Pitt Club welcomes women

The Pitt Club, the controversial private members club, voted on Tuesday to allow women to join.

The society has been around since 1835 and exclusively open to male and often wealthy members, with membership being reliant on a committee election. Women have been allowed within the club itself, located on Jesus Lane, above Pizza Express, but as invited guests of the members themselves.

William Pitt the Younger, whose honour the Pitt Club was established in

However, in a formal statement released today, the club said: “on Tuesday 7th November, a majority of the resident members of the University Pitt Club voted to elect female members. The Club looks forward to welcoming its first female members.” The vote was only open to resident members and so alumni had no say in the decision made.

Although originally established by a Pembrokian as a political club, the social objectives of the club soon dominated and the club's reputation has come under fire for the nature of their dinners and social events ever since.

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The club has been in operation so long, the premises were commendeered during the Second World War, and a previous president has written a book detailing the history of the society from 1835-1935. Previous members include Edward VII, economist John Maynard Keynes, journalist David Frost and actor Eddie Redmayne.