Garrick's salmon tie is endangered!

As revolutionary moments go, it ranks alongside Lenin's arrival at the Finland Station, the discovery of penicillin and Elvis Presley singing That's Alright Mama.

One of London clubland's most eminent institutions, the Garrick, is giving serious thought to the idea that members and their guests should not have to wear a tie.

Not wear a tie? The idea is, on the face of it, preposterous. Places like the Garrick are - unlike raffish modern interlopers such as Soho House and the Groucho - gentlemen's clubs and, as everyone knows, a gentleman is someone who always wears a tie in town.

Indeed, London members' clubs are renowned for the strictness with which they uphold their dress code. Many is the unwary guest who has turned up for lunch without the appropriate neckwear only to be forced to wear a tie of dubious history and even more questionable pattern, usually - it would seem - chosen by the hall porter for its ability to clash with whatever colour jacket the hapless guest happens to be wearing.

Now such venerable traditions are under threat. A motion is going before the Garrick's forthcoming annual general meeting asking the committee to look into the possibility of relaxing the dress code. It would report back in time for next year's AGM (after all, not all revolutions happen overnight).

The Garrick's members are predominantly actors, lawyers and journalists, and the pressure for change has apparently come from the theatrical end of the membership: according to club talk the incident that prompted the debate was the appearance of Sir Peter Hall one day wearing a leather jacket and what was described by one member as "white silk choker".

Most members do not, so far, appear to be panicking in the face of impending change. The retired judge Sir Michael Davies said: "It is tentative. The motion does not ask the AGM to change the dress code or do anything about it except have a long-term look at it."

There were signs that the move would be welcomed in some quarters. MP Boris Johnson, the editor of the Spectator and a newly elected member, said: "I would defer to the wisdom of my elders and betters on this matter," before adding: "I hate wearing ties, actually."

Arts journalist Simon Tait said: "Lawyers wear ties. Actors and journalists on the whole do not. I don't think we should stand on ceremony on it. The fact of the matter is that it is a pain when you find yourself in town without a tie - it is as if you cannot go for lunch in your own home."

However, there is no doubt that the traditionalists will mount a vigorous defence of the status quo. Writer Geoffrey Wansell, the club historian, said: "I'm quite happy with the dress code and I'm quite happy to put on a tie when I go to the Garrick Club. I think it is important to have some traditions, and there is no harm in that.

"But there are a number of people who would like to see the issue discussed. Some of them are actors or singers who rehearse nearby and do not really want to change when they come to the club. Other people think the world has changed. They are members of the Groucho Club or Soho House and do not have to put on a tie there. However, I would be lying if I said it was a huge groundswell."

Some members who might be expected to take the traditional view saw at least some virtue in change.

Former Tory chancellor Lord Lamont, clearly no admirer of the club's famous salmon-and-cucumber tie, said: "It might get rid of the tie. It was well summed up by the late Lord Butler who said to someone I know, 'That tie is quite unwearable... but it looks wonderful on you'."