The Dally secures first site in Islington

The Dally, a neighbourhood private members club, has secured its first site on Upper Street in Islington.

Founded in 2023, The Dally is on a mission to create spaces where residents and businesses can connect, socialise and focus without having to leave their local neighbourhood. It also strives to address the growing problem of isolation, disconnection and dissatisfaction with central London members’ clubs, by offering affordable membership and a programme of events. 

The 4,000 sq ft period clubhouse, split over three storeys, will have multi-use areas to focus and meet, alongside a comfortable lounge and bar on the ground floor. On the first floor, members will find a 32-cover chef-led restaurant with a menu showcasing simple, seasonal ingredients. Private hire spaces, such as its cocktail bar and vaulted loft and bar, will also play host to events and special occasions.

The Dally is founded by Caroline Baldwin and Claire ilardi-Crow. Baldwin, who will serve as CEO, is a highly experienced operator who previously served as COO of an international group covering multiple activities across three countries, including The Lexington Restaurant and Cocktail Bar in Accra. Under her leadership, she grew the business to revenues of more than £17m while managing a team of 300 people. Meanwhile, Claire ilardi-Crow, The Dally’s chief marketing officer, is a seasoned community builder with extensive experience in all aspects of the private club world and former consultant for private members’ clubs and co-working spaces. 

Artist's rendering of The Dally
A sneak-peak of the planned design for The Dally

The duo will be supported by Atif Amin, who was instrumental in brand development, raising funds and managing successful exists for Euphorium Bakery, Comptoir Libanais and Creams Cafes. Amin will serve as finance director, while Mark Wood, an experienced operations specialist who has worked with Hakkasan, The Beauchamp Club and Maze Grill, will join as operations director. A bench of creative consultants including Jamie Caring – former CMO of Soho House Group – will also support The Dally’s growth. 

Baldwin says of the upcoming launch: "The traditional members club model, with expensive city centre locations, is fundamentally broken and leading to high levels of member dissatisfaction and churn. At The Dally, we want to revolutionise the industry with neighbourhood clubs that provide an inclusive space for local communities to play, network and socialise, without having to leave the area that they love. Securing our first site, located on Upper Street in Islington, is a major milestone in achieving this vision, and we look forward to announcing more plans in the coming months as we get closer to its Q4 launch."


You may also be interested in…