Our Story - 75 Years of Business Networking Over Lunch

WHAT WAS THE FOUNDATION OF THE SQUARE CLUB?

Food rationing began in England on 8th January 1940, four months after the outbreak of war, with limits imposed on the sale of bacon, butter and sugar and by March, all meat was rationed. These restrictions were gradually lifted three years after the war had ended, starting with flour in July 1948. The final products to come off sales list were sugar and butter ending rationing in 1953 – 13 years after it began.

This was the foundation on which The Square Club was built.

WHY WAS THIS THE CATALYST FOR THE FOUNDING OF SQUARE CLUB?

During these times of rationing, businessmen did not go home for lunch – or pack a lunch – as food was in short supply. Bournemouth Plummers Store, which was situated where Debenhams is now, decided to open a Businessman’s Club. The men, who could afford it, would meet for lunch every day at their restaurant, because restaurants were not affected by rationing. Over time the food and service declined and so a few members decided to form a new club.

MOVING RESTAURANTS OVER THE YEARS

In the early days The Square Club met every day for lunch at Smiths. As food restrictions decreased in the UK, the Club’s attendance levels also began to decrease and The Club moved to a new home for the next 18 years. The Square Club’s journey continued where it moved to numerous venues, finally settling on the Marsham Court in 2006 and has been there ever since.