The Staten Suite (at The New Yorker)

The Staten Suite was a function suite within the New Yorker restaurant.

On February 17th 1962, the Edinburgh Evening News reported:

“Members of Edinburgh’s Clan Jazz Club who may have heard that their club will not be able to open tomorrow night in the £30,000 Staten Suite in Shandwick Place, can now confidently attend the opening session – to which they will be admitted free.

“It had been reported earlier that civic authorities had refused to grant a licence to open a club in the Suite because there were no restaurant facilities there.

“”Clan” promoter, Mr Drew Taylor, and Mr Archie Sinclair, leader of the resident band, obtained a special license this morning, however, on the understanding that the opening night would be conducted on a non-profit-making basis.

“Mr Taylor said today: “We were determined to open somehow, because we did not want to let our members down. All members will be welcome tomorrow night.”

Celebrity guests at the opening of the new jazz club will be the cast of “West Side Story,” who have been given honorary membership.”