Rapha is closing five of its clubhouses before April this year as part of a bid to bring “greater focus” to the business, it was revealed today.
The clothing company’s clubhouses are located around the world and work as retail spaces, cafes and the bases for Rapha Cycling Club members, as well as hosting events.
“Rapha's Clubhouses are cultural anchors for the Rapha community worldwide, run by brilliant, hardworking teams that are our brand's greatest advocates. They are places to belong, to be inspired, and to discover our products. So, this announcement is really tough,” Rapha’s CEO Fran Millar said in an official statement.
Rapha’s Manchester clubhouse, which opened in 2014, is set to close on 18 January and the company has informed customers and RCC members today.
The other four clubhouses set to close are all in the USA, in Boulder, Chicago, Miami and Seattle.
This is despite Rapha’s recent announcement that it’s partnering with USA Cycling ahead of the LA 2028 Olympic Games and will be more focused on the United States moving forward, as part of its renewed focus to reclaim the market share it has lost.
But Millar said closing clubhouses will mean Rapha can focus on “richer customer experiences” at flagship locations, events and online.
“I have been honest that we need to make changes at Rapha to bring greater focus. ‘Simpler, better’ is the guiding principle behind this decision. It is a painful decision, but it is the right call for the brand and our customers in the long run.
“A plan is in place to support local teams, customers and communities, and we will share more information with RCC members directly,” Millar said.
To support its cycling club in locations where clubhouses are closing, Rapha said local venues will become ‘RCC Partner Cafes’ and that it will deepen and expand relationships with its retail partners.
Rapha added that its clubhouses represent a major investment for the brand, and despite having recently raised money from its investors, the five clubhouses that are closing do not make sense for the company at the current time.
But Rapha added that this does not mean the company is rejecting the clubhouse concept. In November 2025, Rapha landed in China with its Shanghai clubhouse, and it is also considering opening new clubhouses.
