The London-based private members’ wine club 67 Pall Mall is defying China’s economic slowdown and tightening alcohol restrictions with plans to open a new club in Shanghai next year — its first in mainland China.
The announcement comes at a time when fine dining restaurants across Shanghai are shuttering, consumer confidence remains fragile, and official directives have intensified scrutiny over alcohol consumption in both public and private sectors. Yet, 67 Pall Mall is moving full steam ahead with a major investment in the heart of the city’s historic Xuhui District.
“We are confident in Shanghai’s appetite for our offering, which has stood the test of time for ten years, including extended closures during Covid,” said Grant Ashton, founder and CEO of 67 Pall Mall, in an interview with Vino Joy News. “Unlike fine-dining restaurants, our business model is new in Shanghai and China — one that represents unprecedented value and diversity of fine wines.”
The new club will be housed in the century-old Grand Mansion at No. 7 Donghu Road — known locally as “大公馆” — a former diplomatic compound built in 1925 that has hosted heads of state, including President Richard Nixon and Premier Zhou Enlai. The French renaissance style garden mansion is going to be repurposed into a 1,330 m² space for wine lovers.
“Whatever the economic weather, there’s always demand for great wine,” Ashton said, underscoring his confidence not just in Shanghai’s resilience but in China’s long-term potential as a fine wine powerhouse. “As a way to mark our 10th anniversary, we can’t think of a better place to be than Shanghai. Our confidence is reflected into our investment into the country.”
The Shanghai club will feature an extensive wine list with over 5,000 bottles and 1,000 wines by the glass from more than 40 countries, all offered at minimal markups. The wine program will be paired with a gourmet menu reflecting both Chinese and international influences, and housed within spaces including a Grand Salon, a whisky bar, and the sunlit Greenhouse facing a manicured garden.
67 Pall Mall’s decision to push forward with this expansion comes even as the Chinese government has banned alcohol at official functions, and a growing number of consumers are becoming wary of being seen drinking in professional or social settings. But Ashton is confident the club’s community will remain steadfast.
“As a Club dedicated to wine lovers, we have a core audience that isn’t going anywhere,” he said. “For our members, wine is more than a drink — it’s a central part of their life, and they continue to enjoy it with us. Wine appreciation has endured for centuries.”
“As a Club dedicated to wine lovers, we have a core audience that isn’t going anywhere,” he said. “For our members, wine is more than a drink — it’s a central part of their life, and they continue to enjoy it with us. Wine appreciation has endured for centuries.”
“67 Pall Mall represents a vinous home away from home, in Shanghai and around the world,” he added. “We are confident that members will continue to find appeal in the proposition, in Shanghai and wherever we are pouring great wine.”
Membership for the Shanghai club is now open, with attractive pre-opening rates aimed at encouraging early uptake. A standard annual membership is currently offered at RMB 14,000 with no joining fee — significantly below the RMB 50,000 annual fee and RMB 25,000 joining fee that will apply after launch. Younger wine lovers under 35, wine professionals, and spouses or partners can also join through discounted tiers, all with waived joining fees during the pre-opening phase.
The Shanghai location is also poised to become a global platform for elevating Chinese wine. The group has previously showcased Chinese labels through its Hong Kong bar and initiatives like the Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards. According to Richard Hemming MW, Head of Wine Asia at 67 Pall Mall, “China offers an ideal dual proposition — it is both an enthusiastic fine wine market and an emerging winemaking powerhouse. The world is taking notice of the prowess of Chinese wine, and 67 Pall Mall is perfectly positioned to advocate for China’s rise as a globally recognised wine region.””
Beyond China, 67 Pall Mall operates clubs in London, Singapore, and Verbier, with new locations underway in Melbourne, Bordeaux, and Beaune.
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