PALM BEACH, FLORIDA – 2025

“Exclusive Members Clubs are part of the fabric of Palm Beach. Gaining membership of institutions such as The Everglades, The Beach Club and Mar-a-Lago is a bridge too far for most and patience and good connections are key. It is not a money thing, because those without resources would not be in the vicinity anyway.

A new club came to the heart of Palm Beach recently called Carriage House. It was unusual in that gaining membership did not afford access to golf, tennis, pickleball or even a swimming pool with lunchtime dining. The reason is that Carriage House only opens when it is dark outside. The sport is in the cocktail bar.

I was invited by some kind members before Christmas and it struck me as a very promising concept. Drinking is encouraged and, on balance, the men seemed to be slightly older than the women. Perhaps by a generation. There is unity in the sartorial elegance but a whiff of mischief to the whole place. The dress code is stricter than the behaviour code.

There are a few old dogs knocking around for joint and they come with some history for sure, but that seems to matter little. Everyone is allowed a second or third chance in Palm Beach.

We are very grateful to the owners of Carriage House for allowing us to film in their bar. We recognise that this access is not normally accorded to non-members, be they human or canine.”

-David Yarrow