The Establishment was a
London nightclub which opened in October 1961, at 18
Greek Street,
Soho and which became famous in retrospect for
satire although at the time was more notable for jazz and other events. It was founded by
Peter Cook and
Nicholas Luard, both of whom were also important in the history of the magazine
Private Eye. The name "The Establishment" is a play on the meaning of "establishment" as in "institution," i.e. the club itself, and
the broader definition meaning the prevailing social order of the time, which the satirists who founded, funded and performed at the club typically undermined. Peter Cook called it "the only good title I ever came up with."