This New Year’s eve, Mumbai will let the bucks flow with the booze

Vishal Singh (28), a builder, doesn’t want to celebrate New Year’s Eve “with every Tom, Dick and Harry”. Which is why he paid close to Rs 1 lakh to book an exclusive table for four couples at Aurus, a posh Juhu lounge, report Tasneem Nashrulla and Purva Mehra.

Vishal Singh (28), a builder, doesn’t want to celebrate New Year’s Eve “with every Tom, Dick and Harry”. Which is why he paid close to Rs 1 lakh to book an exclusive table for four couples at Aurus, a posh Juhu lounge.

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The downturn and terrorism were the underlying themes in 2008 with most five-star hotels and lounges either cancelling their New Year parties or holding low-key events.

In 2009, however, it’s glitz, glamour and exclusivity that Mumbai’s partygoers are willing to pay sky-high prices for.

Karan Shah (26), the founder of Nite D3vil that is organising the party at Aurus, said: “It’s a very high-profile event limited to 350 people.”

Besides performances by two top DJs from India and the UK, they are offering a menu drawn up by celebrity chef Vicky Ratnani, who has served the likes of Hillary Clinton and Queen Elizabeth. “People are opting for private themes, even though they are more expensive, as they want exclusive affairs,” said Shah. Fifty couple passes priced at Rs 15,000 each have already been booked.

Not far from Aurus, JW Marriott has sold 800 of its 2,000 passes, each costing

Rs 9,000. The theme is ‘Mystique’ with nine interlinked party zones. A hotel employee, requesting anonymity, said: “The event’s likely to be sold out.”

At last year’s terror targets — the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel and Trident — it’s business as usual. An exclusive Mediterranean dinner for two at Casablanca, part of Taj’s Souk restaurant, is priced at Rs 29,500 per couple, while the buffet will set a single person back by Rs 9,000.

A New Year meal at the Golden Dragon costs

Rs 25,000 per couple, while dinner at Trident’s Indiana Jones restaurant is pegged at Rs 6,500 per person. Authorities from both hotels said they were receiving several inquiries for New Year’s Eve.

Last year, passes at Taj Lands End in Bandra cost Rs 4,500 a couple. This year, the passes are priced at Rs 6,000. Of the limit of 1,500 couples, 600 are already on board.