The Port Elizabeth St George’s Club is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year and to commemorate this milestone in the history of the City, the Club is planning a number of festivities later in the year.
The celebrations will span a two month period, culminating with the main event in the form of a cocktail function on Saturday 15 October 2016 at the Club’s premises in Bird Street. Other than Club members, invitees will include celebrities from the City, Business Leaders and representatives from local and overseas Clubs with which reciprocity is in place.
A number of other supporting functions will be held; these include a high tea and the launch of a coffee table book being compiled specifically to celebrate the occasion.
Situated at 12 Bird Street, Central, the Club has been on this site for most of the 150 years. For many years, from 1866 until 1892, the original Club was known as the Port Elizabeth Club and was the only such Club in the City. It was, however, in 1892 that a second Club, the St George’s Club was established with the prime aim of attracting the younger generation of rising businessmen. The two Clubs ran successfully in tandem for many years, but eventually, due to economic circumstances, it was decided that the two Clubs should amalgamate. In 1998 the St George’s Club joined the Port Elizabeth Club in the premises of the latter and the new name for the two Clubs became the Port Elizabeth St George’s Club, generally known as “The Club”.
The Club will therefore be celebrating 150 years of being available as a venue and a facility for business leaders and the communities of Nelson Mandela Bay. After many changes of human, economic and physical environment, the Club remains passionate to continue the tradition of being the Club for its day and age.
Dignitaries who have visited the Club over the years include Mark Twain, Field Marshall JC Smuts, Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Field Marshall Montgomery of Alamein, Queen Elizabeth II, and many more.
Under the banner of “Exclusive to Everyone” the Club prides itself with the facilities which it has to offer. These include a bar and restaurant, as well as other function rooms. The ambiance offers old world charm, arguably the best in town, where attendees are surrounded by a collection of paintings by famous artists and antique furniture in a building restored to prime condition. The restaurant area doubles up to cater for functions such as weddings, birthdays and cocktail parties, whilst there are versatile facilities for smaller functions such as board meetings and intimate parties. The Club is also well known for its sublime Sunday lunches.
The Club is fully licensed and offers a wine list to satisfy all tastes. Drinks are offered at Club prices and the Club is proud of its wine list, which includes a selection of connoisseur wines.
The Club prides itself in the extent to which its facilities are made available to the community. This includes organisations such as Rotary, Universities, Student Bodies, Welfare Organisations, Professional Associations and many more.
Gone are the days that the facilities were reserved for members only, although membership provides substantial benefits in the form of discounts on food, drinks and function room facilities. The public are now welcome to share the Club’s facilities, to arrange functions or just drop in for a meal or a drink.
The Club offers employment to a complement of loyal permanent employees as well as a number of students on an ad hoc basis, as and when required.
The current owner of the building in which the Club is housed has invested heavily in the building, whereas the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) has been responsible for the upgrade of the Trinder Square precinct opposite the Club’s premises. This has contributed substantially to the upliftment of the surrounding historic area which includes establishments such as the NMMU Art Gallery and Port Elizabeth High Court.
The Club is desirous of continiung to serve the people of Nelson Mandela Bay and environs whilst being a proud destination for visitors to the City, thereby contributing to the economic growth of the City. Despite constant changes of environment, the Club continues to serve all the people of Nelson Mandela Bay.
For further details, visit the Club’s Website www.pestgeorgesClub.co.za or Facebook page www.facebook.com/PEStGeorgesClub.
Alan Straton
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