The Garrick is supposed to be where Britain’s power elite come to meet and make deals and connections. It’s full of High Court judges, top barristers, politicians, the head of MI6 (until recently, at least), members of the House of Lords, the heads of arts organisations, famous actors, journalists and even King Charles.

So isn’t it a sign of progress that women can now join the power elite? Not exactly. For the Garrick has not suddenly become a club for women; rather, it is a club for a certain type of woman. Successful, affluent, socially ambitious — the kind who longs to appear on one of those annual “50 Most Powerful Women in Britain” lists and who dreams of dinner with Helena Kennedy.

The new-look Garrick may be a little less male, but its establishment mindset won’t exactly disappear overnight. Under the fig leaf of inclusive feminism, clubland really has nothing to fear.

I’ve always thought it odd that a so-called gentlemen’s club like the Garrick could be so ungentlemanly as to reject the company of women. No true gentleman would do that. But the question that has been missing from the whole debate is this: why would any woman, or any man for that matter, want to join a club of such crusty old squares? Garrick men wear the club’s salmon-pink and cucumber ties and never trim their nose hair! And do women really want to get cornered by Sting or Jacob Rees Moog as they discuss tantric sex or the benefits of Brexit, respectively?

There’s a small group of elite women whose names had been put forward for membership over the years, including Joanna Lumley and Mary Ann Sieghart. (The latter was refused membership but settled for lunch instead. Has she no pride?)  I do not understand why so-called feminists and progressives would like to join — such as Mary Beard, who has said: “I have enjoyed my visits to the Garrick and would love to become a member.” This is the place where there remains a large number of men — 40%, going off last night’s vote — who don’t want you there because you’re a woman. Isn’t that enough to put you off for life?