mhtaipei
Jun 25, 04, 1:12 am
as title. any FTs as members?
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - OT: How´s Butterfield´s?
View Full Version : OT: How´s Butterfield´s?
Fly Me To The Moon
Jun 25, 04, 9:00 am
Butterfield's is located at Taikoo Place near Quarry Bay MTR Station. It was opened as a very exclusive club for primarily corporate membership. I recall our company bought 6 memberships at about HKD 30,000 each. There was a monthly subscription fee of about HKD 1,000. We did use the club facilities quite a lot in the first few years. The Club had quite a good Chinese restaurant with private banquet rooms; a western restaurant with private banquet/conference/function rooms; a bar; full gym with sauna, etc., etc. Prices were very reasonable, no +10% service charge, good service...all in all very good value. The club was (and still is) managed by HongKong & Shanghai Hotels Ltd. (the parent company of the Peninsula Hotels).
In recent years, however, Butterfield's has lost its lustre. Service has declined as the "old" staff have either left or have been replaced by younger, less experienced and less energetic staff. Maybe it was part of the Peninsula rotation that the good staff got transferred to other properties? But, I'm only guess here. As well, more and more housing developments now have their own recreation clubs and gym facilities; a lot of gyms have opened in Hong Kong anyway. So, there was no real need for us to use Butterfield's gym anymore. Restaurants in Hong Kong continue to be quite plentiful; new ones open up all the time with many differing cuisines, but Butterfield's has remained the same for all these years. And, finally, with most five-star hotels offering discount cards and/or discounts with various credit card companies, dining in Hong Kong has become even more value for money, and Butterfields was just not that "exclusive" anymore.
The decor of the club was quite well done. Stained-glass windows in the Chinese restaurant (I heard it cost over HKD 100,000 per window), 1 piece of original Picasso artwork, a lot of other artistic pieces. A lot of cherry-color would was used throughout the three floors of the hotel.
If you are thinking to join, I would advise against it. I just don't think there is enough at the club to justify a membership here anymore. I've heard some rumors that the management was thinking of closing the club, but these are only rumors. Finally, our company has, since last year, cancelled all six memberships because paying the $1,000 monthly fee each was just plainly not worth it.
Hope this answers your questions?
In recent years, however, Butterfield's has lost its lustre. Service has declined as the "old" staff have either left or have been replaced by younger, less experienced and less energetic staff. Maybe it was part of the Peninsula rotation that the good staff got transferred to other properties? But, I'm only guess here. As well, more and more housing developments now have their own recreation clubs and gym facilities; a lot of gyms have opened in Hong Kong anyway. So, there was no real need for us to use Butterfield's gym anymore. Restaurants in Hong Kong continue to be quite plentiful; new ones open up all the time with many differing cuisines, but Butterfield's has remained the same for all these years. And, finally, with most five-star hotels offering discount cards and/or discounts with various credit card companies, dining in Hong Kong has become even more value for money, and Butterfields was just not that "exclusive" anymore.
The decor of the club was quite well done. Stained-glass windows in the Chinese restaurant (I heard it cost over HKD 100,000 per window), 1 piece of original Picasso artwork, a lot of other artistic pieces. A lot of cherry-color would was used throughout the three floors of the hotel.
If you are thinking to join, I would advise against it. I just don't think there is enough at the club to justify a membership here anymore. I've heard some rumors that the management was thinking of closing the club, but these are only rumors. Finally, our company has, since last year, cancelled all six memberships because paying the $1,000 monthly fee each was just plainly not worth it.
Hope this answers your questions?
christep
Jun 25, 04, 8:32 pm
What sort of club are you looking for in HK?
Personally I am a member of the Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC), which has a couple of bars (one with jazz and a pool table), western & chinese restaurants, and a small gym & sauna.
Anyone can join as an Associate - there is a HK$5000 joining fee and HK$950 per month membership. Corporate memberships are also possible.
The restaurants are good quality (without being pretentious) and excellent value. The atmosphere in the bars is good, and they have excellent screens for big sports events etc in the Main Bar.
More details at http://www.fcchk.org or PM me.
Personally I am a member of the Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC), which has a couple of bars (one with jazz and a pool table), western & chinese restaurants, and a small gym & sauna.
Anyone can join as an Associate - there is a HK$5000 joining fee and HK$950 per month membership. Corporate memberships are also possible.
The restaurants are good quality (without being pretentious) and excellent value. The atmosphere in the bars is good, and they have excellent screens for big sports events etc in the Main Bar.
More details at http://www.fcchk.org or PM me.
mhtaipei
Jun 26, 04, 4:06 am
Oh i am not looking for any club. To be honest I cant stand most of them. Dont fell too comfortable amonst the rich and or powerful and tacky. I just got this trial membership and a 200 HKG voucher, and I was wondering if it was worth the effort signing up and using the voucher. I asked around in Hong Kong an none of my business contacts uses the club (anymore). Much like the AmericanClub here in Taipei, all going down the drain these days.