BEEF STEAK SOCIETY. A society of noblemen and gentlemen,
twenty-four in number, who, in rooms of their own, behind the scenes at the
Lyceum theatre, partake of a five o'clock dinner of beef-steaks every Saturday,
from November till the end of June. They call themselves "The Steaks,"
abhor the notion of being thought a club, dedicate their hours to "Beef and
Liberty," and enjoy a hearty English dinner with hearty English appetites.
The room they dine in, a little Escurial in itself, is most appropriately fitted
up - the doors, wainscotting, and roof, of good old English oak, ornamented with
gridirons as thick as Henry VII.'s Chapel with the portcullis of the founder.
Every thing assumes the shape or is distinguished by the representation of their
favourite implement, the gridiron. The cook is seen at his office through the
bars of a spacious gridiron, and the original gridiron of the society (the
survivor of two terrific fires) holds a conspicuous position in the centre of
the ceilng. Every member has the power of inviting a friend. The Beef-Steak
Society was founded in 1735 by John Rich, the patentee of Covent-garden Theatre,
and George Lambert, the scene-painter. I can find no better account of its
origin that a statement by Edwards:-
"Mr. Lambert was for many years principal scene-painter to
the Theatre at Covent Garden. Being a person of great respectability in
character and profession, he was often visited while at work in the Theatre by
persons of the first consideration, both in rank and talents. As it frequently
happened that he was too much hurried to leave his engagements for his regular
dinner, he contented himself with a beef-steak broiled upon the fire in the
painting-room. In this hasty meal he was sometimes joined by his visitors, who
were pleased to participate in the humble repast of the artist. The savour of
the dish and the conviviality of the accidental meeting inspired the party with
a resolution to establish a club, which was accordingly done under the title of
The Beef-Steak Club; and the party assembled in the painting-room. The members
were afterwards accomodated with a room in the playhouse, where the meetings
were held for many years; but after the Theatre was last rebuilt the place of
assembly changed to the 'Shakspeare Tavern,' where the portrait of Mr. Lambert,
painted by Hudson, makes part of the decorations of the room in which the party
meet." Edwards Anecdotes of Painting, p.20
Peter Cunningham, Hand-Book of London, 1850