5 minute read
Special Operations
The Club has responded to the pandemic with innovative new services. COO Daniel Pereira and the clubhouses’ Resident Managers tell us more.
Words by Chris Anderson Photography by Sam Barker, Martin Burton and Jamie Lau THE CLUB’S Chief Operating Officer, Daniel Pereira, is in familiar surroundings. Pall Mall is well and truly open once again, with the Great Gallery and the rest of the clubhouse offering members the warm, friendly service they are used to. “These are exceptional times we are living in,” admits Daniel. “For more than 120 years we have been redefining and reshaping the private member club experience – and the challenge of today’s pandemic will not stop us from continuing to develop what we offer members at this very special Club. If anything, it will encourage us to go further and evolve faster.”
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As Daniel speaks, the waiting staff – wearing face masks – hurry back and forth between tables, which are at least two metres apart. “As always, we remain uncompromising in our approach to health and safety. Every element of the member experience has been carefully considered and reviewed to ensure that our members can feel at ease when visiting the Club.”
Margaret Kavanagh, Pall Mall’s Resident Manager, agrees. “All of our staff receive continuous and comprehensive training on hygiene and cleanliness standards to ensure that our even-higher standards of cleanliness are upheld at all times. My team and I are ready to host members
From left Daniel Pereira, members enjoying lunch, Margaret Kavanagh, Pall Mall Resident Manager
and their guests, be it in the Great Gallery, Brooklands Room or Cocktail Bar, in the sports facilities or overnight – and you can rest assured that every visit will be underpinned by exceptional service. The Pall Mall Committee has also extended the summer dress code, to reflect the fact that many members are working from home or dressing more casually in the office at the moment.”
Daniel is particularly proud of the signage and one-way system the Club has put in place to help members and staff when moving around the hallways and corridors. “The designs are based on road signs, such as one-way, no entry and no overtaking,” he says. “The motoring link is an obvious one, and I think it is a nice, humorous touch, a much needed ‘tonic’ in these extraordinary times.”
“At Woodcote Park we have the same safety measures in place as Pall Mall,” confirms Moses Solomon, Woodcote Park’s Resident Manager. “The Fountain Brasserie, the 19th Hole and Stirling’s are now open, as are the golf courses, pool, gym and squash courts – and the dress code has been relaxed to make it easier for members to enjoy time with family and friends.”
“The Long Bar is open for drinks, but with limited food at present, as buffets are not allowed,” continues Daniel. “We have also opened the Long Bar in the mornings for members to use for business discussions or to work on their laptops, with a refreshing coffee to hand. This is the type of relaxed working facility members have been asking for and now is the time to try it.”
Other areas of the Club have also seen changes. “For the summer we transformed the Terrace Room terrace into an al fresco seasonal restaurant, serving seafood and steak, and expanded significantly our
From left Members at Pall Mall, Moses Soloman, Woodcote Park Resident Manager terrace operations at Woodcote Park and Pall Mall to make the most of the British Summer. We are now in the process of adapting our outdoor spaces to continue to offer eating and drinking experiences over the winter months; for example, we’ve added a marquee to the Spike Bar terrace, we are planning heated dining pods for the Fountain Lawn at Woodcote Park and the Club Room and Great Gallery terraces at Pall Mall. We have also extended our
main restaurant menus into the banqueting rooms, allowing members to enjoy socially distanced entertainment for groups of up to six people in the comfort of our beautiful banqueting rooms.” adds Daniel.
There are exciting special offers in place too. “The government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme was a great success, but even before that we were offering picnic hampers at Woodcote Park, a click and collect food and beverage service with our trusted suppliers, and a takeaway service from the Fountain Brasserie and Brooklands restaurants. So, if you’re still cautious about venturing into a public space, you can place an order with our team and enjoy the Club at home.” Similarly, those staying at Pall Mall overnight can enjoy some added perks. “In our bedrooms, we’ve extended our room service menu, with a selection of dishes from the Brooklands Room – and there are lots more initiatives in the pipeline,” smiles Daniel.
“We are doing well, relatively speaking,” he continues, “and I am excited by all the new services we are developing. Events are another big part of Club life and we are evolving the programme to include immersive online events. We have just held an online cheese tasting, for example, which was a great success. These will provide members with a more engaging experience to enjoy from the comfort of their homes, whilst social restrictions continue to impact upon our ability to hold events at the Club.”
“We are trying to operate as normally as possible, whilst putting safety at the forefront. Our promise to our members is that they can return to the clubhouses and feel welcomed into a warm and comfortable environment, and be able to enjoy exceptional hospitality provided by our dedicated and friendly team. In this respect, a big part of my role is to support my team and equally I feel very fortunate to have been supported so well by the team around me, with everyone pulling together to see us through. We have evolved our offering, and everyone can experience it knowing they are as safe as they can be.”
