Well furnished interior of the club with pictures of members on the walls. Photo/Courtesy
By Crystal Okusa
As I walk into Capital Club, I am expecting a
really uptight business environment, being the first East Africa’s
Premier Private Business club, only to be ushered into a very welcoming
environment with a modern and contemporary feel.
Capital Club is the newest kid on the block, a
networking hub for Kenya’s Who’s Who: CEOs, top managers and partners of
major companies – both local and international.
I am meeting the General Manager, Andrew Christon
on the beautiful roof terrace restaurant. The black and white furniture
gives the room a warm yet stylish décor, complimenting the earthy tones
of the walls and floor and giving both the feeling of a business yet
toned down environment. This is where members unwind with their guests
after a long day and yes, phones are allowed in the club.
Not to be confused with the regular country clubs,
usually with a vast golf course, Capital Club, a member of the
Signature Clubs International, is very flexible with their in-house
rules such as use of phones, laptops and cash payment for both members
and guests to allow flexibility.
Country clubs
“Unlike other country clubs, we have a very
dynamic younger membership, as we have tapped into the new-age CEOs who
are running very successful companies. We also have great food. Our rule
on cash payment is also very flexible because we want members to freely
bring their guests here ,” explains Andrew.
Andrew informs me that Capital Club is the first
of its kind in Africa and the fifth business club he has opened after
London, and Moscow which was the first of the Signature Clubs
International, Guangzhou China and Dubai where the idea of Capital Club
East Africa was born.
With nine years’ experience in 5 star hotels,
Andrew started out as waiter and worked his way up in top hotels like
The Dorchester and Le Meridian Hotels in London.
Then he moved into the world of exclusive Private Members Clubs, opening five business clubs around the world.
“I am brought in to oversee the operations of the
club from its conception to maturity. We have only been open for about
two month but I have been in Kenya for three years now to do the set-up,
membership and employment. I will be around until the club has gained
ground. I move around with my wife and two children almost every five
years,” he says.
Andrew gives me a tour around the club, where most
of the employees are Kenyans but with international experience. He
assures me that they are the highest paid service workers in Kenya
currently. And 90per cent of their reasonably priced menu – most dishes
are under Sh2,000 a plate, is locally sourced for an Asian and Japanese
fusion.
To get to the premier restaurant, we pass the
members wall which has displayed photos of current members and which
changes every first Thursday of the month.
This is a networking day where a speaker is
invited to enlighten the members on new investments and also where they
can pick top issues affecting Kenyans.
After all, most of them are responsible for
decisions made in this country. The Premier restaurant is reserved for
highly classified business meeting
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