Hillsborough Racquet Club
Hillsborough Wedding Location252 El Cerrito
Hillsborough, CA
Phone: 650/343-2062
www.hillsboroughracquetclub.org
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Description
The venerable Hillsborough Racquet Club has a lot in common with Katherine Hepburn. Like the actress, this venue has a great profile—polished looks and a dignified demeanor. But also like Hepburn, it doesn’t have an ounce of stiffness or stuffiness. HRC’s members love their place and enjoy all of its amenities, from its ballroom, patio and bar to the indoor badminton games they’ve played here for years. They have a lot to appreciate and they’re happy to share it with brides and grooms.
Located in a lovely residential neighborhood, the Club is surrounded by elms, cypresses and laurel hedges. The entrance faces away from the street, and it’s not until you walk around to it that you see just how beautiful the Club’s architectural elements are. The building’s design is based on the classical Greek Doric order, with clean, elegant lines. A handsome portico sweeps along the front in a shallow curve, opening to a patio with flowerbeds and the main entrance. Visitors enter a domed, parquet-floored foyer with hallways that lead off to a bridal changing room, a servers’ entrance, dining and music rooms, and the ballroom.
The ballroom is the heart of the Club and it’s easy to see why. It’s a large and airy, but not overwhelming space, ideal for dinner and dancing. The walls are finished in off-whites, and ornamentation is simple and subdued. The room’s main visual focuses are a large working fireplace on one side, capped with a Tudor arch, and a wall of windows and French doors on the opposite side, opening to the patio, which is a wonderful place for cocktails and outside dining. Decorators enjoy the room’s good "bones," and since HRC never hosts more than one function per weekend, there’s plenty of time for decorating.
Adjoining the ballroom is a bar and a "domino room." The bar, its white walls adorned with badminton racquets, is backed by a mirror that reflects light pouring in from the windows. The domino room next door has a very clubby feel, with its green plaid-covered cane furniture. It’s a fine place to sit and relax, and many wedding parties use it as a "quiet room" for guests who want to take a break from the festivities.
The dining room has a fireplace, brass chandelier, and "hounds and hunters" prints on the walls. French doors off the adjacent music room lead to the patio, a sunny space between the portico and main entrance that’s sheltered by a shade tree and lined with flowers and small hedges. The music room has a grand piano that stands against a light-loving wall of windows that’s often used a backdrop for small ceremonies. (Couples can also wed in the ballroom or on the patio, and HRC is close to several neighborhood churches.) Caterers love the very manageable staging kitchen off of the dining room. The changing room/ladies’ lounge next to the foyer is spacious enough so that a bride and her attendants would never feel cramped.
Built in 1913 as a polo club, HRC predates the incorporation of Hillsborough. Now, almost a century old, it’s an honored local institution. The bride who gets to have her function here knows she’s getting a special place. She has exclusive use of the facility during her event, and an experienced live-in manager is available to provide discreet and efficient assistance. From the moment you step through the entrance to your first glimpse of the ballroom, this is a place that grows on you by leaps and bounds. Indeed, like Kate Hepburn, it’s a class act that’s hard to resist.
Capacity
Ceremony |
Reception/Special Events |
Meetings |
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Max. Seated Indoors: 225 Max. Seated Outdoors: 50 |
Max. Seated Indoors: 225 Max. Seated Outdoors: 50 Max. Standing Indoors: 332 Max. Standing Outdoors: 60-70 |
Max. Seated: 225 |
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CEREMONY & EVENT/RECEPTION CAPACITY: Indoors, the Club holds 225 seated or 322 standing guests using all rooms of the club; the patio holds up to 50 seated or 60–70 standing guests. |
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Fees & Deposits
A $500 deposit is required. 50% of the rental fee is due 6 months prior to the event, the balance is due 3 months prior. Rental fees range $3,500–4,000 (depending on guest count) for a 5 hour block of time. Extra hours may be arranged.
Availability
Year-round, daily (except Thursdays) until 11pm.
CateringBYOAlcoholBYOSites UsesCeremoniesWedding Receptions Special Events, Parties Business Functions/Meetings Rehearsal Dinners Services/AmenitiesCatering: BYOKitchen Facilities: warming kitchen Tables & Chairs: provided Linens, Silver, etc.: through caterer Restrooms: wheelchair accessible Dance Floor: yes Bride's Dressing Area: yes Meeting Equipment: BYO Parking: ample on site Accommodations: no guestrooms Telephone: no Outdoor Night Lighting: CBA Outdoor Cooking Facilities: through caterer Cleanup: caterer and resident manager View: landscaped terrace Other: exclusive use of facility during event |
MusicIndoorsw/ Restrictions Wheelchair AccessWheelchair AccessibleSite ViewsGarden Patio/CourtyardLandscaped Grounds RestrictionsAlcohol: BYOSmoking: outdoors only Music: amplified OK indoors with restrictions Wheelchair Access: yes Insurance: liability required |
Wondering what CBA or BYO means?
650/343-2062
www.hillsboroughracquetclub.org
Email or request a proposal for your event from Hillsborough Racquet Club
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