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PH
YLLIS
CO
UR
T C
LUB
Spring 2015
Official Newsletter of The Phyllis Court Club,
Henley-on-Thames
GALLERY OF
EVENTS IN
DECEMBER
2014
SPRING
COMPETITION
AND CURRENT
SPECIAL
OFFERS
COURTIERS
INTERVIEW
Page 2
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Staff Q & A Page 5
Bridal Story Page 8
Baking Recipe Page 12
A WORD FROM OUR CHAIRMANThank you for taking time to look
through our newsletter – whether you
are fully familiar with the Club already
or reading about us for the first time
you are most welcome.
In this edition we set the scene for
the year ahead and proclaim the new
Riverside Pavilion, the striking venue
alongside the Thames which is open for
business.
There has been a building on this
prime location overlooking the finish
line of Regatta since 1912, and the
Riverside Pavilion is the 21st century
incarnation of the listed grandstand
edifice. The beautifully shaped roof is
based on millennium dome technology
and creates two decks with remarkable
views and glass walls which open to
create that vital open air contact with
the river. Fear not if the weather is
inclement, the glass is triple-glazed and
the interior is warm and bright, so it is a
venue which can impress all year round.
The Club has seventeen individually
styled bedrooms which are available
to corporate and private guests and
our capability for events and meetings
covers usage by a remarkable spread of
numbers – 2 to 240.
Hopefully there will be something here
to catch your eye and imagination –
and there’s also the Chef’s cake recipe
which you can crib to please Mother!
BEDROOM MAKEOVER
Over the last two years many of
the Club’s bedrooms have been
refurbished and bedroom bookings
have increased since. To maintain the
standard, bedrooms, 5, 6, 16, 17 and
18 will have a make-over beginning in
early February.
Rooms 5 and 6 will be transformed
into stylish boutique bedrooms
with ‘5’ renovated from its current
colour scheme to terracotta and ‘6’
a pale blue colour scheme. Room 16
will follow the same theme as the
previously refurbished bedrooms by
incorporating dark wood furnishings
but will be updated with soft
furnishings in raspberry and cream
colours. Oak wood furnishings will
modernise bedrooms 17 and 18 along
with a floral colour scheme of lilac and
pale greens for the soft furnishings.
All five rooms will have new radiators,
patio doors and windows as well as
improvements to the bathrooms.
The work is due to be completed by
30th March but keep an eye on our
social media pages for updates on the
progress of the renovations.
CHARITY ACTION GROUPThe Charity Action Group are delighted
to announce that £25,300 was raised
for the club’s charities in 2014. Many
thanks for the generosity of Phyllis
Court Club Members and clients.
Following the AGM in January the
CAG presented cheques to the chosen
charities.
Thames Valley and Chiltern Air
Ambulance received £17,650.
Chiltern Centre which supports
Disabled Children received £7,650.
From left to right: Mark McGeown and Nikki James (Air Ambulance), Paul Barrett and Emma Lerche-Thomson (Chiltern
centre), Diana Pearman (CAG Chair) and Anne Jones (PCC Council)
Page 3
- Enjoy the world’s most prestigious rowing event of the season with the most
exclusive private boxes, guaranteed to impress your guests
- New glass Riverside Pavilion offers views of the Regatta course and is right
on the finish line
- Exceptional cuisine and fine wine
- Various packages available
HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA
Wednesday 1st July - Sunday 5th July
Call Shirley Cunningham on
01491 570511 to find out more
Page 4
AN INVITATION…..We are delighted to invite you to enjoy
a glass of Champagne or Pimm’s whilst
viewing our stunning Riverside Pavilion
– it is unique, providing a breath-taking
setting for any event.
The Upper deck has panoramic views
of the Thames and is ideal for a drinks
reception before going down for dinner
and dancing on the Lower deck.
You will also wish to see our impressive
Ballroom with its classic columns,
built-in dance floor and portable stage,
perfect for a dinner or dinner dance.
Then there is the elegant Thames Room
with French windows that open onto
a private terrace, with views of the
croquet lawn and the Thames - ideal for
a cocktail party or a private dinner.
Our Head Chef, Tarik Ramjaun, has
experience in Michelin-starred
establishments, and, if you have time,
we would be delighted to arrange for
you to dine in the Club.
We take pride in our service, whatever
the size or style of the occasion – a
business event for 10, a dinner party
for 50 or a grand banquet for 250.
The Club team has the experience
and charm to ensure your event is an
outstanding success.
We have a great location - just 35
miles west of London, close to the M4
and M40, and Heathrow Airport is
approximately 30 minutes away by
road.
The large Paddock on the riverside
provides an ideal location for team-
building courses and outdoor activities
on land or on the river.
We have moorings so guests can also
arrive by boat or have an especially
arranged river trip as part of a unique
day. A heli pad is even available!
Call us today to arrange your private
visit.
COURTIERS INTERVIEW
Tell us about COURTIERS…
COURTIERS Investment Services
Limited, based in Hart Street, Henley-
on-Thames, is trusted by high net worth
individuals and organisations to listen,
understand and advise them, their
families and employees to achieve their
financial aspirations.
What made you decide to use Phyllis Court Club for your meetings and seminars?
We have used the facilities at Phyllis
Court on a number of occasions over
recent years and hold our annual
Private Client Seminar in the Ballroom
and Finlay Suite. We originally chose
Phyllis Court as they can accommodate
large numbers and over the years we
have built up a good relationship. They
now have our requirements down to a
fine art and we know that when we use
their services they will deliver well and
to a high standard.
Favourite part of the Club?
The Ballroom and Finlay Suite are ideal
for large meetings, and the elegance
of the Thames Room provides the
perfect setting for smaller seminars.
Although we have yet to use The
Riverside Pavilion, the modern twist
in contrast to the main building is
very attractive...........and of course the
grounds and panoramic views running
alongside the river bank are not to be
missed.
What is COURTIERS looking forward to in 2015?
We believe it is important to keep our
clients regularly informed on the latest
financial topics and issues relating to
their wealth management. We will
continue to do this in 2015 through
regular Tax, Pension and Investment
Newsletters and Investment Seminars.
In addition to this the company will
continue to build on the successes of
previous years.
Why should prospective businesses consider using Phyllis Court Club?
The venue is perfect for large or
small events, with friendly and
accommodating staff. We find it very
satisfying when we receive favourable
feedback from our clients.
Page 5
STAFF INSIDE VIEW
KATRINA SANTOS
EVENTS EXECUTIVE
You’ll find me….
in the sales office.
I can help you with...
booking a conference, special event or
Wedding.
My favourite Club cocktail is…
cocktails wouldn’t be my first choice at
the bar. I always choose either a glass
of Prosecco or the Chilean Sauvignon
Blanc.
Previously I have worked at…
Monkey Island Hotel in Bray, The Sir
Christopher Wren Hotel and Oakley
Court Hotel in Windsor.
On my days off you’ll find me…
searching for a new home or enjoying a
Costa coffee – my favourite coffee is a
vanilla latte.
My favourite dish at Phyllis Court Club is…
Braised Chicken served with ‘Anya’
Potatoes and Spring Onion and Chive
Salsa. I have a sweet tooth so I would
pick the Apple, Pear and Cinnamon
Crumble for dessert.
I wanted to work at Phyllis Court Club because…
it is a unique venue in a lovely setting.
Don’t tell anyone but…
Although my name suggests it, I am not
actually Portuguese, but my husband is
from Madeira!
LEON MARKS
CATERING OPERATIONS
You’ll find me….
often in the Members Bar or in the Club
Lounge.
I can help you with...
anything under the sun (sun you hardly
see in England)!
My favourite Club cocktail is...
The Tom Collins, a refreshing gin
sour that is an excellent drink for
warm summer days .
Previously I have worked at...
Cameron House, Gleneagles and The
Queensberry in Bath.
On my days off you’ll find me...
Exploring Henley as I have recently
moved here or keeping active at the
gym!
My favourite dish at Phyllis Court Club is...
the Beef Fillet has to be my top choice.
I wanted to work at Phyllis Court Club because...
it was love at first sight...the location
is exquisite. I believe there is a lot
of potential in the establishment. I
feel very privileged to be given the
opportunity to work at the Club.
Don’t tell anyone but...
I love Chocolate Cake and I can
consume a whole cake in one sitting!!
Staff
Page 6
We were pleased to welcome back
for the fifthteenth year Pitmans
for their annual ball held on Friday
5th December 2014. Guests
enjoyed an enticing three course
dinner of Chicken Liver Parfait
followed by Fillet of Aberdeen
Angus and finished off seasonally
with Blueberry Bread and Butter
Pudding. The Ballroom was
festively decorated and the 216
guests then enjoyed dancing the
night away to the grand 5 piece
band playing on the Ballroom
stage.
Maritz visited Phyllis Court Club
for the first time on Thursday
11th December 2014 for their
Christmas event and their evening
was hosted in the Riverside
Pavilion. Bright lights and a festive
backdrop added a magical feel to
the night. Many of the 100 guests
enjoyed listening to music from
the DJ and a boogie or two!
“It was a great evening, could you
pass on our thanks to Adam and the
service staff who were absolutely
fabulous, the service was the best
we have had for a Christmas event.
Thank you so much for helping us
to organise the event, it has been
a pleasure to work with such a
professional outfit.”
Page 7
The wedding of Helen and
Jason took place on Friday 29th
December 2014 in the Riverside
Pavilion. The couple and their 72
guests enjoyed a glorious sunny
day and the room was filled
with Christmas decorations to
compliment their winter theme.
The mince pies certainly didn’t
last long! Helen and Jason treated
their their friends and loved
ones to some delicious choices
from our winter menu selections
including Honey and Glazed Ham
followed by sumptuous Vanilla
and Raspberry Panacotta with
Raspberry Coulis.
Our very own Oddjob greeted
Members and their guests as
they stepped into the Club on
New Year’s Eve. With Q and
his gadgetry scattered around
reception and a very glamorous
Miss Moneypenny at the desk, it
was almost like being in the film
itself. The lounge was transformed
with classic Bond posters, playing
cards and plenty of diamonds. 247
guests enjoyed Martinis served
by Daniel Craig himself (several
of him in fact) before making their
way into the Ballroom. A fun menu
featuring dishes such as From
Russia with Love Salmon, and
Die another Day Chocolate Torte
ensured guests were well fuelled
for the Cabaret dancing, casino
tables and most importantly the
stroke of midnight!
Page 8
BRIDAL STORY
A beautiful elegant English and world travel theme with a Silver, Lavender and ivory colour scheme for Elizabeth and Eric’s April Wedding
How did you meet and tell us about your first date?We met at a friend’s party on St.
Patrick’s Day almost 7 years ago now.
For our first date we met for a drink
after work and then went to a comedy
club in Greenwich Village.
How did he propose?He caught me completely by surprise
in our apartment one Friday evening in
July. It was the hottest day of the year,
over 100 degrees outside, and I was 6
months pregnant at the time. I think I
was complaining about the heat and
feeling so huge and when I turned round
he was down on one knee! I quickly got
ready and we went out for dinner at our
favourite neighbourhood restaurant.
What made you choose Phyllis Court?My mum was helping me with the
venue search as we live in New York so
she toured with Victoria and instantly
put it on her short-list. I made a special
trip home in April 2012 to look at four
possible venues. I loved the proximity
to the river and the beautiful lawn, and
the large dance floor in the centre of the
ballroom. I didn’t want a dance floor in
a separate room or at the end of a long
narrow space, which I was finding was
often the option. I also loved Henley
and its Englishness, given that lots of
our guests were going to be traveling
from the US and around the world.
Where did you find your perfect wedding dress?Vera Wang in New York.
How did you feel when you saw him on the day?Excited, lucky, very happy! I was quite
nervous beforehand but that all went
away the minute I entered the room
with my dad on my arm.
Tell us about your bridesmaids…I had 5 bridesmaids – my two cousins, my
sister in-law, and two best friends from
school – a large group for an English
wedding. They wore floor length Dessy
dresses in a pretty lavender blue. I also
had 4 flower girls and one pageboy. Our
daughter Amelia was my mini-maid of
honour!
What were your favourite touches?Our table names were streets we have
lived on over the years from all over
the world. We used actual photographs
of the street signs. We had a table of
family wedding photos – our parents,
grandparents, and siblings. For favors,
my mum made delicious pots of jam
for the ladies and my dad made his
signature Sloe gin for the men. It was a
big job to make enough for 130 guests
but was a lovely personal touch that
everyone raved over.
Where did you find your flowers/centrepieces?We were very lucky in that one of
my mum’s friends offered to do our
table centrepieces and a few other
arrangements for us. She is super
talented and they were beautiful! We
used Melanie Esslemont in Henley for
the bouquets and buttonholes, and
flowers for the cake and my hair. She
was brilliant to work with and was
also very nice about us bringing in our
own centrepieces, which I’m sure some
florists may not have been okay with.
Tell us about the Wedding Breakfast and ReceptionThe food was delicious and expertly
Page 9
executed. We served English lamb for
the main course. I loved visiting each
table and all our guests. We added a
few family traditions into the evening
reception. A highlight was when we
were lifted up on chairs while everyone
danced the Hora. I was terrified of
falling off and Eric kept headbutting the
lanterns on the ceiling!
First DanceThis Years Love but not the David Gray
version. We chose a cover by Boyce
Avenue, which is still acoustic and
beautiful but less melancholy.
DJStephen from Oxfordshire Wedding
Entertainment was great from start to
finish. We had a couple of Skype calls
with him from New York and the online
planning system was great with us
being in another country.
PhotographerWe chose Mark Lord for his great
documentary style shots and beautiful
black and white photography. He
was worth every penny and expertly
captured the day.
What was your best memory of the day?Ceremony Speeches
Dancing – the dance floor was packed
all night! Our last song was Sinatra
“New York” everyone joined round us
in a circle and was screaming out the
words!
Based on your own experience give some tips…Take advantage of the grand piano in
the ballroom. We booked a pianist last
minute but it was a great addition to
the ceremony. Steve Christie played
beautifully and was fantastic! Use
vendors recommended by PCC, it was
so helpful to work with people who
knew the venue.
PHYLLIS COURT CLUB QUIZ
1. How many members does
Phyllis Court Club have?
Please choose one answer
Between 1000 - 1500
Between 2000 - 2500
Between 2500 – 3000
2. How much does a corporate
hospitality box during Henley
Regatta cost?
Please choose one answer
From £200.00 plus VAT
From £250.00 plus VAT
From £300.00 plus VAT
3. How many acres of land does
Phyllis Court Club have?
4. How many deluxe bedrooms
does Phyllis Court have?
5. Can you tell us what is included
in our celebration package?
6. How much is our day delegate
rate package?
Please send your answers with your name
to;
The winner will be chosen at random from
all entries who submit six correct answers.
Entries must be received by Friday
20th March 2015 and the winner will
receive a voucher for a three course
dinner with a bottle of wine for two
in the Dining Room at Phyllis
Court Club.
Page 10
Eat and drink in a fantastic riverside venue in Henley-on-Thames
Welcome glass of bubbly on arrival and choose from the delicious three course menu below:
Wild Mushroom Tart or
Asparagus Soup with Garlic Bread(or a soup of your choice)
*********Roast Breast of Chicken served with a Red Wine Sauce, Bacon Dauphinoise
and Sprout Tops with Chestnuts or
Slow Cooked Ribeye of Saddleback Pork served with White Wine Jus
*********Madagascan Vanilla Crème Brulee
or Eton Mess
*Alternative menus are available
Celebrate your next special occasion with us for £49 per person including
venue hire and VAT!
Contact Dominique or Katrina for more information 01491 570513/509
PHYLLIS COURT CLUB
PHYLLIS COURT CLUB MEMBER PROFILE: LINDA KEY
Tell us about yourself
Linda Key was born in Exeter but
moved to the London area in 1982.
Linda has lived in Henley on Thames
with her partner Simon (shown below)
since 2012.
What made you decide to become a Member of Phyllis Court Club?
Having attended the Royal Regatta in
2012 in the Stewards enclosure, we
could see the amazing venue ’Phyllis
Court’ and decided to investigate.
What do you do for a living and what does it entail?
Having worked in the Beauty industry
all of my career, firstly for Estee Lauder
and then at Procter and Gamble I
moved to become Sales Director for
Coty Prestige, working with amazing
brands such as Marc Jacobs and Calvin
Klein. Four years ago I decided to set
up my own business, which had always
been a dream of mine. My company,
Linda Key Connections’, biggest client is
The Fragrance Foundation UK – a non-
profit making educational trust.
As CEO, along with my team Maddi
and Rachel, we support the fragrance
industry through training programs,
industry networking events and
award ceremonies supporting our
120 company members from brands,
suppliers, retailers and companies
working within the fragrance industry.
One of our key events is The Jasmine
Awards, which is held at BAFTA each
year, recognising and rewarding the
talents of journalists and visulisers
whose difficult task it is to translate the
complex art of perfumery into words
and pictures.
Our new project ‘Marty the Mighty
Nose’ is an initiative offering teachers
ideas on using the sense of smell to
engage pupils and to extend learning.
As a foundation we also raise money
for charity, raising £21,000 for our
industry charity Look Good… Feel
Better at our last event. Last September
we also supported the Phyllis Court
Mother and Daughter dinner held in
the Riverside Pavilion.
What do you enjoy in your spare time?
My spare time is really precious to
me and most important is spending
time with Simon and our two cats
Dolly and Daisy. We have made many
friends in the town and have wonderful
neighbours so we socialise and dine out
a lot!
What do you enjoy doing whilst at the Club?
I would like to encourage members to
meet more regularly perhaps evening
drinks once a month.
What has been your favourite Club event to date and why?
It has to be the Regatta, I love that
Phyllis Court applies the Regatta Dress
Code to keep it really special. Next year
I would like to invite some friends to join
me as guests, and hopefully encourage
them to become members.
What event are you looking forward to the most in the next few months?
We are very excited as our really good
friends are getting married in the
Pavilion in the spring, the setting is so
gorgeous and as the happy couple work
in Fashion and media I know they are
planning something really spectacular.
Finally, please tell us what your favourite part of the Club is and why.
The grounds and the terrace are
stunning. I also think the Riverside
Pavilion is an excellent destination
point for that 6pm cocktail!
http://fragrancefoundation.org.uk
Page 11
Eat and drink in a fantastic riverside venue in Henley-on-Thames
Welcome glass of bubbly on arrival and choose from the delicious three course menu below:
Wild Mushroom Tart or
Asparagus Soup with Garlic Bread(or a soup of your choice)
*********Roast Breast of Chicken served with a Red Wine Sauce, Bacon Dauphinoise
and Sprout Tops with Chestnuts or
Slow Cooked Ribeye of Saddleback Pork served with White Wine Jus
*********Madagascan Vanilla Crème Brulee
or Eton Mess
*Alternative menus are available
Celebrate your next special occasion with us for £49 per person including
venue hire and VAT!
Contact Dominique or Katrina for more information 01491 570513/509
PHYLLIS COURT CLUB
Page 12
Mother’s Day Kitchen BaKe off try this at hoMe
Light Fruit CakeRecipe from Tarik Ramjaun,
Phyllis Court Club Head Chef
Mother’s Day is all about enjoying
comfort foods and indulging quite
unashamedly in a little nostalgia. So,
with that in mind, here is a delicious and
lighter version of a Fruit Cake I used
to make for Mother’s Day Afternoon
Tea whilst working at one of the large
hotels in London. I’m sure it will not only
be mothers that enjoy this favourite!
The cake can be topped with royal
icing after it has soaked up a tipple or
two of sherry for the truly classic look.
Ingredients:
450g Mixed Sultanas, Raisins or
Currants
100g Glacé Cherries (halved)
75g Mixed Peel
125ml Sherry plus 75ml for soaking
into cake once cooked
Soak above ingredients in 125ml of
sherry overnight or until absorbed
175g Butter
175 Soft Brown Sugar
4 Eggs
100g Self Raising Flour
100g Plain Flour
25g Ground Almonds
Half Teaspoon Mixed Spice
Pinch Salt
400g Royal Icing
Method:
1. Cream together the butter and
sugar until pale, beat in the eggs.
2. Fold through the sifted flours,
ground almonds, mixed spice and
pinch of salt.
3. Pour into a medium sized lined
cake tin or loaf tin and bake in the
centre of a pre-heated oven for
around 30 minutes at 160c until
cooked (knife inserted into the
centre of the cake should come out
clean).
4. Rest for a few minutes before
turning out onto a baking rack.
5. Prick the top and evenly pour over
the rest of the sherry or similar
alcohol.
6. Cool completely and cover with
rolled royal icing if desired.
Chefs Tasting Notes: Best enjoyed with another
glass of sherry!!
Phyllis Court Club
Newsletter is produced and
published by Phyllis Court Club,
Marlow Road, Henley-on-Thames,
Oxfordshire, RG9 2HT
01491 570500
www.phylliscourt.co.uk
Editorial Contact for the
Newsletter is
Emma Forster
Marketing Executive
01491 570514
Head Chef Tarik Ramjaun
Book your daily meeting, conference or
seminar with us and receive
£10 off per person
on our daily delegate rate! Call 01491 570509/513 and quote News15
to redeem this offer
This offer is valid for a minimum of 10 delegates and must be booked by Friday
29th May 2015. Subject to availability. New bookings only which are taking
place from 20th February 2015 to Wednesday 30th December 2015.
