood when we did. We were able to build a membership of arty, cutting-edge creatives who lived nearby. That community has grown alongside the House, which is a testament to the team and our members alike. 

At its heart, the House is fun – we’ve held some brilliant parties and rooftop performances over the years. But we’ve also opened Soho Works to foster the entrepreneurial spirit of the area, and we host regular running clubs, chess clubs, comedy nights, and everything in between. And of course, the rooftop pool remains a favourite spot of mine – I’ll see you there.