Richmond Upon Thames’ first private members club, The Richmond Club [Kew Road, Richmond, TW9 2PN], has taken the lead in the fight against COIVD to ensure their members and guests are a safe as possible by installing COVID-secure technology, Clenzair.

The business which opened its doors November last year following a six-figure investment, promptly closed them again following lockdown. “Our journey to opening the doors of The Richmond Club has been a bumpy one, with Government restrictions forever changing”, said Club Owner Maureen Heffernan. “Our priority however has always been to ensure we offer a safe environment for our members and their guests, so it was crucially important that we found a system that kills airborne bacteria and viruses.”

The advancement in technology has seen an explosion in systems including fogging machines and extraction systems. New to the market is Clenzair that has credible test data and operates without chemicals. It runs quietly in the background neutralising viruses, including COVID-19, both in the air and on surfaces.

“It was a no-brainer to invest in this system. It makes our venue completely safe to visit, work from or socialise in”, added Heffernan.

Across the country, the hospitality sector, including pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels, have lost circa £200m a day in sales in 2020[1]. However, the entrepreneurial team behind The Richmond Club found a gap in the market and opened a new business, with the knowledge and scientific reassurance that their venue was safe to operate in what has been the worst global pandemic of a generation.

Ben Shanks-Pepper, Manager of The Richmond Club, said: “In the design and planning of our new business, we were dedicated to ensuring that our operation was COVID-secure. We didn’t want to be reliant on cleaning companies or fogging systems that could not guarantee constant protection. We knew that this virus would be part of daily life for the foreseeable future, so we had to invest in the best technology out there. Our new Clenzair installation provides piece of mind and a sense of comfort for our team too, knowing they are working in a completely safe environment.”

“We would love to welcome our members through our doors, but that isn’t possible during the latest national lockdown lingers on. However, we have adapted our offer to ensure our members can still enjoy the fantastic food we offer through our ‘At Home’ range of food hampers and indulge in our ‘Shake your Own’ cocktail kits. Our online wine tastings and events will never take the place of a visit to our club, but we like to think there is room for a little bit of The Richmond Club at home.”

Luke Harris, CEO of Clenzair, said: “We are delighted to be working with The Richmond Club, its innovative approach to the setup of the business is inspiring. They have not only found a gap in the market to run a successful business, but they have recognised and appreciate the impact of our game-changing technology on their operation in the long run.

“We would urge the Government to embrace this technology in the fight against COVID-19. It will enable businesses to reopen safely, schools to get back to normal and care homes to eradicate a whole range of prolific viruses, not just COVID-19. The vaccine roll out is an enormously positive step in getting the UK economy back open safely and we can provide valuable support to keep it open and thriving. Our technology offers a safe solution that can attack a virus while suspended in the air immediately after a cough or a sneeze and also constantly sanitises touchpoint surfaces as well, allowing companies to operate as safely as possible.”