Private clubs are the oldest tradition in the United Kingdom. Entrance there is carried out exclusively for active members of the club or by recommendation. Whether the club will open its doors to a potential member will be decided by the committee - the owners and top managers of the establishment: sometimes you can wait for a response for several months. London's clubs were once the preserve of men exclusively, but times have changed and so have club rules. Nowadays, many of the closed private clubs admit both men and women. As a rule, these are people from art, business and politics. For example, even Queen Elizabeth spent time in one of the most famous private clubs in London, Annabel’s.

English Club: continuation of traditions in Moscow

Mikhail Spektor, Sergey Solyakin

For Moscow, a closed club is not a new idea. But most often clubs are associated with noisy parties and go-go dancers. Sergey Solyakin and Mikhail Spektor went from the opposite: SPY Moscow is a completely different understanding of the word “club”. In December 2017, the club team won the Night2day award as “best concept of the year.” “In Moscow, before the appearance of SPY, there was not a single truly closed club, where there is no casual audience, where all guests behave appropriately: politely and intelligently, where the dress code is always observed and interesting evenings take place, with live accompaniment, with good cuisine and a pleasant atmosphere. Our mission is to introduce people to intellectual and intelligent recreation, to a different understanding of the word “club”. Even the name SPY stands for special, private, yours,” says the director of the SPY club Sergey Solyakin.

“Last August, I met with Sergei and representatives of the committee, which meets in London. Together, inspired by closed communities in England, we decided to focus on this in Moscow: we thought through the strategy very quickly, literally in a few days. At the same time, an interesting communication tool appeared - these are special agents SPY. They are not promoters in the traditional sense of the word, they are brand ambassadors who help guests feel comfortable in the club and create a special atmosphere,” said the author of the SPY promotion strategy, managing partner of Marketing partners, about the opening of the club. Mikhail Spektor.

Mikhail Spektor Photo courtesy of the press service

How to become a member of the club?

You can become a club card holder only on the recommendation of full members and by filling out an application form: the committee, which is based in London, can consider the application for several weeks. There cannot be “random” people in the club - high social status and wealth do not guarantee the approval of the committee. The creators of SPY Moscow have decided: for them, the quality of guests is more important, not the quantity. These words are confirmed by the fact that failure to comply with the club rules results in expulsion. For example, entry to the club is closed to people under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Mikhail Spektor: “Who is already a member of the club? We do not disclose information about club members, as this is a closed community.”

Despite the fact that absolutely anyone can become a member of the club (upon the recommendation of an existing club member), there is a practice of fees. “Many people have the question: “Why should I pay this fee?” I answer: we strive to make SPY Moscow a second home for guests - a place where club members enjoy spending time, relaxing and communicating with each other. The club supports itself through the membership fee. That is, guests become participants in every event in the club: renovation, repairs, and so on. Let me give you the example of London's Annabel's. Original works of art and paintings hang in the interior. And I understand: this is mine, I made my contribution. And that’s why these works of art are here,” says Mikhail Spektor.

Today, membership in SPY Moscow is a privilege, and the committee regularly receives applications from those who wish to become part of this unique community. Of course, the chance of becoming a member of SPY Moscow is much higher if there is a recommendation from an existing club member and you accept the club rules. One of them is strict adherence to the dress code: cocktail, black tie. At the same time, guests of the establishment can always rent, for example, a jacket at the club if they did not have time to change clothes before the evening.

Sergey Solyakin, Mikhail Spektor Photo courtesy of the press service

Members-only club SPY

Address: Triumfalnaya Square, 24

What is the SPY club, and why is it called closed?

This is a unique space in the center of Moscow, open to its own people. Once inside, you won’t worry that anyone will interfere with your comfortable rest - there are only friends and friends of friends around. You can relax, even leave your phone on the bar counter and go to the next room - when you return, it will remain in the same place.

In addition, you will enjoy personalized service. The food and drink menu, for example, is revised every week, adapting to the tastes of regulars. If you love something, is it already or is in SPY, or coming soon. And each of the waiters will tell you about the detailed wine or bar list, as befits a certified sommelier.

How to become a member of a closed club?

You need a membership card. There are only one type of cards, inside SPY everyone is equal.

How to get it?

You need to submit an application to the club's concierge service. Recommendations from other club members or agents (more on them below) will be a big plus. If the decision is positive, it will be delivered to you soon. And from now on, you are a welcome guest within the walls SPY.

By the way, why "SPY"? Is this about spies?

In a sense, yes. Firstly, the establishment is designed in the aesthetics of spy films from the golden era of Hollywood - with its exquisite outfits and good sparkling wine in a tall glass. Secondly, on SPY There are several agents working as brand ambassadors for the establishment. You can meet them anywhere - from sports clubs to big premieres, get to know and chat with them - and, perhaps, get a recommendation from them that will make it easier to obtain a membership card.

SPY club team

Oh yes - back in SPY There is a selfie room where you can take a photo with James Bond.

What happens within the walls of SPY?

Guests have fun, attend themed evenings - for example, cigar or wine tastings, get to know each other and find useful connections, try new dishes, listen to live performances of their favorite artists, and sometimes sing karaoke themselves.

The club is open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 18:00 until the last guest.

In the very center of Moscow it is easy to find: large doors with a small sign have been opening since 2016 directly opposite the famous swing at the Satire Theater. Becoming a member of a club with strict face control, your own aquarium with lobsters and oysters and a chef from Canada is not so easy - to do this you need to meet Spy agents and pass their verification, but you can always sign up for a guest visit.

Chef

Linton Novak

I divided the menu because of the design features of our club - there is a restaurant downstairs where people come for dinner and can order salads and hot dishes. On the ground floor there is a lounge area, where the atmosphere is less intimate. I decided to move away from classic finger food and dilute the menu with Japanese sushi, rolls and sashimi. In Moscow they really love this - you come on a date with a girl, order a cocktail, chat, and a juicy steak languishes on the table. No, that won’t happen here: a set of different rolls decorated with ginger is better.

We bring fresh seafood and store it in a separate aquarium: sea urchins, langoustines, scallops, oysters and crabs. Guests can choose a sea reptile, before their eyes we will catch it from the aquarium and serve it in any form: ceviche, carpaccio, tartare, baked or on ice. On Saturdays we sell seafood at cost.

We are constantly changing the menu, removing old ones and trying to add something new. I have a lot of experience, and I try not to repeat dishes that I have already made. Moscow is not yet ready for some products: for example, we recently made a dish with salsify root. Guests saw the name and refused to even try it, so we removed it.

In Moscow they really love this - you come on a date with a girl, order a cocktail, chat, and a juicy steak languishes on the table. No, that won’t happen here: a better set of different rolls decorated with ginger

There is a problem with food in Russia. It always seemed to me that within six months or a year after the sanctions were announced, they would learn how to make good cheese here, but on the shelves you can still only buy “Russian” cheese. He is, of course, not bad, but still he is only one. I also don’t understand what the problem is with growing normal meat in Russia, opening farms and greenhouses for vegetables. It turns out that good vegetables can only be bought in the summer, and then they will be brought from near Asia. Norway, Finland and Canada have very similar climates, but they somehow managed to cope with it. Moreover, there is clearly a demand, but no offers. Almost every day I go to the market to see my, one might say, friends, spend a long time choosing products, monitoring the quality and selecting every tomato.

I have a team of 12 people working with me in the kitchen, all of them from Russia. I never stop teaching them, and before giving the dish to the waiter, I check it personally. Sometimes visitors call me because they are unhappy with something. One gentleman argued for a long time with the waiter, then with the manager, then he called me, and we talked about hockey for 20 minutes. He immediately forgot about his claims. It's hard to find someone who wants to be in a bad mood, but sometimes little things can ruin your day. I really don't want my food to become such a detail. Therefore, I always try to do everything at the highest level.

Cannelloni

1,500 rubles

Stuffed with crab and shrimp, with sea urchin and red caviar cream. “Even though this is a relatively simple dish, it is one of my favorites. The paste goes well with the fresh taste of crab,
and the sauce of sea urchin and red caviar adds an unusual touch to the dish.

Saddle of lamb

1,600 rubles

With butternut squash puree and caramelized pecans. “We make this meat especially tender, you can eat it with a spoon. Some people think I serve it raw.
We actually make it using sous vide technology. (cooking food in a vacuum - Ed.),
and then I just add a little color with a light roast.

Baked vegetables

800 rubles

With goat cheese mousse and blueberry glaze. “Moscow has a big problem with vegetables. Even if you pay double the price, it does not guarantee that they will be of good quality. Half of my working day is spent selecting worthy products. I don’t understand why you can’t make greenhouses and grow tomatoes
with the taste and texture of tomatoes,
not watery red balls.

Material prepared with the support of

At the end of May 2016, “SPY Moscow” opened - a premium club that hosts A-list stars, combining all the best in the world: cuisine, service, architectural and design solutions. When selecting equipment and developing a control system, the Sound Technologies company used only innovative, high-quality sound and lighting equipment that corresponds to the high level of the establishment and amazes even the most sophisticated musicians and DJs.

The entire space of the club is divided into several zones. You will feel the unique characteristics, quality and purity of sound immediately upon crossing the threshold. Voice Acoustic ALEA 4 passive acoustic systems are installed in the entrance area, which are attached to the ceiling using aesthetic, compact brackets, slightly smaller in size than a handball ball. This is exactly the case when what is seen is not comparable to what is heard. It’s hard to believe that such quality and power can be extracted from such miniature systems. Of course, all this splendor is complemented by the power of the Voice Acoustic HDSP 3A amplifier and the Voice Acoustic Paveosub-112 passive subwoofer located under the DJ stand. The entrance area of ​​the club operates in several modes. One of them is a DJ performance; for this purpose, a popular set of PIONEER equipment is installed in a special rack.

Next you find yourself in a large hall, where a feeling of weightlessness overtakes you. To implement the tasks of background sound, we installed powerful and discreet acoustic systems LB Lautsprecher S2 with a size of only 2.5 ". They are also attached to a bracket to the ceiling and, in combination with a subwoofer built into the ceiling, create the most dense and uniform sound possible. The concert acoustic system consists of two compact passive subwoofers Voice Acoustic Subhorn-115 installed in niches of the stage, and two passive satellites Voice Acoustic Modular-10 located on suspended metal trusses above the stage and a power amplifier Voice Acoustic HDSP-3A.

This little kit delivers crazy sound quality. Thus, we achieved high-quality, top-end sound with limited room dimensions and a low ceiling. All control of the stage sound and lighting complex is located in a rack on the stage. The Behringer x32 producer mixing console allows you to solve all the necessary problems, and for performing stars there are three input panels for connecting an external source. The kit also includes two SHURE BLX-24E professional vocal microphones. The stage lighting complex is controlled using the IMG Stageline DMX 1440 lighting console. When creating lighting scenarios and creating custom settings, Sound Technologies specialists took into account the maximum ease of further use. To illuminate the musicians and DJs performing on stage, six spot-type devices and two mini-heads mounted on a truss structure were used. Also adding to the holiday impression are six miniature light robots mounted under the ceiling along the perimeter of the hall. Their multi-colored rays cover the entire space. All this corresponds to the high level of holding banquets, mass celebrations, receptions, concerts, including “live performances”, dance programs and discos.

More intimate groups enjoy rich, impeccable sound in five LOUNGE rooms. These are rooms for relaxation and dancing, for a small number of guests, separated from each other by glass partitions. All of them are equipped with similar acoustic systems as the hall - LB Lautsprecher S2, suspended from the ceiling. And compact B6 ST subwoofers are installed in a niche behind the sofa, which fits perfectly with the overall design concept of the room. Sound amplification is carried out using an LB Lautsprecher PA 2100 SD amplifier. The background sound control system in LOUNGE rooms has independent volume control and signal source selection, which promotes comfortable communication between guests.

When you go down the stairs, the sound of first-class acoustics Monacor EDL-11TW/SI flows above you, which is also installed in the bathrooms and controlled using a Monacor PA-14500 sound amplifier. Music with perfect sound covers the entire space of the club and keeps you on your toes.

Now the staircase leads us to a cozy large hall with mirrored ceilings and six columns, but here too there is a unique solution. Hidden communications under the low ceiling made it impossible to install ceiling acoustics. Therefore, in order to uniformly fill every centimeter of the hall with high-quality sound, it was decided to install an active acoustic set Voice Acoustic Subsat La-Stick 4×4, with a power of 3 kW.

It remains to say the most interesting and most important thing - how can you easily and imperceptibly direct concert sound, DJ performance and sound from the video wall to any of the zones? The sound signal can be directed from any source and to any zone simultaneously and independently of each other using wall control panels. All control occurs through the brain center in the form of an Apart Audiocontrol 12.8-set audio matrix, which is located in the server room, and two Monacor M200 players can reproduce a signal from any media, as well as streaming radio.

Find SPY Moscow and you will remember its sound forever!