Julie Etchingham Abandons Garrick Club Membership Application After Prolonged Procedure | News from The Garrick Club

Julie Etchingham has decided not to pursue her candidacy for membership at the Garrick Club, feeling uncomfortable with the length and scrutiny of the process by the club’s male-dominated membership. During a candidacy lunch, where members are given the opportunity to scrutiny prospective candidates, Etchingham reportedly felt unease due to the hostility shown by some men opposing the club’s new policy of admitting women. Since the policy change last May which allows women to be admitted, only three women have been accepted, including actresses Judi Dench and Siân Phillips. Several women who were among the first to be nominated for membership at the club have expressed their dissatisfaction with what they perceive as a lack of sincere effort to integrate women, suggesting that the vote to admit women was more of a PR move than a genuine attempt at inclusivity. Despite the policy change, the atmosphere at the club is said to remain largely unchanged, with only two women among the approximately 50 men in the dining area. Furthermore, a group of members opposed to the change have established a WhatsApp group to continue their protests against allowing women to join.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jun/04/julie-etchingham-ends-garrick-club-application-after-drawn-out-process