Malta Union Club

The Malta Union Club is a private members club in the middle of Sliema, one of Malta's best-known seaside towns, with modern facilities and a history that stretches back to 1826. It is a place for sport, games and good company, with tennis and squash courts, a snooker room, a celebrated bridge room, a bar and restaurant and shared use of the Tigné bathing beach. It is listed in our directories of sports clubs in Malta and tennis in Malta.

A club founded in 1826

The club was founded in 1826 by British officers and civilians serving in Malta, who took the top floor of the Auberge de Provence in Valletta's main street, then known as Strada Reale and now Republic Street. Early membership was limited to eighty paying members and a few honorary members, and the first honorary members included Sir Walter Scott, Benjamin Disraeli and William Makepeace Thackeray. Our Valletta guide and Knights of Malta history tell the story of the building and its surroundings.

Over the next century the club grew, took over the whole of the Auberge by 1903, opened branches in Msida and Sliema, admitted women from 1907 and, in 1992, gave women the right to become full members. In 2002 it moved into its current premises on three floors with parking underneath, and in July 2012 it registered as a multi-disciplinary sports club.

Sports and games

Tennis is played on two open-air courts, and there are two squash courts as well, which the Malta Squash Federation uses for national team training and tournaments. Indoor pastimes include snooker, billiards, petanque, skittles and darts, with separate rooms for card and board games and table tennis. The bridge room is regarded as the best equipped on the island, and there is a lending library.

Tennis has a proud record here. In the mid-1990s the club hosted an ATP Challenger tournament each year from 1994 to 1996, which drew world-ranked players and gave Malta's national team players a chance to earn ranking points. More recently, in June 2025, the club hosted two one-day tennis events organised by Delicata Tennis, where players of all levels, from beginners to advanced, played singles and doubles, and almost 100 people took part across the two days.

Dining, beach and social life

The bar and restaurant serve snacks daily, with curry lunches on Thursdays and Sunday lunches. Groups such as the British Residents Association, the George Cross Island Association and the Corona Society hold meetings and functions at the club, which gives it a sociable, British-flavoured feel that suits UK residents and long-stay visitors.

The club works with the Marsa Sports Club to run the Tigné bathing beach. Our guides to Malta's best beaches and Malta weather by month help you decide when to swim, and the things to do in Malta page covers wider days out.

Membership and reciprocal clubs

This is a private members club, so access is by membership. It has reciprocal arrangements with similar clubs, residential and otherwise, in Europe and the Commonwealth, and it welcomes visiting members from clubs with which it holds those agreements. If you belong to such a club in the UK, ask whether you can use the facilities during your stay.

The club's website has pages for membership, club rules, a tariff of amenities, newsletters and committee details. If you are planning a longer move, our relocation guide for UK residents explains how to settle in, and a club like this is a natural way to meet people.

Around Sliema and getting started

The club is in the heart of Sliema, close to the seafront promenade. Visitors choosing a base can read our guide to hotels in Sliema, and nearby businesses in our directory include Adventure Cruises Malta for boat trips and AM Language for language lessons.

To ask about membership, reciprocal access or tennis events, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the club.