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Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Times
How Richard Caring's son created Fulham's coolest new club
He shoots, he scores. Shahid Khan, the billionaire businessman who owns Fulham FC — and the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars — has added a trophy development to Craven Cottage football ground. The private members' club called Lighthouse Social, on the top three floors of the new Riverside stand at Fulham, has views up and down the Thames and sightlines across London to the City. Its chic, deeply inviting interiors that are opening June 11 were a team effort. Jamie Caring, consultant on the project since its inception, was the initial signing to the squad. Caring, who worked under Nick Jones, rolling out Soho House outposts around the world, says: 'A lot of clubs would say, we're a home from home. But I think a lot of people's homes aren't very exciting — in the nicest possible way. And I guess, Lighthouse Social is more like the apartment of the coolest friend you know.' Caring, who is the son of Richard Caring, the owner of Mayfair clubs such as Annabel's, Mark's Club, George, Harry's Bar and the Bath & Racquets Club, says: 'Usually a club has a protagonist behind it, right? They think, we really want to impress people with this, here's a room that's made of chrome or something. Smart people like Mr Khan realise that the club is not necessarily for him. It's for the community that you want to build.' The style of the club at Fulham Pier is quite distinct from his father's glitzy gaffs and a move on, too, from the cosy comfort zones of the Soho House brand. It's low-key, glamorous and light-hearted. Apply here if you fancy watching the boat race, margarita in hand, from under the pergolas and parasols of the roof terrace. It's a sophisticated hangout for fun-loving west Londoners who frankly cannot be arsed taxiing to the West End to dine, drink and dance. Stuart Forbes, the second member of the design dream team behind Lighthouse Social, was perfectly placed for the role, since he spent 13 years on the GB rowing squad. As lead designers, his practice, Stuart Forbes Associates, delivered the project, from initial layouts through to final finishes, furniture and fixtures. The interior flourishes were supplied by the Parisian interior designers Dion & Arles, the duo behind the elegant, arty interiors of restaurants such as Bar des Prés and Il Gattopardo and Dovetale. Carey says: 'When they presented their designs, we were partly mystified, but also really excited because I think it's hard to create a club environment that really feels unique.' • Read more luxury reviews, advice and insights from our experts So who will make up the Lighthouse family? The goal is to recruit an even split between men and women. The minimum age is 25 — 'it's not a youth club.' The oldest founder member at present is 75 years old and the youngest will be among the child members (1-6 years), whose annual subscription will gain them access to the crèche, Little Lighthouse. Under-17s, while they can be invited by members as guests, must depart before 6pm; dogs, as is non-negotiable in this postcode, are welcome at all hours. Member gain access to superlative loafing opportunities. There are more lounges than the most dedicated lounger can ever lounge in, each decorated and furnished in a subtly different style, from the art deco glamour of the third floor River bar — think fancy Murano glass lights on a monumental marble topped bar — to the English eccentricity of the Conservatory. There's a dining room on the fourth floor, clad in a sage green timber trellis backed by mirrors, and featuring seating upholstered in William Morris print. This is the last place you expected to encounter The Strawberry Thief. 'If you think back to the original Greek Street in Soho, it had 20 rooms, but they weren't so markedly different in terms of look and feel as these ones are,' Caring says. 'The designs are inspirational and they're a bit mad, which people love.' On the third floor are 11 interiors: sitting rooms, salons, dining rooms, bars, party spaces and cosy snugs, with rooms flowing one to another as gracefully as the Thames below. On the fourth floor, six rooms (again sans doors) include a games room called The Escape. 'I think that every member will have their own favourite space,' Caring says. His is the fifth floor rooftop. 'There's a magic to being on those terraces. If you think about elevated places where you can see nearly the whole of London, there just aren't many, in the centre of London. I think that they're pretty epic.' With architectural lighting design by Nulty, pergolas by Renson and parasols by Tucci, the terrace has a Riviera feel, and accordingly the east and west sides of the rooftop have been named after south of France resorts. There is 'Nice' on the Hammersmith side and 'St Tropez' facing towards Putney. There is more seating in Nice, while St Trop is party central, the floor cleared for dancing. Both command panoramic views of South Bank boat club and school playing fields across the river. It's time to pick a side. One mother has already declared her preferred way of watching her son play football will henceforth be from Nice. Those who opt for St Tropez can look down and see another lighthouse highlight — an infinity pool on the storey below, part of a separate spa where members can book exclusive swim sessions. For my money, the smaller spaces are the gems, furnished in custom seating covered in luxury upholstery from Lelièvre, Dedar, Pierre Frey and Liberty London. On the third floor, there's The Carriage Room, its red plush seats arranged in a series of booths, like a luxury train. Next door is The Overlook, a room where the walls are lined with 16 panels of custom wallpaper depicting a pinkish shepherds' delight evening sky. On the other side of The Carriage is Lillie's bar — named after the local socialite Lillie Langtry — with a baby grand piano that has been christened Celine. The most Instagrammable interior of all, in the proud tradition of crowd-pleasing members' club loos, is the unisex lavatory on the fourth floor. Mirrored flanks of the long slim island of basins in the centre of the room reflect back the chequered marble floor, and hand washers have the most magnificent river view in town. There's space to hang out, gossip — room to rollerskate should the mood take you. My only concern is that it's unclear where members will fix their lippy. But there's no doubt the Lighthouse team will supply a solution. Every detail of this riverside retreat is being revisited, finessed and refined up to the moment of opening. Carey says: 'When people ask me what my dad is like, what he taught me, I always say — and this even comes from being a child doing my homework — his mantra was 'being good enough is never good enough'. If it's a 6 out of 10, then you're not trying hard enough.' Well, this was a 10. Back of the net. For over-30s, membership costs £1,200 a year and for 25-30, £780 a year; access to the crèche for a child member — aged 1-6, whose parent or carer must be a member — is £840 a year. If you are 7-17 you can come in as a guest of a member and disappear before 6pm.
The National
25-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Fulham v Man City
Erling Haaland celebrates scoring Manchester City's second goal in their Premier League win over Fulham at Craven Cottage on May 25, 2025. Victory meant City finished third in the table and qualified for the Uefa Champions League PA
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Fulham 0-2 Man City - send us your thoughts
So the curtain has come down on Manchester City's season with a win against Blues have had a turbulent campaign to say the least, but a strong finish at Craven Cottage secures the club Champions League football for a 15th consecutive season, and a there is also Club World Cup campaign to look forward to next departures of Kevin de Bruyne - and probably a few other names - means Pep Guardiola has work to do this are you feeling after the game and at the end of a long campaign?Have your say on City's performance and seasonCome back to this page later to find a selection of your replies
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sutton's predictions: Fulham v Man City
Manchester City were really good in their win over Bournemouth on Tuesday, and they did not let the disappointment of last weekend's FA Cup final defeat affect them. Omar Marmoush was excellent, they created lots of chances and defended strongly too. City still made mistakes, though, and the stray passes that led to Mateo Kovacic being sent off and also gifted Bournemouth a late goal are the kind of simple errors you don't expect their players to make. City will miss Kovacic here because he gives them legs in midfield and knits their play together so well. Without him, I have a sneaky feeling that this will not be a straightforward afternoon for them. The way the season has gone for Pep Guardiola's side, I would not put it past them to screw this up. They only need a point to secure a top-five finish and maintain their ever-present record in the Champions League since 2011 but, with the way Fulham play, they are in for a tough time at Craven Cottage. I still think City will find a way of winning, but me saying that is probably bad news for Pep Guardiola's side. I've found it impossible to predict Fulham all season and, whatever I say they will do, I am usually wrong. Sutton's prediction: 1-2 Read the full predictions and have your say here
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Sutton's predictions: Fulham v Man City
Manchester City were really good in their win over Bournemouth on Tuesday, and they did not let the disappointment of last weekend's FA Cup final defeat affect them. Omar Marmoush was excellent, they created lots of chances and defended strongly still made mistakes, though, and the stray passes that led to Mateo Kovacic being sent off and also gifted Bournemouth a late goal are the kind of simple errors you don't expect their players to will miss Kovacic here because he gives them legs in midfield and knits their play together so well. Without him, I have a sneaky feeling that this will not be a straightforward afternoon for them. The way the season has gone for Pep Guardiola's side, I would not put it past them to screw this only need a point to secure a top-five finish and maintain their ever-present record in the Champions League since 2011 but, with the way Fulham play, they are in for a tough time at Craven Cottage.I still think City will find a way of winning, but me saying that is probably bad news for Pep Guardiola's side. I've found it impossible to predict Fulham all season and, whatever I say they will do, I am usually prediction: 1-2Read the full predictions and have your say here
