Men-only Garrick Cub votes to allow women to become members for the first time ... trends now
The men-only Garrick Club voted tonight to allow women to become members for the first time in the prestigious institutions 193 year history.
The landmark decision comes after celebrity figures such as Stephen Fry and Sting threatened to quit the London-based club unless members pledged to allow women into the male-only space.
Broadcaster John Simpson also said that he and many others 'would also find it impossible to say' if doors were not opened to the opposite gender.
The Garrick's 1,300 members, who include, King Charles , deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden and actor Hugh Bonneville, sat down to vote at the special general meeting this evening.
The vote, which asked members to confirm a 'that the rules of the club allow the admission of women members', was passed with 60 per cent in favour, after hundreds of members spent two hours debating the benefits of allowing women to join.
The men-only Garrick Club voted tonight to allow women to become members for the first time in the prestigious institutions 193 year history
The landmark decision comes after celebrity figures such as Stephen Fry and Sting threatened to quit the London-based club unless members pledged to allow women into the previously male-only space
The Garrick's 1,300 members, who include, King Charles , Sting (pictured), deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden and actor Hugh Bonneville , sat down to vote at the special general meeting this evening
The meeting was closed to non-members with a warning reportedly being issue by the club's secretary before the vote who explained the matter was confidential and should not be discussed outside of the club.
The men, many of whom were wearing the club's pink and green striped tie according to the Guardian, gathered in the Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden to cast their votes.
It comes after a series of high-profile members - including theatre, film and television producers - last week signed a document which warned members were in an untenable position because of the 'very public controversy' over the sexism row.
The letter to chairman Christopher Kirker was signed by theatre producer Karl Sydow and Matthew Byam Shaw, an executive on Netflix's The Crown.
It said: 'The current very public controversy over this issue has put us all in an untenable position.
'Our relations with female artists, co-producers, authors, cast members, members of our creative teams, backstage
