Socially Distanced Entertainment

The Grounds is the first recreational space in Hong Kong purpose-built for the era of COVID-19. Founder Simon Wilson talks about the challenges of keeping people apart rather than bringing them together with Helen Dalley

The Grounds is the first recreational space in Hong Kong purpose-built for the era of COVID-19. We interview its founder, Simon Wilson

Can you explain the concept of the Grounds?

It’s been created to give Hong Kongers a space to play and be entertained safely. It offers 100 socially distanced pods, each equipped with two or four deck chairs, a table and a lamp. Sized at 2.5sqm, these picket fenced gardens have 1.5m distance between each pod. From this private space, guests can watch movies and sports events on a big screen, enjoy live music, take part in wellness classes and join in with interactive quizzes. Food and drink are placed via an app and delivered to the pod, and guests may only leave to use the bathroom or exit the venue.

Why did you set it up?

I lost my job at a sports entertainment company during the pandemic and established the Grounds to give Hong Kongers something to look forward to and get excited about. At the moment, every day can feel a bit the same, as we don’t have those big events like Art Basel coming to the city. I didn’t want to let 2020 just pass us by, and the brands we’ve partnered with took a leap of faith to ride this rollercoaster with us. We’ve been overwhelmed by the response to ticket sales so far, with many events already sold out. People are thanking us and telling us this is just what they need.

What have been some of the challenges of establishing the Grounds?

Much of the thinking has been counter-intuitive to how you usually operate events. We’ve had to think about how to not gather people and isolate them in their own pod. You have a deconstructed dessert – this is like a deconstructed event!

Hong Kong has many dining options and public spaces with outdoor seating options for socialising. What are you offering that’s different?

It’s a considered, curated experience. We’ve created a space that offers something different every evening, whether that’s live music, quizzes or a movie, or simply somewhere to lounge with a book and a coffee. We’re open at 5pm for food and drink, so you can sit in your deckchair while someone brings dinner to your pod, and that in itself is a great attraction. People want to come in earlier and enjoy the facility, and it can be a five or six hour experience.

We’re working with the Italian and Australian chambers of commerce in Hong Kong on events themed around those

countries. The Italian event, for example, will bring Italian language cinema and Italian cuisine to Hong Kong. People miss travel, so we want to fulfil that wanderlust.

Tell us about the F&B offerings

We’ve partnered with local food court BaseHall to enhance the consumer experience, with everything from tacos to laksa on offer. We’re giving local F&B operators the chance to trial new concepts like rotitori, a Japanese rotisserie chicken offering from Yardbird restaurant.

With many live music venues still closed, you are also providing a platform for local musicians…

Yes, we’re collaborating with Bounce, which puts on music festivals throughout the city. We want to be a support network to those guys and give local musicians somewhere to play.

What are your plans for 2021?

We hope to work with more brands and experiment with new concepts. There are already plans afoot to expand our partnership with Lululemon, which currently offers morning wellness classes at the Grounds. Whether it’s food, wine, crossfit or orienteering, we want to amplify [events] and add a layer of content. There’s a real opportunity for brands to create concepts from scratch with us.

How long will The Grounds be open?

The future is so fluid… if borders are closed, then we can give people a taste of what they are missing overseas. The format depends on what’s possible due to social distancing, so we will have to wait and see. We’re keeping a close eye on Chinese New Year.

Are there are aspirations to debut this concept anywhere else?

Yes, we’d like to take this around the Greater Bay area, and other events too.

We have a street art concept we’d like to take around the region, and hope to roll that out mid to late next year.

It’s something that we’re analysing in real time, as you have to be agile in the time of COVID-19. We’re not making heaps of money, it’s more of a break even exercise. But we just wanted to do something. thegroundshk.com