Annabel’s, the private member’s club in Mayfair’s Berkeley Square, prides itself on being one of the most exclusive venues in London, if not the world. This is the watering hole of royalty and rockstars, where everyone from Mick Jagger to Princess Beatrice heads to wet their beaks. It is even said to be the only club Queen Elizabeth II ever went to. Security is tighter than a Swiss bank vault.
Prospective members must apply with a letter of recommendation from another member before their application will be considered by a committee. Then there are the fees, which currently stand at £3,750 per year, plus a £1,850 joining list. It has been reported that more than 10,000 people are on the waiting list. The only way to access the club’s opulent rooms is to be a member, or the guest of one.
That is where Appointment Trader, a website where you can buy and sell reservations, comes in. Since it was founded in 2021, the company has quickly grown in the US, especially New York, whose cut-throat restaurant culture makes London look like a parish tea party. Customers can bid on slots, which are priced according to demand. Bookings at the most in-demand spots at peak times can go for hundreds of dollars, or more, while the top resellers can make up to £56,000 ($70,000) a year.
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