The Shanghai Club’s Back…But Don’t Say it Out Loud
Posted: October 28th, 2010 | 10 Comments »Work on Number 2 the Bund has been ongoing for some time – it’s now the Waldorf Astoria hotel. Of course No.2 The Bund is the original home of the Shanghai Club and the famous Long Bar. Indeed the Long Bar is back and I’ll check it out soon as I get a chance. The new Long Bar is an impressive 110 ft long, built to the original specifications of the 1911 bar.
But, so a source informs me, no return of The Shanghai Club. Instead we’ve got the Waldorf Astoria Club. Apparently the hotel wanted to name the newly reopened spot the Shanghai Club but local commie officials said no, emphatically no. Seems the Shanghai Club is still considered a demeaning old institution too far for the local Commies.
So here’s what I suggest. They can officially call it the Waldorf Astoria Club, but so what. Nobody in their right mind and with a smidgen of historical knowledge wants to be a member of the Waldorf Astoria Club in Shanghai. So when anyone mentions it just refer to it as the Shanghai Club and eventually that will become its name, whatever the Commie Little Napoleon’s demand is hung up on the sign outside.
A fine suggestion! And a welcome return of a classic watering spot.
ML
mlanesepic.blogspot.com
Hmm, as much as I am for historical accuracy, I hope this doesn’t mean that I – as a woman, and egads, Chinese at that – will have you guys kicking me out of this newly renovated club unless I’m serving you cigarettes, drinks or myself.
I am working as a event manager for a big French law firm in Shanghai, and as a big fan of Shanghai history, I did push my boss to organise an event there instead of the former Club Sportif Français, I find the old Shanghai Club much more prestigious!
We will put on the invitation card: Waldorf Astoria, 2 on the Bund and below under brackets: former Shanghai Club.
But I’m already calling it Shanghai Club and so my colleagues are now!
I had a guided visit last week with the Waldorf event manager and the restauration work they did is pretty good!
Elaine – apologies you are on the outside looking in this time round. Tradition is tradition I’m afraid. Start interfering with tradition and the next thing you know Madame Guillotine goes to work!! Read Andrew Fields book on the old dancehall culture – there’s loads of great nightclubs you can go to and maybe get to sit on Big Eared Du’s lap!
David, Lawyers of course are welcome but, honestly, French people in the Shanghai Club? I’m not sure that’s quite the thing old boy! Next you’ll be suggesting they admit Italians or, God Forbid, women! I’m not even sure the French play billiards!
Yeah, because we’re all desperate to see the return, and be part of an elitist, racist institution that would have black balled us without hesitation back in the day – even if we were British – because we weren’t born with a plum in our mouths and a silver spoon up our arses…
well…you could take the negative approach I suppose…
Yeah cos we all want to be part of that elitist, racist institution that was the Shanghai Club. While we’re at it, bring back the British Empire!
Twerp…
How about we just bar the humourless?
Ah my dear Brit friend, we should have won Waterloo and then the Shanghai Club would have been “Le Club de Changhaï”! I’m not unhappy to organise my French lawyers party there. Historical revenge!
By the way, the parquet of the Shanghai Club Ballroom on the second floor is still the original one (said the Waldorf event manger), so almost 100 years old now. Quite impressive – think of all those who stood upon it.