MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE 'HOUSE' YOU'VE ALL BEEN HEARING ABOUT - PLUS COOKIE GOES SWIMMING IN THEIR POOL.....(THATS A GOOD SIGN)

On Saturday night I made my first visit to Soho House Berlin. Im a little bit late to the party on this one, I must admit, (the club opened about a month ago) but I had the feeling I wanted to let all the hype die down before I stepped inside and checked out this big deal for Berlin for myself. My verdict in a nutshell: Hand me that membership form!

I dont know exactly what I was expecting really, but it wasn't the level of style and opulence I saw. My jaw hit the floor when I got out of the elevator on the main club floor where the bar and restaurant is. A gigantic chandelier that looks like an upside down sparkly coral reef hangs above a huge central bar, around which stand luxurious leather arm-chair stools.

There are two giant fireplaces on either end of the bar, with wood piled up on either side (Austrian style), a black baby grand piano in one corner, over-sized sofas you could get lost in, and a very chic looking restaurant tucked into one side of the room with an open-kitchen and a beautiful black and white tiled floor. It really was a feast for the eyes and the cockatil I was drinking was delicious too (vodka, prosecco and a rhubard puree).

I couldn't shake the feeling that I had fallen down some kind of rabbit hole - was I really still on the corner of Tor Strasse? Then we went up to the roof and the feeling gets even more surreal - there we found a long pool (admittedly not deep, but very long!) which was beautifully lit up, and all the guests lounging around it. A DJ was spinning disco tunes in the adjascent bar and on either side of the pool there was plenty of room for enjoying the stunning views cross Alexanderplatz. There were also sun-loungers lined up, looking rather hopeful, just waiting for some rays of sun which should come this year fingers crossed. And when those rays of sun do come, you can bet this roof is going to be the Number 1 hotspot in Berlin. Are you swimsuit ready?? You better be!

The rennovation that's been done on all 8 floors of this building is remarkable - (4 floors of it are a hotel - that review shall come another time) - Tor Straße 1 has sat empty for so many years and now finally it has a beautiful face again and is being used again. That's a great thing, for Berlin and it's economy. A few of the typical Berlin haters who i've heard complaining about the club are definitely just jealous as far as I can see! If only they were open-minded enough to step inside, they would love it!

Something you all may not know: It is Berlin tradition that club owners pay respect to their rival's new clubs by getting drunk and dancing on their bar. So for example, when Weekend opened, Cookie did Marcus Trojan the honour of getting up on the bar and dancing on it along with a bunch of other eager party-goers. Likewise when Cookies club or Greenwich Bar celebrated their birthdays, you can bet that Marcus was on their bars, stamping his feet and returning the favour. And so it came as no surprise to me that at one of the Soho House Berlin opening parties, Cookie felt obliged to dive in the pool, fully clothed of course. You gotta love it. Whether the Soho House owners realise what a compliment this is, im not sure - but a stamp of approval it most certainly was! Consider your pool well and truily christened, Berlin House! Soho House Berlin. Torstraße 1 10119 Berlin T +49 30 40 50 440