Blades (fictional gentlemen's club)

Blades is a prestigious, fictional gentlemen's club located in London, featured prominently in Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, particularly in "Moonraker". Known for its exclusivity, luxurious amenities, and high-stakes gambling, Blades serves as a symbol of elite British society, offering its members an environment of luxury, privilege, and discreet indulgence in games of chance.

History

The exact date of Blades' foundation is uncertain, but it is believed to have been established in the late 18th century. The first mention of "Blades" appears in a 1778 letter from historian Edward Gibbon, who associated it with its founder, a German named Longchamp, also known for conducting the Jockey Club at Newmarket.

Blades evolved from an earlier club called the Scavoir Vivre, which opened on Park Street, off St James's, in 1774. The Scavoir Vivre was short-lived due to its extreme exclusivity, but Blades, emerging in its wake, quickly established itself as a success. By 1782, it was already renowned for its high-stakes gambling, with the Duke of Wirtemberg describing it as the "Ace of Clubs" in a letter to his brother.

The club's name is thought to have originated from its early members' fondness for fencing, though its focus soon shifted to card games and other forms of gambling. The club's motto, "Courage, Honour, Fortune," reflects the values upheld by its members throughout its long history.

Membership

Membership at Blades is highly selective and limited to 200 members. Candidates must meet two critical qualifications:

1. They must behave like gentlemen
2. They must be able to "show" £100,000 in cash or gilt-edged securities

This financial requirement ensures that members are drawn from the wealthiest echelons of society. Members are expected to uphold the values of discretion, decorum, and fairness, particularly at the gambling tables. Any form of cheating or poor sportsmanship is treated with the utmost seriousness and could result in expulsion from the club.

The club charges a £100 entrance fee and a £50 annual subscription. To maintain the gambling atmosphere, every member is required to win or lose £500 a year on the club premises, or pay an annual fine of £250.

Facilities and amenities

Blades offers a range of luxurious amenities designed to cater to its members' refined tastes:

• Elegant dining room: Features fine Adam architecture, crystal chandeliers, and a George IV silver collection.
• Private card rooms: For high-stakes bridge, poker, and other card games.
• Backgammon tables: Popular with the club's gamblers.
• Baccarat table: Used for chemin-de-fer, typically after dinner.
• Twelve private members' bedrooms: For overnight stays, with a valet service that discreetly replaces members' used currency notes with brand-new ones each morning.
• Smoking room: Offering a selection of Cabinet Havanas and rare cognacs.
• Other amenities: Include a porter's lodge, ironed newspapers, Floris-provided toiletries, and automatic membership of leading clubs in foreign capitals.

Gambling at Blades

Gambling is the central activity at Blades, renowned as one of the world's most famous private card clubs. The stakes are notoriously high, with members often wagering vast sums of money. Typical stakes for a game of bridge are referred to as "One and One", meaning £10 per hundred points and £100 on the rubber. These can escalate quickly to figures like "Five and Five" (£50 per hundred and £500 on the rubber) or even higher in extreme cases.

Despite the high stakes, games at Blades are conducted with the utmost decorum. Cheating is considered one of the few unforgivable offenses within the club. The members, who include some of the finest card players in the world, are expected to adhere to strict rules of fair play.

In James Bond novels

In "Moonraker", Blades plays a crucial role as the setting for a high-stakes game between James Bond and Sir Hugo Drax, the main antagonist of the novel. The club serves as a backdrop for Bond's investigation into Drax's cheating methods, which involve using a highly polished silver cigarette case as a reflection to see the cards as he deals.

The novel provides detailed descriptions of the club's interior, its customs, and the high-stakes gambling that takes place within its walls. It also highlights the club's exclusivity and the caliber of its members, which include influential figures from British society.

Atmosphere and culture

Blades is portrayed as a microcosm of British elite society, where wealth, status, and reputation intertwine with personal conduct and gambling prowess. The club's atmosphere is vividly described in Fleming's novels:

"Bond relished the scene down the long room, the oases of green, the tinkle of glasses as the waiters moved amongst the tables, the hum of talk punctuated by sudden exclamations and warm laughter, the haze of blue smoke rising up through the dark red lampshades that hung over the centre of each table."

The club features elegant Adam architecture, with a grand staircase and a fine mahogany balustrade. The main gambling room is illuminated by three great chandeliers and adorned with prestigious artworks, including a Lawrence portrait of Beau Brummel over the wide Adam fireplace.

Blades' tradition of exclusive gambling is underscored by its strict adherence to decorum. The club's commitment to maintaining gentlemanly conduct is integral to its prestige, with figures like Lord Basildon, the chairman of the club, embodying the calm and composed nature expected within its walls.

Blades' tradition of exclusive gambling is underscored by its strict adherence to decorum. The club's commitment to maintaining gentlemanly conduct is integral to its prestige, with figures like Lord Basildon, the chairman of the club, embodying the calm and composed nature expected within its walls.

Inspirations

While Blades is a fictional club, it draws inspiration from real-life London clubs such as White's, Brooks's, and Boodle's, which are known for their exclusivity, aristocratic members, and long-standing traditions. Ian Fleming, himself a member of such clubs, used these settings as models for Blades in his Bond novels, offering a glimpse into the high-society world of gambling, luxury, and intrigue.

See also

• James Bond
• Ian Fleming