The QI Members' Club

Some useful information

The Club is currently called The QI Club. Its purpose is to offer an eclectic mix of people a place to meet, talk, drink and party in the centre of Oxford. Here, in this centrally located oasis of calm, you can relax, read, meet and chat with your friends and your fellow members, either in the beautifully proportioned club rooms, or over lunch or dinner in the restaurant. It's a new version of the salon or the coffee house: a place you pop into regularly to see who's around, to catch up with the papers, or have a bite to eat; it's a place where you can escape from the office or from home, where you can lean back with a book and have some quiet time or if you prefer to celebrate, argue (politely and calmly) or listen to other quite interesting, sometimes even curious, people.

The management of the Club was recently taken on by Curious Clubs, the people behind award-winning Cowley Manor, and the super-stylish L'Hotel in Paris. (Seewww.curioushotels.com). The Club is currently going through a metamorphosis, from which it will emerge with more space and more facilities. SeeThe Future, below.

Club membership affords many benefits:

• Membership of Oxford's only private members' club
• Access to events at the Club
• Use of the upper floors, the club rooms, the members' dining room and Club library
• Bringing friends and non-members to events at the Club
• Private hire of club rooms for meetings, parties or lunch or dinner
• Invitations to events at the Club and elsewhere
• Preferential rates Sunday-Thursday rates atCowley Manor near Cheltenham, subject to availability
• Admission toC-Side Spa at Cowley Manor, Conde Nast Traveller's Best Spa in the UK (2006)
• Preferential Sunday-Thursday rates atL'Hôtel in Paris, the lush and slightly louche hideaway in St.Germain des Prés, subject to availability.

The Club rooms

The Club rooms comprise two elegant Georgian rooms with large open fireplaces and comfortable furniture that can accommodate up to forty-five members.

The QI Club dining room & library

The dining room and library are open for lunch and dinner every day, apart from Sunday evening. The menu in the dining room changes daily, and features the best local produce. The dining room can accommodate thirty-two members, so it is advisable to book. An all-day brunch menu is available on Saturdays and Sundays for members and their children.

Events

The Club hosts a lively programme of events for a wide range of interests: quiz nights, book launches, conversation suppers, charity evenings, Bridge evenings, wine tastings, philosophy nights, special dinners, comedy evenings, book clubs, sports night and much more.

Booking parties

We'll host your party, whether it's for many or a few, drinks or a big dinner. You only have to help choose the menu – we'll take care of all the rest.

Members rules

There are some very obvious and basic Club rules which keep things in the right place and everything ticking over so all the Members are happy. Please see ourapplication page for details.

New Membership

All members of the QI Club are able to suggest new members, although applicants do not necessarily have to be proposed by members; the application form can be obtained from the club. A Committee meets regularly to introduce new members.

Membership pricing

Two levels of membership are available in the QI Club:

• Annual membership – This costs £250 per year, with a one-off £150 joining fee. These will probably rise in the autumn after the expansion is complete. (So join now!)
• Country membership – If you live outside Oxfordshire, you can enjoy annual membership of the QI Club at a reduced rate of £125 per year (with a one-off £150 joining fee). These are likely to go up too later this year.

Please visit ourapplications page for more details.

The Future

Curious Clubs Ltd took over the Club at the end of March 2007. At the same time, we acquired the lease of the neighbouring building at 17 Turl Street with the intention of expanding the club laterally on all three levels, subject to obtaining the necessary planning consents. This will allow considerably more space for the Club and its members to enjoy.

The ground floors will be completely refurbished and opened up. In the Club itself, new rooms will be added for the members' use, including a private meeting room, a screening room, and a new bar. Works will also be done to re-configure the existing space. While the spirit of the existing Club will be maintained, new events, facilities and benefits will be extended to existing and new Members. We'll know more in a few weeks' time after meeting with Oxford City's planners.