Calcutta, May 11: Chill out at the “city's largest sports bar” while trying your hand at darts, golf-putting or virtual games. Or transport yourself to Havana and soak in the ambience of the “unique” cigar lounge, or simply relax by the swimming pool with cascading-waterfall curtain and sundeck. Recharge.

Calcutta’s latest new-age club, Princeton, is gearing up to uncork the excitement in July, adding a swank new stop to the ever-expanding clubbing circuit of the city. Spread over 65,000 sq ft, the Rs 10-cr project on Prince Anwar Shah Road, opposite Navina cinema, aims to cater to the “upper middle class” milieu.

“Among this fast-growing segment, membership to a club is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. And by creating points of interest and value for all ages, we will make Princeton a meaningful rendezvous for the entire family,” says Sushil Mohta, managing director of Merlin Group, developers of the club located inside the Merlin Residency highrise complex.

The management is looking at an “optimum” membership strength of around 1,000, with more than 400 “already enrolled”.

In-house enrolment from the Residency dwellers is expected to be around 120, with the rest sold to walk-ins at an “introductory” entry fee of Rs 1.2 lakh.

An affiliate of International Health Racquets and Sportsclubs Association (IHRSA), Princeton will offer its members reciprocal benefits in 4,000 clubs worldwide.

Apart from the cigar lounge, which would stock the “finest rare cigars” from all across the globe, the 4,000-sq-ft sports bar promises to be a major draw, with its dance floor, projector with screen, virtual reality games and provision for segregation into ‘adult’ and ‘teenage’ arenas.

“Today’s youth doesn’t want to just drink and vegetate. They seek out activities and socialising openings,” says Mohta.

To provide them with all the relevant options, the club will have a 4,000-sq-ft health club and spa, complete with Technogym equipment, besides jacuzzi-sauna, a health food centre, a coffee shop, multi-cuisine and speciality restaurants, children’s games parlour, library, squash court, pool and billiards, cards room.

Chambers, an exclusive three-boardroom facility replete with secretarial services and hi-tech gadgetry, will double as the lavish banquet hall.

To ensure maximum usage of the facilities and discourage idling members, the club management is planning to give out membership till 2040.

“Princeton is a compact club, offering an international ambience,” says architect Dulal Mukherjee, who conceptualised the initial design.

Mumbai-based Edifice is the interiors consultant for schematic designs of the property, to be managed by “professionals from the hospitality industry”.

The club will offer regular events for its members, including workshops on art, music, theatre and yoga, besides crash courses in the performing arts, dance, aerobics, meditation and cookery.

“We hope our experience in running the country club Ibiza (on Diamond Harbour Road) successfully will help add critical value to Princeton,” feels Mohta.