The Residence club by Harrods will feature a Gordon Ramsay restaurant, a library of rare spirits and art sourcing services. But membership will cost £16,000 a year. Jenny Southan reports
London’s luxury department store, Harrods, has announced it is opening its first private members’ club, which will be located in Shanghai and will open at the end of the year.
Located alongside the Harrods Tea Room and Piano Bar in Shanghai’s Cha House building, the Residence club (as it will be called) will “epitomise Harrods’ quintessential British luxury, creating a destination committed to the finest hospitality for an exclusive membership community”.
The club will feature a restaurant from British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay that will be exclusive to members and their guests. Dubbed “Gordon Ramsay at the Residence Shanghai”, it will offer “elevated British dining” and will be “inspired by the social nature of the club”.
Gordon Ramsay says: “It has long been an ambition of mine to open a restaurant in Shanghai, and it was always about the perfect time and the perfect location.”
The Residence will also provide members with access to a collection of some of the world’s rarest and most exclusive whiskies through a partnership with Edrington Group, which will deliver a curated portfolio of liquids from the Macallan, the Glenrothes and Highland Park.
In addition, the Residence club will be the only place in China to serve the Rare Cask 42.1 – one of Louis XIII’s most treasured and sought-after bottles. Residence members will be able to book exclusive private dinners and masterclasses hosted by these partners to “enrich their experience with these highly covetable pours”.
Michael Ward, managing director of Harrods, says: “The Residence is Harrods’ very first private members’ club and is being created to serve a curated community of discerning members.
“Membership is a unique proposition in Shanghai, offering not only world-class dining and spirits with a like-minded network but also unlocking exclusive Harrods international lifestyle and concierge services to create unparalleled experiences for every member.”
Members of the Residence will be able to access all the club’s facilities including the bar and lounge, private dining rooms and outdoor terraces.
There will also be “creative programming” designed to both “entertain and deepen personal expertise in subjects” including collecting rare bottles and art sourcing. Members will also benefit from Harrods’ “extensive and unmatched” concierge connections and luxury brand partners.
Ensuring “total privacy and discretion”, only 250 members will be accepted to join the Residence with additional members considered following peer nominations. There will be three tiers of membership starting from 150,000 RMB (£16,311) for annual membership.
Membership of the Residence will also come with automatic access to Black Tier status with Harrods Rewards and associated benefits in London, as well as access to ultra-premium lifestyle services including Harrods Aviation, Harrods Estates, Harrods Interior Design and private shopping services at the iconic Knightsbridge store in London.