Patrick Spencer, the Conservative MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault involving two women at London’s exclusive Groucho Club, according to a statement released by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The alleged assaults occurred in August 2023, and Spencer is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 16 June.
A Conservative Party spokesman confirmed that Spencer has been suspended and had the whip withdrawn, stating: “We have taken immediate action. Patrick Spencer MP has been suspended from the Conservative Party pending further legal proceedings. We cannot comment further on an ongoing case.”
The charges against Spencer are unrelated to a separate Metropolitan Police investigation into an alleged rape at the Groucho Club on 13 November 2023, which led to the temporary suspension of the club’s license. A 34-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident but has since been released under investigation. The club, which closed in November, reopened in January 2025.
A Met Police spokesperson confirmed that no evidence suggests staff involvement in the alleged rape, with detectives from the Central West Public Protection Team leading the inquiry. Earlier this year, Westminster City Council suspended the Groucho Club’s license for 28 days following police concerns over breaches of licensing conditions and its association with serious crime.
The club’s chief executive, Elli Jafari, assured members of “total transparency” during the closure, stating that the review was being taken “extremely seriously.” The club, which charges up to £1,500 for membership, has long been a haunt for artists, writers, and celebrities since its founding in 1985 by a group of publishers and agents.
In 2022, the Groucho Club was acquired for £40 million by Artfarm, a hospitality firm owned by Iwan and Manuela Wirth, the founders of the Hauser & Wirth gallery. While Artfarm operates separately from the gallery, its portfolio includes high-profile venues such as The Fife Arms in Scotland and Mount St. Restaurant in Mayfair.
A spokesperson for Hauser & Wirth previously clarified that the gallery has no operational ties to the Groucho Club. Artfarm has not yet responded to requests for comment on the latest developments.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about safety and accountability in private members’ clubs, particularly those frequented by high-profile figures. Spencer’s suspension adds to the political fallout with the Conservative Party already under scrutiny over past misconduct allegations.
As legal proceedings go ahead, the Met’s parallel investigation into the alleged rape continues, leaving the future of one of London’s most storied clubs under close watch.
Photo: Luca Pachetti Wiki Media Commons