Soho House bought for £2bn as Ashton Kutcher joins board

London –  Private members’ club chain Soho House has been bought for $2.7bn (£2bn) by a consortium that includes Hollywood actor and investor Ashton Kutcher, who will also join the company’s board.

The takeover, led by MCR Hotels and backed by private equity firm Apollo, will return Soho House to private ownership. Existing shareholders, including founder Nick Jones and restaurateur Richard Caring, will retain their stakes.

Founded in London in 1995, Soho House now operates 46 clubs worldwide, along with Soho Works offices and Scorpios beach clubs. Its venues have long been popular with celebrities, with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said to have had their first date at one of its London clubs.

The agreed offer of $9 per share represents an 18% premium on Friday’s closing price, though still below its 2021 peak of $14.21. Since listing on the New York Stock Exchange, the company’s value has struggled as critics said its rapid expansion eroded its exclusivity.

MCR CEO Tyler Morse, who will also join the board, said the group admired Soho House’s ability to bring together cultures worldwide and looked forward to further growth, with four new houses set to open soon.

Analysts, however, warn that Kutcher’s star power may not be enough to address concerns over profitability and Soho House’s long-term business model in a tough hospitality market.