City clubs hike entrance fees and charge different rates for weekdays and weekends to discourage non-members
City clubs hike entrance fees and charge different rates for weekdays and weekends to discourage non-membersu00a0
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Fees, no bar
Says Hasmukh Chavda, CCI member, "The CCI not only charges Rs 60 as guest entry fee during weekends but also adds a charge of Rs 100 as guest entry to the Wet Wicket bar on Fridays and Saturdays, so the member has to pay Rs 160 to take his guest to the bar."
Despite that, he says, the bar is crowded with members and guests during weekends. "That's because a peg of good Scotch which would ideally cost Rs 250 at a restaurant, comes for Rs 70 at the club. Even counting the steep guest charges, this is affordable," says Chavda adding, "Several clubs are hiking guest fees to prevent overcrowding. Since they cannot bar guests, this is their way of making it difficult for people to bring in their guests."u00a0u00a0
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| RWITC's Mini Turf Club charges Rs 130 on racing days and Rs 60 on non-racing days |
Liquor lure
At the swish Bombay Gymkhana Club at Fountain, guest charges on Friday, Saturday and Sunday are Rs 66 per guest, exactly double the amount charged from Monday to Thursday. A Bombay Gym member says, "High guest fees on weekends might pinch a member if they come in for just a tea or something. Yet, I'm sure members will bring their guests in for a drink even if the entry fee went up to Rs 150. Liquor at the club is much cheaper than it is outside and the ambience much better."
Horse course
A cup of tea at the Royal Western India Turf Club's (RWITC) Mini Turf Club house at Mahalakshmi, costs Rs 10 but entrance for guests is Rs 130 each during racing hours.
It goes down to Rs 60 during non-racing hours. With races on at all centres pretty much round the year, a member bringing in a bunch of guests, for lunch perhaps, might be steep at Rs 130 per guest. Says Kunud A, Prabhadevi resident and RWITC member, "Last year, I celebrated my 70th birthday at the Mini Turf Club and hosted a dinner for my extended family. I paid nearly Rs 600 as guest entrance fee, but since it has such a pleasant ambience and considering it was a special occasion, it was worth it."
Being differentu00a0u00a0
In a surprising deviation from the trend, the National Sports Club of India (NSCI) has actually reduced its guest entrance charges since November this year.
Says club secretary, Jay Choraria, "Earlier, our guest fee was Rs 55 per guest on weekdays. I reduced this to Rs 30 on weekdays. On weekends and holidays, the guest charge is Rs 50." Choraria believes, "Clubs are hiking guest fees because their resources are stretched to the limit. They simply cannot cope with so many people, especially on the weekends and holidays."
Spiffy iffy
The Malabar Hill Club, which was formerly the WIAA club is easy on the pocket on weekdays, with Rs 20 as guest fee. On weekends, the fee shoots up to Rs 50. The spiffy Willingdon Club has a Rs 50 entrance for guests on Monday to Thursday, which climbs to Rs 75 on Friday, Saturday and Sundays and bank holidays.
Says Willingdon club member, "Hotels and restaurants in the city have become frightfully expensive, particularly the booze. Booze in the clubs is still very cheap. With the excess crowd, members find it difficult to be catered to. The only way it can be controlled to some extent is by raising the guest fee. But yes, as a member you do suffer when you genuinely want to entertain someone for a cup of tea. The guest fee might be higher than your tea bill."
Push and pinch
Clubs, that last bastion of playing sport and socialising in a cost-effective, pleasant ambience, where one is not repeatedly given indications to leave hurriedly, nor are tables placed so close in a space crunched city that you're in danger of knocking down cutlery, are subtly closing their door to guests.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
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