Oh, please do bring out the makeover potion

A swanky lodge beginning on a downward slope is usually a fascinating sight. Throughout the years, individuals of my era and sophistication have witnessed the dimming of some brightly lit five-star and quasi-five-star institutions. I think that the actually wealthy do not take note of the decline of a spot they frequent. As soon as it is clear that a spot is not occurring anymore, they transfer on to the subsequent one which’s been topped as the most effective.

Just a few steps down the wealth staircase, nevertheless, individuals take some time to change into untrue. It isn’t so usually that they go to these locations. And the reminiscences fashioned there carry some weight, retain some momentum, that retains taking them again, until they, too, reluctantly determine to maneuver on.

Within the ’60s, a brand-new lodge opened in Calcutta. It was the place for fats wallets to go. The constructing was a contemporary 12-floor semi-skyscraper, the strains had been fashionable and clear, the odor of AC super-fresh, the espresso store serving prawn cocktails and sundaes that had been the most effective – or nearly the most effective – on the town, the swimming pool garnished with bikinied and small swimming-trunked individuals, the disco a brand new creature attacking our zehn. By the late ’70s, the place was completed, completely de-happened, working, because it had been, on empty.

What had occurred was that the Large Bruiser of the well-known previous lodge and the New Upstart on the busiest F&B avenue within the metropolis had each upped their sport. Within the meantime, the promoters of the 12-storey had reached the liner of their deep pockets. The lodge survives at this time, and has even reached a type of even keel, placing behind its decrepit years of the ’80s, ’90s and ’00s. But it surely’s nobody’s thought of an amazing place to park one’s customized.

Within the late ’80s, a brand new participant joined the hospitality roulette, a well-known chain title, first rate location, greater swimming pool, 3-4 eating places, good service from a trans-national employees. A few a long time later, different big-name resorts started to spring up alongside the airport street.

The placement of those new behemoths left quite a bit to be desired for these of us who stay in previous Calcutta. Nonetheless, for many loaded guests making transient forays into the Metropolis of Cloy, these resorts had been completely positioned near the airport and Rajarhat/New City a.okay.a. Kolkata’s Gurgaon. All this hotel-nama got here flooding into my reminiscence once I visited the Outdated Bruiser lately. Being one the 2 oldest resorts within the metropolis, the place has seen many dips and revivals throughout its century-plus life. Strolling in, all the things regarded the identical, and, maybe, that was a part of the issue. On this enterprise, stasis means entropy. The reception corridor had the same old tinkling of a piano – besides now it was piped. The employees had been absolutely native, younger, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, however the eyes did not discover a lot, and the tails had been very inexperienced. Greeting my pals who had been checking in, the identical two individuals had been falling over one another to finish the identical duties whereas different stuff was left unattended.

Within the corridors going across the courtyard swimming pool, a number of doorways had been padlocked. Within the rebranded espresso store, we requested for a desk for 3. ‘For proper now, ma’am?’ The particular person requested. ‘No, we’re right here to order a desk for subsequent yr,’ one in every of us nearly stated.

The meals was tolerable, however hardly memorable. The service heat, enthusiastic, and clueless. The wine overpriced and tasteless, and the most effective beer in India unavailable. It wasn’t a horrendous expertise. However you could possibly really feel that the chain working the lodge – a sequence for which this was as soon as the flagship property – was giving the place a stepmotherly therapy.

Ah, effectively, that is Kolkata, and we have seen all of it earlier than. Both the place will die. Or it should change arms. Each of which might be unhappy. Or, will probably be dropped right into a vat of makeover potion. Which might be good.