PICTURES OF THE CLUB’S ONGOING REFURBISHMENT TAKEN 18TH JUNE 2019
THE OFFICE
THE STAIRCASE
THE ENTRANCE
THE HALL AND ENTRANCE TO THE KITCHEN
THE HALL
THE OFFICE LOOKING AT THE GREEN ROOM
LOOKING DOWN THE STAIRS
THE STAIRWELL
THE OFFICE
Extract from the Chairman’s August 2019 Newsletter:
The club has more or less been ‘gutted ‘. Please bear in mind these were taken in mid-June and things have moved on dramatically. We are having a complete new Kitchen; a new extended Bar; a smaller office to accommodate a wider entrance to the bar and lift exit; a lift from the foyer up to the office level and a small stair lift up to the Bar. In the Concert Hall we will have a new extended stage area and brand new AV and lighting, all of this together with other interesting changes including new floor and panelling. The whole club has been rewired and other issues such as water intakes rationalised.
We have excellent builders/electricians & consultants etc working for us and they are paying great attention to detail. The works really are complex! The builders have gone back to the brickwork to give us a new sturdy club that will last at least another 50 years.
Following close of business on Thursday 30th May the Club will undergo a much needed and imaginative make over.
Electrical re-wiring became a necessity and so this opportunity is being grasped to make major improvements at the same time.
The Hall will have new panelling, floor, stage, stage lighting and sound systems. There will be a small platform lift from the entrance hall to the first landing where the entrance to the bar will be widened and it is intended to add a chair lift for the final steps into the bar.
We have to address the damp in the entrance hall but will preserve the iconic posters photographically to reproduce them as wallpaper. The Bar will be enlarged and the club’s decor greatly enhanced throughout.
We aim to protect the atmosphere and friendly nostalgic feel of the past whilst making the club more comfortable and accessible for all. Gently bringing us into the 21st Century but paying homage to our lovely history.
After thorough research interviews and presentations from various firms we, the committee appointed architects Bradley Van Der Straeten to oversee the works along with our excellent cost consultant, electrical and building consultants. The design is by much respected architect George Bradley who has shown great empathy with the club. We later found out that his father is the esteemed actor David Bradley!
Sarah Cosby from the firm has been liaising with us every step of the way. The final decisions on costings will be made by the Chairman and full committee on 30th May and the contracts will be signed. From that day forwards due to Health and Safety reasons, the builders GMS, are in charge on the premises.
From time to time, Kay, Ron and Chris will be invited in, if needed, for consultation. The builders will photograph the various stages of work and the Committee will update you via this web site and a Newsletter. Here are some initial concept designs for you to peruse – It is an exciting time for our club. It is for our future!!
We are moving Malcolm and Val out to a new office venue during the work. We will inform you of the address asap.
The club closes to members at close of business on 30th May and the CAA at 20 Bedford Street will be closed for business from 31st May.
Monday evenings will continue during the closure at the function room of the Water Rats Pub, Grays Inn Road. From 5.30pm onwards from 3rd June.
The AGM in March 2018 was well attended and we had some lively discussions. This present committee have been wonderful this year and I want to thank them ALL for their continued help and support. All our office suites are solidly occupied.
One of the rents is up for review in September. We have had an ‘interesting‘ year with the Adventure Bar, when suddenly their outside décor became frighteningly ‘floral’ without seeking our permission! But after a long period, during which I decided to involve our magnificent solicitors, it is all sorted out along with a large increase in rent. I thank the committee for supporting me in this.
Our Social Functions continue to be a huge success and often sell out quickly. We are always open to new ideas so if you have any please send a letter to us, email or contact us through the web site. Sally and her catering team led by Syed always provide excellent meals at the functions. Carlos and Syed cater for lunchtime customers.
We thank our bar staff Candice and Chris. Saturday evening opening seems to be picking up so we will be continuing it until our refurbishment closure. Thanks to Liam our stage manager who often works above and beyond the call of duty. Also to the furniture moving heroes on Mondays and at functions. And to others who help with tickets and filling envelopes when required.
Grateful thanks to Malcolm who mans the office and Val his assistant. They come to work ‘through hell and high water’ and almost never have a day off sick! Real showbiz troupers. Thank you.
Thanks must go to the Benevolent Fund Trustees who work quietly and confidentially on your behalf. If any ‘A’ members are in need please contact them and if any other members need help, please contact myself or a Committee member because we have the Samaritan Fund which helps and also provides taxis for our less able members.
Finally, an exciting time is approaching! This Committee wants to future proof our wonderful club for the young and not so young for many years to come. So, because of the need for complete rewiring, we will be doing a major refurbishment as well, including the installation of a small platform lift. It will be a lengthy and costly undertaking, but our finances are in excellent order and we have a budget. So please embrace this period of our club.
We have an excellent firm of Architects and they have good consultants and builders. We are on board with every decision and nothing will be done without our agreement. The Committee and I have put a lot of time and effort into this project because we love the club so much. I am very proud and honoured to have been your Chairman again. We need to protect this unique club well into the future. My love and thanks to you all for your support.
Doesn’t time fly! Nearly Christmas already! We have had a fabulous summer but, it is time now for scarves, gloves and boots.
At the AGM, we talked about a huge refurbishment of the Club because it needs completely re-wiring, updating and the installation of a lift.
To this end, the committee narrowed down a list of Architects to 3, who came along in September and gave us ‘presentations’ of their vision of the Club. At this moment of writing we have not chosen ‘the one’ yet, but I will say that we will hopefully have a lift installed during Autumn 2019. At last. Hooray!!
Of course, all of this refurbishment will be expensive and we will have to close the Club for a while. We are looking at alternative venues and at keeping disruption to a minimum and we will discuss it at next year’s AGM.
This is an exciting time for the Club! Myself and the Committee are looking to future proof the Club for many, many years to come. And to make it more appealing to young and old alike. Yes, an exciting time.
The Committee feel that the Green Room can be used as a bar ‘overflow’ on function evenings and when we have large numbers of people attending for various reasons. We have used it for Social Functions ‘overflow’ for a while now. It is normally only required for an hour, whilst waiting for the function/meeting to begin. So please feel free to move in there if you cannot find a seat in the bar on an evening.
I wish you all a wonderful festive season, wherever you are and whatever you are doing! On stage or off. Please support our wonderful Strictly Sparkling Annual Ball on Sunday 24th March 2019 at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington. It will be a very happy evening full of fun.
