The Nth Degree Club, an exclusive private dining club from the United Kingdom, is launching in Dubai. We catch up with its founder Robert Walton ahead of its launch on Wednesday, November 19.
How did you first develop this dining-club concept?
aWell, in London I decided to bring CEOs and captains of industry together in private dining rooms and it went extremely well. And the reason I chose this industry is because I’m also the president of The Restaurant Association of Great Britain. London is pretty much recognised as the hospitality and food capital of the world right now, so sitting people around tables in private venues has never been more popular.
Why choose Dubai to replicate the model?
Firstly, people in Dubai absolutely love dining out, and in this city our primary aim is to sit the right people next to each other in the right venue. It’s a very competitive city and I think we’re bringing something special to it. Dubai provides the perfect platform for the club, as it’s so multicultural.
What’s the aim of the club? Networking, socialising, bringing gastronomes together?
We say the club is about building friendships, relationships and business connections. It’s about creating a wonderful dining experience for those who may or may not have met each other. Our tables normally seat about 15 to 20 people and once those people – from different industries – sit around the same table, the conversations are amazing. The dining is incredible, too, and in London, depending on where we are and whether we’re with Jason Atherton or Heston Blumenthal, for example, we’ll ask the chef to come out to meet our guests. We provide something quite unique – it’s not just a networking meal. We’ll do exactly the same thing in Dubai – giving people access to exclusive people, restaurants and their private dining rooms.
Which Dubai private dining rooms will you hold events at?
La Serre, Zuma, At.mosphere, among others. We’ve been taken aback by the incredible enthusiasm for the club in Dubai. The city’s venues have wonderful new potential for us, because so many have outdoor space, compared to London.
How does one become a member?
In Dubai, we’re creating a list of potential members; there are also people who’ve expressed an interest. I’ve been to Dubai three times and met lots of people who were recommended to us from London also, which is part of the process.
Which chief executives and socialites are on the list?
We’ve talked to all kinds of people, from those in banking to PR to luxury watches, to Rolls-Royce. It’s about picking people from all walks and I wouldn’t want to, because we have yet to officially launch, name names. There are 120 people set to attend on Wednesday and of those, there are some serious players in Dubai.
In addition to an annual membership fee, is all food and beverage extra?
Yes, that’s right. Members are also invited to the many sporting events we organise, such as the Abu Dhabi and Monaco Grand Prix. Members in Dubai will also be able to participate in events in London and vice versa.
Which other cities are on your radar?
We’re looking to expand to two new cities, which we can’t yet name, next year. The goal is 10 cities in five years, making it a truly global dining club.
• Applications for The Nth Degree Club Dubai are still open. For more information, go to www.thenthdegreeclub.com/the-club
rduane@thenational.ae
