Groucho Club boss quits in row over ‘going corporate’

The chief executive of the company that owns Soho’s famed Groucho Club is leaving amid a row over whether the celebrity haunt has “gone corporate”.

Ewan Venters, the former boss of upmarket retailer Fortnum & Mason, will step down as chief executive of Artfarm, owned by wealthy Swiss art gallery investors Iwan and Manuela Wirth, in January — or sooner if a replacement is found.

His departure comes at a time when Artfarm has come under pressure from members of the Groucho, a private members’ club that has been frequented over the years by celebrities including Stephen Fry, Kate Moss and Noel Gallagher. Over the summer, an anonymous letter circulated among members accusing Artfarm of presiding over a “destruction” of the club’s culture.

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Some members feel that the Groucho has come to feel overly “corporate”. Others appreciate the changes introduced under Artfarm, noting improvements in food quality and decor inside the club.

One insider said it appeared that Venters had been “pushed”. Another said: “He wasn’t.” They added that the Groucho forms a small part of the Wirths’ wider empire and claimed criticism of the club was not behind Venters’ departure. Artfarm runs several high-end bars and restaurants across the UK and America.

Iwan Wirth emailed staff last week to say Venters “has decided to move on to fresh new challenges”. He said he was “sad to see him go” and that “fond farewells” would be saved for his departure date. He added: “Artfarm has benefited enormously from Ewan’s vision and expertise which has touched so many areas of the business.”

Venters, a well-connected executive who was credited with growing Fortnum’s business, joined as chief executive in January 2021. The following year, Artfarm bought the Groucho for about £40 million.

Artfarm declined to comment. Venters did not respond to a request for comment.