New Yorkers irritated by proliferation of London members’ clubs on their doorsteps

The New York City elite are growing irritated by a proliferation of private members’ clubs from London’s Mayfair opening branches on their doorsteps. Over the last year, London clubs have started popping up like unexpected guests in the US city. The entrepreneur Robin Birley, who owns 5 Hertford Street – where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly had their first date – and Oswald’s in Mayfair, has opened Maxime’s on New York’s Upper East Side. The Grosvenor Square newcomer The Twenty Two has now opened its NYC outpost and others are swiftly following, including the Mayfair stalwart Annabel’s, which plans to open a site in the downtown meatpacking district. Now residents on the Upper East Side have complained about another British club opening in their area, objecting to Maison Estelle’s request for a liquor licence. The exclusive London club has been visited by celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Angelina Jolie and Kate Moss. The former US vice-president Kamala Harris has also stayed on the club’s Cotswolds estate. The Mayfair stalwart Annabel’s plans to open a site in New York’s downtown meatpacking district. Photograph: William Barton/Alamy The owners of Estelle want to open a five-storey venue with a roof terrace in a mansion between Madison and Fifth avenues. This has faced fierce opposition from the local community board, who have urged the authorities to decline the licence. They voted against the liquor licence by 29 to 13, with one abstention. …