History

The history of the International Club Berlin reaches back to the late 19th century, a period of great urban growth. It was the Berlin Ice-Skating Club, founded in 1893, which acquired the property on Thüringer Allee in 1920 in order to construct sports facilities and a private club house. During the summer, tennis was played on more than a dozen courts, people came together socially or to play chess or to fence – and of course in winter for ice-skating on the rink created by spraying water over the centre court by the club house. For many years the recreational location was a mainstay in Berlin's social life. In June 1945 the grounds and buildings became the home of the British Officer's Club. After the withdrawal of the British protecting forces from reunified Berlin, 35 Berlin citizens founded the International Club Berlin e.V. in 1994, with the aim of carrying on the tradition of the British Officer's Club at this location and the intention of creating a place for Berlin’s foreign guests, diplomats and representatives from the business and media worlds to network with the citizens of the German capital. The British heir to the throne, His Royal Highness Prince Charles, is patron of the International Club Berlin just as he was during the era of the British Officers' Club.

Thanks to the initiative and dedication of the Board, together with financial contributions from a large number of the members and the Gothaer Versicherung insurance company, the International Club Berlin was able to purchase its property from the Land of Berlin in 2006, thereby permanently ensuring the future of this unique institution.