THE HUB NOW &...
Wait… is The Hub closing?!
Yes… but breathe! It’s only closing because it’s going to be back in a new avatar. “The Hub will undergo a complete makeover this year. Being an all-day diner it has the maximum interface with guests. I am sure they would highly appreciate the new avatar,” says Samrat Datta, general manager, Taj Bengal.
When does it close?
April 1 is the last day the coffee shop stays open (and no, this is not an April Fool’s Day joke).
But why?
Sixteen years have passed since The Hub opened in 2001. “Like any great establishment, upgrade and new implementation is a way of life. Periodic change and adapting to new innovations is a mantra which we have always believed in at the Taj. We have listened to the voice of our esteemed guests and have planned the renovations to meet and exceed their expectations,” says Samrat.
When is the new space expected to open?
The renovated new restaurant should be ready by mid-October.
Where can we continue to get The Hub signatures like Chicken In A Basket, Pan-Seared Sole and Hot Chocolate Mud Pie?
The Promenade Lounge will act as the hotel’s coffee shop. Seating here will be for around 90 (roughly the same as The Hub) and it will stay open 24 hours. Plus, there’s always Sonargaon, Souk, Chinoiserie and La Patisserie and Deli!
Give us a sneak peek at what the new Hub will look like!
The new restaurant will have interactive kitchens and state-of-the-art buffet spreads. The new design will be unique and contemporary with a Calcutta touch. “It will incorporate more space and increase seating by 30 per cent between the main floor and the mezzanine. The concept of the menu will be an international food theatre. Our brigade of chefs are working hard researching an exquisite menu. We would like to keep it as a surprise till we raise the curtains!” says Samrat.
Any other changes in the Alipore landmark?
Yes, more banquet space! Portico Plus will open from April 15 to October 15 (mainly the hot months) offering 6,000sq ft of banquet space. The tag line? ‘Come rain or shine, we’ve got you covered’. So no need to trim the long guest lists for your party, wedding or corporate event.
Then, some rooms are being revamped.
There will also be elements of “Tajness”, the group’s brand and operations philosophy for the future as coined by Rakesh Sarna, MD and CEO, Indian Hotels Company Limited. In August 2016, he had said, “By December 31, 2017, Tajness will exist and prosper in every hotel”. At that time Sarna spoke about changing the staff attire to sherwanis, saris and salwar suits, rituals like The Arrival Ritual (aarti-tika-garland) to The Sunset Ritual and the elimination of the hotel lobby or the front desk and cashier.
... 16 YEARS AGO
54 ROOMS WITH A VIEW
We are bringing in a completely new look for 54 pool-facing rooms in the first phase this year. This will involve a complete makeover with regard to design, space and technology. We shall keep the Taj Bengal charm intact and give every room a touch of classic Calcutta! Besides this, the essence of our brand which is ‘Tajness’ will exude through all our implementations — Samrat Datta, general manager, Taj Bengal, who started his career at The Esplanade (now The Hub)
Karo Christine Kumar
My favourite memory of The Hub is... Tell t2@abp.in
