They were best known for their extravagant parties and were associated with such places as the
Café Royal and
The Cave of the Golden Calf, London's first nightclub. The group made a common pledge to be "unafraid of words, unshocked by drink, and unashamed of 'decadence' and gambling". The group reveled in drink, blasphemy, gambling, injecting heroin, and
chloroform ("chlorers") sniffing. While the group's principal purpose was the pursuit of pleasure, their default attitude was one of cynical heartlessness, that at times was downright cruel. For all their wild parties, however, there was still a standard of behaviour to be upheld and all members paid for the damage that they caused. The members indulged in treasure hunts, fancy dress balls, and poker evenings, while holding riotous parties until dawn, with their actions documented by the press. The members were also in high demand by the great hostesses and eminent politicians of the day.
World War I With the outbreak of war, many members left for the
Western Front, causing Asquith to be seen as the pre-war symbol of the Coterie, and Lady Diana Manners, becoming Lady Diana Cooper as wife of Duff Cooper, to become the post-war symbol for the 'new' Coterie. She became known for throwing wilder parties, with freer sex and drink in an effort to escape the horrors of the war. == Reactions ==