Jazz Age Club

Murray’s River Club: A Rendezvous of Ragtime and Romance

The American Jack May was instrumental in developing the nightclub scene in London shortly before the First World War and famously opened the legendary Murray’s Club in Beak Street in 1913. At about the same time, or shortly afterward. he opened a summer resort at Maidenhead that became the playground for the rich and famous.

The Manor House (Bridge House) before it became Murray's River Club

Presumably May’s knowledge and experience of the summer regime in New York (where he came from) was useful. The city was denuded of its rich patrons as they flocked to the beach resorts at Newport, Coney Island and Atlantic City and took advantage of the sunshine with outdoor pursuits and local entertainment at night. London nightlife also came to a virtual standstill in the summer so May decided to create a resort not far from London but with a river setting that was light and airy and perfect for outdoor summer entertainment.

He bought and renovated the old Manor House (or Bridge House) situated near Maidenhead bridge on the edge of the river. It was a magnificent old Georgian building that had been inhabited by a generation of staid gentlemen called Herring and their sign – a fish – still turned slowly on the house weathercock on the roof.

The illuminated glass dance floor at Murray's River Club

It was transformed into a glamorous meeting place for the rich and famous and each summer Murray’s nightclub in London was closed and the staff decamped to its summer headquarters. Being so close to London – 24 miles away and about an hour or two drive – but sufficiently in the countryside to make it an attractive alternative to the city, assured its success. More often than not the club also attracted a large theatrical contingent and, for example, in the summer of 1915 the famous French actress Gaby Deslys and her dancing partner Harry Pilcer and the English composer Max Darewski enjoyed themselves in the house and gardens.

Usually guests arrived early and took boat rides from a mooring at the end of the lawn and then took cocktails outside. Strings of fairy lanterns and little lights were festooned everywhere in the flowers and trees to light up in the night and white coated waiters wizzed about with amazing dexterity.

The house itself was large and rambling yet beautifully appointed with a magnificent blue-ceilinged Japanese ballroom for dancing indoors. There was an indoor restaurant but weather permitting dinner was taken on the elegant verandah overlooking the vast green sloping lawn and the river. Albert, the maitre d’hotel, was a trusted waiter on King Edward’s staff at Biarritz in 1906, and was highly regarded and the service was regarded as being flawless and the food and wine excellent. During and after dinner there was dancing to the dance bands in the ballroom or outside on a beautiful, illuminated crystal floor open to the sky.

The trend for summer venues continued unabated throughout the 1920s with the development of other resorts such as the Karsino at Tagg’s Island, Hampton Court, the Café de Paris at Bray and the Monte Carlo Sports Club at Eel Pie Island, Twickenham.