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Soho House announces major expansion

Soho House on Monday announced the second phase of an expansion plan for the private members club Group, launching five new houses to be opened over the next two years. New openings are confirmed for Toronto, Mumbai, Chicago, Istanbul and Barcelona by the end of 2014, bringing Soho House to four new international territories.

The announcement comes five months after Los Angeles-based entrepreneur Ron Burkle acquired a major stake in the Group and assumed the role of chairman. This investment combined with what Soho House terms strong financial performance positions the business to launch its second phase of expansion following the successful move in 2010 into the U.S. and Berlin.

Soho House was founded in London, in 1995, as a private members’ club for those in the film, media and creative industries.

“I’m delighted that the Soho House family is set to grow. We’ve been working on these projects for a long time, seeking out the right properties and locations in the cities we want to be in. Being able to announce five new Houses, extend our U.S. footprint and venture into Canada, India, Turkey and Spain is a big moment for us,” said Nick Jones, Soho House founder and CEO.

Soho House Toronto opens this autumn. Following three years of Soho House pop ups during the Toronto International Film Festival, this year sees the launch of a permanent club on Bishops Block. Soho House Toronto will inhabit a building dating back to the 1800s, which has recently been restored.

Soho House Mumbai will open in spring 2013, the first House in the Indian subcontinent. The club and 38-room hotel will be situated in a converted building on Juhu Tara Road, on the beach in Mumbai’s Juhu neighbourhood.

Soho House Chicago is set to open in spring 2014. Housed in a 1907 warehouse on Green Street in the Randolph Market area of the West Loop, the six-story building was originally the manufacturing center of the Chicago Belting Factory. Original features of the building include an ornamented entrance lobby and large open plan spaces with an exposed concrete structural system. The house will host 35 bedrooms, a full-sized pool, courtyard and a glass-enclosed rooftop bar & kitchen.

Also planned for spring 2014 is the opening of Soho House Istanbul, the biggest ever house. Located in the Beyoglu district and built in 1873, the club will span three buildings including the main structure, Palazzo Corpi. Lined with frescoes, paintings and ceilings covered in mythological figures, the club will feature city views with typical Soho House style modern and vintage furniture. It will feature 88 bedrooms, club spaces as well as areas for private hire and rooftop pools.

Soho House Barcelona is the final opening planned for Winter 2014. The club will be set over six stories of a 19th century apartment block on Plaza Medinaceli, adjacent to the port. Arranged around a central glass atrium, which runs throughout, the house will feature 60 bedrooms as well as a rooftop pool. The club space will be home to a dining area, bar, games room and gym, while the ground floor will host a public restaurant and Cowshed spa.

In addition to this announcement Soho House revealed that Babington House is also being refreshed with newly decorated rooms, and an updated CowshedActive area and that July will see the launch of the Soho House Berlin Apartments, with 20 fully serviced apartments available alongside the existing rooms in four different room categories. There are also plans for improvements to some of the London Houses on the drawing board for 2013.

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