h Club London to close permanently

London’s h Club, formerly the Hospital Club, is closing permanently as a result of Covid-19 and "other extenuating circumstances" within the company, it has announced.

Both h Club London and its outpost in Los Angeles are being prepared for sale, according to its managing director Rob Seals.

Seals said: "The Covid-19 pandemic is continuing to have a devastating effect on the hospitality industry and is creating an uncertain future globally. Due to this and other extenuating circumstances within our organisation we regret to announce that following a period of consultation with employees, we have reached an agreement to close h Club London with immediate effect."

The Covent Garden club, for people working in the creative industries, was a well-known fixture on London’s cultural scene and hosted industry events and a cultural programme for members, as well as running an on-site TV studio and screening room.

It opened in 2004 and expanded with a second club in LA in 2019.

Seals said the club’s "founding principle" revolved around offering "a social space that connects and supports creatives".

"We are proud of the incredible communities we have built together over this time both in London and Los Angeles," he added.

h Club had been offering free online memberships during lockdown, running a programme of digital events and networking.

It also ran the h100 awards, which ran annually and celebrated innovation in the creative industries, with awards for individuals working in theatre, TV, music, games, film, architecture and design.