Harrods reveals first ever private members’ club in Shanghai

In what it says is a global first, luxury British department store retailer Harrods has announced the launch of its very first private members’ club. The new club in Shanghai will open at the end of the year.

The Residence as it’s known is located in the Cha House in the heart of the city (one of Shanghai’s architectural heritage sites that’s also home to the Harrods Tea Room and Piano Bar). It “will epitomise Harrods’ quintessential British luxury, creating a destination committed to the finest hospitality for an exclusive membership community”.

It’s part of a wider trend that sees retailers branching out into other profitable non-retail areas but always with links back to retail.

The club will offer members world-class dining from Gordon Ramsay and will also provide them with some of the world’s rarest and most exclusive drinks. Residence members will be able to enjoy exclusive private dinners and masterclasses. Membership will come with automatic access to Black Tier status with Harrods Rewards and associated benefits in London as well as access to ultra-premium lifestyle services including Harrods Aviation, Harrods Estates, Harrods Interior Design and private shopping services at the Knightsbridge store.

The retailer’s MD Michael Ward said: “The Residence is being created to serve a curated community of discerning members. Membership is a unique proposition in Shanghai, offering not only world-class dining and spirits with a like-minded network but also unlocking exclusive Harrods international lifestyle and concierge services to create unparalleled experiences for every member.”

Only 250 members will be accepted to join The Residence with additional members considered following peer nominations. There will be three tiers of membership starting from 150,000 RMB (£16,000) a year.

For that, members can also “enjoy the club’s creative programming, designed to both entertain and deepen personal expertise in subjects including collecting rare bottles and art sourcing, as well as benefiting from access to Harrods’ extensive and unmatched concierge connections and luxury brand partners”.