Pegu Club is a recognized heritage site in Yangon, Myanmar, which was a Victorian-style Gentlemen's club founded in 1871 during the British colonization of Burma. The building was built in 1880 and finished in 1882. Pegu Club used to be a place for British officials to spend their time for a drink or two. It was well known because of its signature Pegu Club Cocktail. In southeast Asia, Pegu Club was an equivalent place to the Royal Selangor Club of Kuala Lumpur and The Tanglin Club of Singapore. Rudyard Kipling, as a young newspaperman, visited Pegu Club when he was in Yangon in 1889. In 1922, Paul Theroux visited Pegu Club in the early 1970s and wrote about it in his book The Great Railway Bazaar. The restoration of Pegu Club building was conducted by , , and and finished its first phase in 2018.
History & overview
Establishment
Pegu Club was first established in 1880s and it was originally founded in 1871. The club was located originally on Ma Naw Hari Street which was called Cheape Road during the colonial times. In 1882, membership exceeded the capacity of the clubhouse and the club moved to the current location at the corner of Pyay, Zagawar and Padonmar Roads, right across from the embassy of Russia in Yangon. The name Pegu Club was mentioned in The Imperial Gazetteer of India of 1909 which officiated the name.
Altered functions
British Colonies
During the British occupation of Myanmar, Pegu Club served as a place for the British officers and administrators. According to Rudyard Kipling, who spent his night at Pegu Club during his visit to Yangon, Pegu Club was famously known as the only place in Yangon that sold mutton at that time.
Japanese Era
In 1942, the Japanese Imperial Army took over the country from the British and Pegu Club became a property of the Japanese army. Calling the club a "comfort station", Pegu Club became a brothel for the army men. After the country's independence in 1948, the place was abandoned and taken over by the Burmese army.
After independence, the compound was used as a tax office by the Military until Myanmar became socialist in 1962 and the premises were nationalized. The main building was used as a pension office while the government officials and their families lived in the surrounding buildings. The compound was then abandoned after the state capital moved to Naypyidaw in 2002.
Today
In 2018, the first phase of restoration was undertaken to serve as a multi-purpose event venue by KT Group together with The Beaumont Partnership and Yangon Heritage Trust. The second phase is planned for the near future. The Pegu Club building is now recognized as one of the heritage sites of Yangon by having the Blue Plaque given by Yangon Heritage Trust.
Compound
The premise has the main clubhouse, the Prince of Wales Great Hall, the gardens and the residential area with tennis courts.
Main Clubhouse
Constructed of teak wood, the main clubhouse was built to withstand the heat. It has louvered doors and windows at the upstairs living quarters allowing cross-ventilation. The building has high ceilings and the carriageway and carriage porch are separated--showcasing the high social status of the building. The Windsor Lounge is located in the main building which is now renovated and ready to be used. The lounge is 110 square meters big and can host up to 20 guests for cocktail events. Another room is the drawing-room overlooking the gardens with enough space for 30 people to dine.
The Great Hall was built in anticipation of the Prince of Wales in 1922. The Great Hall is 284 square meters big, can host 120 guests for cocktail events and 100 guests for theater and banquet.
Somerset Court
Between the main building and the Prince of Wales Great Hall is the Somerset Court. It is 333 square meters big and can host 150 guests for cocktail events and 100 guests for a banquet.
The Gardens
There are three gardens in the compound of Pegu Club: Swedaw, Thazin, and Ingyin which are 2600, 1550 and 840 square meters big respectively.
Membership
During the colonial period, membership was limited to Caucasians only even though the text says "all gentlemen with interest in general society". Under Japanese rule, the Japanese also did not allow local Burmese inside the club except for a few exceptions.
Pegu Club Cocktail
Pegu Club cocktail was first introduced in the 1920s. The cocktail became popular in the 1930s when it was featured in The Savoy Cocktail Book. In Yangon, the Pegu Club cocktail is available in the Strand Hotel, The Governor's Residence, and as of 2018, at the original Pegu Club. In New York City, a bar named Pegu Club serves the cocktail.
In New York City SoHo District, a bar was opened in 2015 named after the Pegu Club serving the Pegu Club cocktail. It was one of the earliest bars leading to the modern renaissance in American bartending and cocktail-making. It closed in 2020 as a result of reduced business due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A start-up table-top game studio called is now developing a partial fictional board game inspired by the Pegu Club. The game is based on the alternate version of 19th century Rangoon, featuring cards based on historical location. The game is designed by Naing Lin Kyaw with the art of Zune Ei Htet and Sai Laung Linn.
