Chair’s Message
This is the final Recorder before Christmas so let me start, on behalf of the Board, by wishing all of you a wonderful Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
I feel very sorry for anyone still suffering from long COVID or anyone else who is vulnerable and for whom coronavirus remains a threat and life has not managed to return to normal.
Most of us have been able to celebrate the end of mask wearing and enjoy the wonderful facilities of the Club and I want to thank all our staff who work so hard for us. We are very lucky to have such committed staff across all departments. To enable all staff to attend their Christmas Party next door at Rosslyn Park the following areas will close early on Monday 19th December:
◊ Health Club closes at 7.30pm- all to leave by 7.45pm
◊ Club Café closes at 6.30pm
◊ Members Bar closes at 7.30pm- all to leave by 8pm
I would also like to thank the Club Members who volunteer for the large number of Committees and Forums . Your contributions are invaluable and the Club would not be the success it is without your help and support. It was lovely to be able to thank many of them in person last Thursday evening and sing a few carols with our superb Ladies’ Choir to boot.
Marc gave you an update two weeks ago on the various on-going projects. Of these the following are now complete
1 Accessible changing room by the Indoor Pool
2 Air lock doors to the Outdoor Pool (review of door opening in the summer)
3 Tidying up of drainage around the Sports Shop and putting green
4 Completion of extra bicycle provision due by Christmas week
Club Café
The refurbishment of the Club Café starts on 3rd January 2023 for ten weeks, which will be followed by the launch of the new salad and hot buffet menu. This will necessitate the closure of the café during this time but you will be able to order food from the bar and garden restaurant and there will be a sandwich facility albeit on a slightly more limited basis. We will also offer an extended menu in the Piazza Coffee Shop (weather permitting) and in the Juice Bar.
We are seizing this opportunity to improve the décor and furnishings in the Club Café so it can be used for bistro dining in the evenings. So many of you have criticised (in a constructive way) the lack of ambiance in the existing garden restaurant so early 2023 will see a new look to the Club Café.
Masterplan 2035
As part of the Masterplan 2035 we are working on a number of significant improvements to the main Clubhouse and specifically the food and beverage (F&B) experience but these will not happen for quite a few years as the next major capital expenditure will be on the Indoor Golf Centre – scheduled for 2024 but subject still to planning permission.
In the meantime we needed to replace the various equipment you see in the Club Café – some of which such as the salad bar had stopped working completely. The closure of the café in January and February to install the new counters and fridges gives us the opportunity to convert part of the Club Café into a ‘bistro-type’ restaurant for use in the evening. The new equipment and furnishings are easily re-usable in any major developments of the bar and Club Café in the future.
Lastly can I thank all the Board Directors for their continued unswerving support of myself and all the staff as we work to improve the Club all of you hold most dear.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Vivien Harris