LE CERCLE DE L'UNION

What LE CERCLE DE L'UNION does

Le Cercle de l'Union is a private members' club established in 1917 in Lyon, France, operating from a historic building at 27 Place Bellecour in the city's center. The legal entity, "Cercle de l'Union et de la Table du Cercle," is structured as a French non-profit association under the Loi 1901 framework and serves approximately 500 resident and non-resident members drawn from Lyon's business and professional community. Admission is restricted to candidates sponsored by an existing member and approved by the club's Bureau and Committee, creating a curated, exclusivity-driven community. The club maintains reciprocal access agreements with over 30 prestigious private clubs across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Australia.

The club offers three integrated product lines: (1) core membership providing access to elegant salons at Place Bellecour and reciprocal club benefits worldwide; (2) La Table du Cercle, the on-site gastronomic dining service operating daily for members and their guests; and (3) Séminaires & Conférences, a professional event hosting service accommodating up to 210 seated dinner guests and over 300 for cocktail receptions. There is no proprietary technology platform, mobile application, or digital service layer underpinning operations.

Revenue is generated through three streams: annual membership dues (recurring), food and beverage services from La Table du Cercle (recurring), and event hosting for corporate and private clients (transactional). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and there is no third-party distribution or digital marketing presence. Marketing is conducted almost exclusively through word-of-mouth and member referrals, consistent with the sponsorship-based acquisition model. The club employs 1-10 staff and is governed operationally by Director Charles-Henri Latard, with Henri de Gaudemaris as Publication Director and Caroline de Crevecoeur as Accountant.

Name

LE CERCLE DE L'UNION

Legal name

Cercle de l'Union et de la Table du Cercle

Website

https://cercledelunion.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1917

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Le Cercle de l'Union is a private members' club in Lyon, France serving approximately 500 business professionals and executives with curated networking, gastronomic dining (La Table du Cercle), and event hosting services from its historic Place Bellecour location.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

PERNES LES FONTAINES

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees paid by approximately 500 members. Membership admission requires sponsorship and committee approval.
2. Food and Beverage Services: Restaurant and bar services for members, including daily dining and private events. The Table du Cercle provides gastronomic cuisine in elegant surroundings.
3. Event Hosting and Private Functions: Revenue from hosting private events including seminars, conferences, business lunches, cocktail receptions, and seated dinners for corporate and private clients. Capacity of up to 210 seated guests and 300+ for cocktail receptions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Le Cercle de l'Union is a historic private members' club founded in 1917 and located at 27 Place Bellecour in Lyon, France. It offers a curated membership to approximately 500 business professionals, providing access to elegant salons, gastronomic dining at La Table du Cercle, and professional event hosting services including seminars, conferences, business lunches, and private receptions for up to 300+ guests. The club also maintains reciprocal membership agreements with 30+ prestigious clubs worldwide.

Product overview

LE CERCLE DE L'UNION is a traditional private social club offering a unified membership experience centered around three core services: the main club membership providing access to elegant salon spaces and reciprocal club benefits worldwide; La Table du Cercle, the on-site gastronomic dining service open daily for refined cuisine; and Séminaires & Conférences, professional event hosting capabilities in customizable salon spaces accommodating up to 300+ guests. The club operates from 27 Place Bellecour in Lyon.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Le Cercle de l'Union Membership Private social club membership providing approximately 500 members with access to elegant salon spaces, conferences with economic and cultural personalities, private museum visits, and reciprocal benefits at 30+ partner clubs worldwide. Admission requires sponsorship by an existing member and approval by the Bureau and Committee.
• La Table du Cercle Daily gastronomic dining service for members and their guests, offering refined cuisine in elegant surroundings for receptions, cocktails, and seated dinners within the club's historic Place Bellecour premises.
• Séminaires & Conférences (Event Hosting)

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

38 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Der Uebersee-Club e.VminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReciprocal agreement with Hamburg-based club allowing members to access similar services when traveling in Germany. One of the European partner clubs in the network.
• St Johann's ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVienna-based partner club with reciprocal access agreement for members traveling in Austria.
• Cercle Royal GauloisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrussels-based partner with reciprocal access for members in Belgium.
• Société Littéraire de LiègeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiège-based literary club with reciprocal access agreement in Belgium.
• Société Royal Littéraire ASBL – Club FalliganminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGent-based literary club with reciprocal access agreement in Belgium.
• Real Gran PeñaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMadrid-based partner club with reciprocal access for members in Spain.
• Círculo EcuestreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarcelona-based equestrian club with reciprocal access agreement in Spain.
• Círculo del LiceominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarcelona-based partner club with reciprocal access in Spain.
• Sociedad BilbaínaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilbao-based partner club with reciprocal access in Spain.
• Automobile Club de FranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParis-based prestigious automotive club with reciprocal access agreement for members.
• Cercle AnglaisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPau-based partner club with reciprocal access agreement in France.
• Cercle SuédoisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParis-based Swedish club with reciprocal access agreement.
• Maison de la Chasse et de la NatureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParis-based hunting and nature club with reciprocal access agreement.
• Union Club BordelaisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBordeaux-based partner club with reciprocal access agreement in France.
• Cercle MünsterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuxembourg-based partner club with reciprocal access agreement.
• The Travellers ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon-based prestigious club with reciprocal access agreement. Located at 106 Pall Mall.
• The Savile ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon-based partner club at 69 Brook Street, Mayfair, with reciprocal access.
• Circolo della CacciaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBologna-based hunting club with reciprocal access in Italy.
• Circolo AnieneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRome-based partner club with reciprocal access agreement in Italy.
• Società del GiardinominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilan-based partner club with reciprocal access agreement in Italy.
• Circolo Società dell'Unione di VeneziaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenice-based partner club with reciprocal access agreement in Italy.
• Casino MaltaiseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerValetta, Malta-based partner club with reciprocal access agreement.
• Grémio LiteráriominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLisbon-based literary club with reciprocal access agreement in Portugal.
• SällskapetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStockholm-based partner club with reciprocal access agreement in Sweden.
• Cercle de la TerrasseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneva-based partner club with reciprocal access agreement in Switzerland.
• Société du JardinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeuchâtel-based partner club with reciprocal access agreement in Switzerland.
• Durban ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDurban, South Africa-based partner club with reciprocal access agreement.
• Melbourne Savage ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMelbourne, Australia-based partner club with reciprocal access agreement.
• Melbourne ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMelbourne, Australia-based partner club with reciprocal access agreement.
• Tasmanian ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHobart, Tasmania-based partner club with reciprocal access agreement.
• Sun Chateau GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShanghai-based partner club with reciprocal access agreement in China.
• Kee Club Hong KongminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHong Kong-based prestigious club with reciprocal access agreement.
• Kee Club ShanghaiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShanghai-based partner club with reciprocal access agreement in China.
• Yacht Club (Mauritius)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrand'Baie, Mauritius-based yacht club with reciprocal access agreement.
• Tower Club SingaporeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSingapore-based partner club with reciprocal access agreement at 9 Raffles Place.
• The Nassau ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrinceton, New Jersey-based partner club with reciprocal access agreement in USA.
• The Pinnacle ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAugusta, Georgia-based partner club with reciprocal access agreement in USA.
• Château Sainte AnneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrussels-based partner club with reciprocal access agreement in Belgium.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Soho House: Global network of private members' clubs combining dining, lounges, and event spaces with curated professional communities. Most widely-recognized modern comparable to the Cercle de l'Union's curated membership / hospitality model, though operating at much larger scale and younger demographic.
• Kee Club: Hong Kong and Shanghai private members' club listed as a reciprocal partner of the Cercle de l'Union. Comparable curated-membership model with dining, lounges, and business networking in an international business-hub setting.
• The Arts Club: London private members' club founded in 1863, combining dining, cultural programming, and curated professional membership. Highly comparable in heritage depth and the integration of gastronomy, networking, and intellectual events.
• Automobile Club de France: Paris-based prestigious historic private club, listed as a reciprocal partner of the Cercle de l'Union. Combines elite membership with dining salons, event hosting, and a strong heritage brand — the closest large-city French analog.
• The Travellers Club: Historic London private members' club at 106 Pall Mall, listed as a reciprocal partner of the Cercle de l'Union. Shares the same model of curated professional membership, dining, and international reciprocal arrangements.
• Circolo della Caccia: Bologna-based Italian historic private members' club and reciprocal partner. Shares the European private-club model combining aristocratic heritage, dining, and curated professional membership.
• Cercle Royal Gaulois: Brussels-based historic private members' club and reciprocal partner. Operates the same curated-membership, dining, and cultural-events model rooted in 19th-century Belgian elite tradition, making it a directly comparable European city-club peer.
• The Nassau Club: Princeton, New Jersey-based historic private members' club listed as a reciprocal partner of the Cercle de l'Union. Comparable model of curated professional membership, dining, and event hosting in a US business/academic hub.
• Melbourne Savage Club: Melbourne-based historic Australian private members' club and reciprocal partner. Closely comparable model combining curated membership, dining, and cultural programming in a major business city.
• Union Club Bordelais: Bordeaux-based French private members' club and reciprocal partner. Operates the same French provincial business-club model — curated membership, dining, and event hosting — making it a directly comparable regional French peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/le-cercle-de-l'union

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LE CERCLE DE L'UNION