060/2008                                                                      CLUB NEWS                                                19 December 2008

1.      Reciprocity with F&B Outlets of other DB Clubs

In an effort to offer a greater diversity in choice of food and dining ambience, we have formalized a reciprocity arrangement to enable DBMC members to patronize F&B outlets of the Residents’ Club and Club Siena with effect from 1 Jan 2009 when members will be able to dine at these outlets and sign their bills into their Club account on production of their valid membership cards.  Likewise, Residents’ Club and Club Siena members will also be able to access our Club F&B outlets.  This new arrangement is in addition to the reciprocity that had been established with the Golf Club in Nov 2006, terms of which are displayed in the Club Noticeboard.  Please observe Golf Club’s dress code when dining in their F&B outlets.

2. Slight Adjustment to DBMC F&B Operation

The Club F&B operations has been accumulating substantial losses since 2004.  This is attributed to the increased labour and food costs, a shrinking patronage from a small membership base and the greater variety of dining outlets that have sprung up at the Plaza. 

Normal cost-cutting measures such as staff-cutting, introduction of a mandatory F&B levy on members, drastic scaling down of menu are steps which the Club is trying to avoid. Our F&B team has generally done a good job in building a strong rapport with members and delivering friendly service. These are worth preserving along with the full range of menu during peak periods. Therefore, apart from the reciprocity arrangement with other DB Clubs which hopefully can help sustain the patronage of our F&B outlets, we will also be reducing the manpower cost and have less reliance on part-time waiting staff through some adjustments to our F&B operations during off-peak hours.

Hence, from 1 Feb 2009, The Anchorage (Restaurant) will operate on the following schedule:

Monday to Friday :          11.00am to 3.00pm  - Simplified daily lunch menu

                                       3.00pm to 5.00pm    - Only beverage will be available

                                       5.00pm to 9.30pm    - Normal operation with full menu

Saturday:                        Breakfast to be discontinued owing to very poor demand

11.00am to 9.30pm  - Normal operation with full menu

Sunday/Holiday:               9.00am to 9.30pm    - Normal operation with breakfast and full menu

The Bilge Bar will open as normal from 5.00pm till 11.00pm from Monday to Friday and 3.00pm to 12.00midnight on Saturday, Sunday and eve of public holiday.  Happy hours remain till 8.00pm daily from opening hours.

With effect from 1 Jan 2009, F&B service will be confined to the Club restaurant and bar areas including the patio and outdoor section of the restaurant.  Delivery service to areas outside these F&B areas will be discontinued.

These adjustments will no doubt cause some inconvenience to members for which we ask for your understanding and support in rallying behind the Club in its effort to maintain an acceptable level of F&B services at the Club despite our small membership base.

3. New Year Eve Amended F&B Hours

As in previous years, the Anchorage and the Bilge Bar service will be closed from 3.00pm onwards on 31 Dec 2008 to enable the staff ample time to prepare for the Club New Year’s Eve Wild West Party – Remember to book your tickets!  

The Bilge bar will be open for service from 7:00pm on 31 Dec 2008.

Breakfast will not be served on New Year Day as the restaurant will open later from 11:00am.

4. Club Annual Staff Dinner

With the exception of the Front Desk, all other Club services, including the bar and restaurant, will close from 5pm on Friday, 9 Jan 2009 to enable almost all the staff to attend the Club’s Annual Staff Dinner on Hong Kong Island.  Our apologies for this inconvenience.

From all of us working at DBMC, we wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas

and a Great New Year in 2009 filled with love, joy, peace,

continued good health and lots of blessings

Jason Lim

Club Manager