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Phyllis Court Club

Regatta News Summer 2015

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Inside this issue

Regatta Facts and Gallery 4-5

Charity Action Group 6

Chairman’s Regatta Review 7

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Inside this issue

Regatta Facts and Gallery 4-5

Charity Action Group 6

Chairman’s Regatta Review 7

Henley Royal Regatta Hospitality like no other

Each summer, Henley-on-Thames

is brought to life with the Henley

Royal Regatta. First held in 1839,

the Regatta is a unique rowing

event offering 100 world-class races

over 5 days and the chance to see

our Olympic stars. At Phyllis Court

Private Members Club we are proud

to offer hospitality like no other

you will experience at Henley Royal

Regatta.

The picturesque surroundings and

glorious summer sunshine provided

a welcome haven of relaxation and

tranquillity from the stresses of city

life. The ambience was one of a large,

Edwardian garden party and this

prestigious event offered an idyllic

opportunity for corporate and social

entertaining. Our guests enjoyed a

day of indulgence and relaxation with

our exclusive Henley Royal Regatta

hospitality packages.

Our unique private boxes are located

in the Riverside Pavilion which is

right on the water’s edge next to

the finishing line of the Regatta

course itself. These private boxes are

available for non-members to hire

during the five days of Regatta which

is always held the first weekend in

July.

Guests experienced this

quintessential English occasion

in their own private boxes with

personal waiting staff who took

care of their requirements from

the moment they arrived to the

last drop of champagne poured.

Each box is equipped with flat screen

TV and free Wi-Fi. An early start was

arranged for those wishing to hold

a meeting in this unique location

before the socialising began. As we

are right on the water’s edge with our

own private moorings some guests

arrived and left by boat as part of

their unique day.

All enjoyed the excellent cuisine

prepared by our Head Chef and his

brigade of 25 chefs, who offer guests

the opportunity to choose their menu

on the day itself.

Phyllis Court takes pride in offering

only the very best in service, which

was experienced by the 605 guests in

the Riverside Pavilion alone.

Guests found that being within easy

reach of the motorways M40, M4 &

M25 and with free parking included

in the special packages was a big win

for them.

Private boxes are already being

confirmed for the 2016 Henley Royal

Regatta, so if you don’t want to miss

out then please do give me a call on

01491 570 511 or email

shirley.cunningham@phylliscourt.co.uk

Shirley CunninghamSales & Marketing Manager, Phyllis Court

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Regatta Facts 2015

Over the 5 days we welcomed 7132 guests to Phyllis Court Club, 605 visitors to our Riverside

Pavilion hospitality boxes, 98 Members to the Isis Lounge and sold:

1347 Jugs of Pimm’s

1189 Glasses of Pimm’s

523 Bottles of Champagne

544 Bottles of House White Wine

2221 meals in Lunch Rapide

427 Scones in Afternoon Tea in the Long Bar and Thames Room

An additional 130 staff were employed to help over the Regatta week along with 23 security

personnel from Assist Security.

Thankfully only 9 visits to the St John’s Ambulance Tent were made over the 5 days and from the

Monday through to the Sunday of the Regatta period Stuart Barr the Club Manager walked 78.6

miles.

This equates to 167, 239 steps!

2016 Regatta Dates:

Wednesday 29th June - Sunday 3rd July 2016

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Regatta Facts 2015

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Charity Action Group at RegattaThe Charity Action Group would like

to thank all members and their guests

for their generosity at Regatta 2015.

The total now stands at £8735.95

for both. £5013 for the raffle and

£3722.95 for the Silent Auction.

The proceeds are donated to

Helen & Douglas House and the

South & Vale Carers Centre.

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Chairman’s Regatta Review

The sun that we had all hoped for had

his hat on for the first day of Regatta

and he kept it on all week.

I stepped out onto the terrace and

was greeted by the scene which our

staff had worked tirelessly for three

long days to create, a wonderful

setting for us all to enjoy the 2015

Henley Royal Regatta. The results

were the culmination of a full year’s

planning.

Many more members and their

guests graced the grounds than I

have seen before on a Wednesday.

The new dark wood tables and chairs

with cream umbrellas in the 150

Members’ Enclosure, along with

the beautiful flowers, prompted

many favourable comments. By

11.30am the temperature was

soaring and at 12.55pm I announced

that “Gentlemen may remove their

jackets”. We later learned that it

was the hottest July day on record

reaching 36 degrees.

Lunch Rapide was a popular choice

for enjoying outside as was the

ballroom with its air conditioning.

Thursday saw a welcome drop in

temperature with a few early drops

of rain, but this soon cleared and

it was another sunny day with the

Finlay Marquee offering delicacies

such as crab and lobster – my idea of

bliss!

The weather held for the rest of the

event until a sharp shower just before

prize-giving on the Sunday.

We had greater corporate take up

this year in the Riverside Pavilion, and

many visitors from reciprocal clubs.

One of whom I spoke to deemed it

‘an amazing spectacle and a magical

experience’.

The Evening Events were full on the

Thursday and Friday with improved

take-up for the Wednesday and

Saturday.

Overall the atmosphere was well-

mannered and well-behaved –

we sold quite a few Club ties to

gentlemen trying to get in without

neckwear, some ladies tried changing

into short dresses in the cloakroom

once past security, but our staff and

security personnel dealt firmly and

diplomatically with any behaviour

which was not within the spirit of the

occasion.

My congratulations go to the Club

staff under Club Manager Stuart

Barr - it was a privilege to witness

him marshalling and inspiring the

troops each morning before opening

– and to our Charity Action Group for

raising the grand sum of £8,735. And

lastly, the rowing was superb.

It did not end there; Our wonderful

Riverside Pavilion proved the best

spot on the river for us to enjoy the

music of Henley Festival. I heard

many Members saying ‘how lucky are

we’ as they dined or just came for a

drink and enjoyed the sights and the

sounds.

There are many more events to enjoy

this year and I hope to see you all

there.

Tricia

To view more photos from Henley Regatta at Phyllis Court Club please visit the ‘photo gallery’

page on www.pccmembers.org.