Tim and Emily Zobl, owners of The Clubhouse in Westport, say the number one thing they have heard since opening in February is “Westport needed something like this.” It’s easy to see why the sentiment is a common reaction: quite simply, it’s true. The Clubhouse is a first-of-its-kind for Westport, combining elements of a sports bar, a golf simulator, a karaoke spot, a darts hall, a gastropub, a rooftop beer garden, and a high-tech hangout all under one, peanut-free roof. “Westport has amazing restaurants. It has great shopping, it has great outdoor activities. But there was no indoor activity space,” says Tim. “We just kind of ran with the idea.”
Crucially, Tim says, The Clubhouse is for everyone. “We had a goal to make this a place that wasn't, for lack of a better term, a guy’s hangout,” he says. “Yes, it's a sports bar. Yes, it's golf, but it's so much more than that.” The beverage program is full of “curated, thoughtful cocktails” and Chef Katie leads a team that makes everything from scratch, from sauces to fried pickles. Plus, the activities— from the aforementioned karaoke to trivia to rooftop cornhole— appeal to every kind of fun-seeker.
Walking through The Clubhouse you can’t help but be blown away by how high-tech everything is: the dart boards are connected to scoring screens that digitally record point values for laser-precise competition (and GIF-like reactions to particularly good or bad throws). The golf simulators also offer minigames in other sports like soccer. (Golf reservations are available in 90-minute chunks, and Tim says after the initial hour groups often start experimenting with the other sports offered on the simulators). The LED video wall in the main dining area can project up to four games at once. In other words: imagine an ultra-modern, adult-ified basement in the coolest house on the block.
Emily grew up in Westport, and connection to the town that raised her was something she wanted to harness in their project. The Clubhouse was built on local talent, and since opening, the husband-and-wife team have prioritized dynamically responding to feedback from customers (early examples included tweaking their beer sizes and increasing the golf blocks from 60 to 90 minutes based on what patrons wanted).
Ultimately, The Clubhouse is a family business. That peanut free kitchen? That’s because Tim and Emily’s older child has a peanut allergy, and they know the importance of offering peanut-free spaces. Hang out at The Clubhouse for a night and you’ll feel like part of the family, too.
For more information or to reserve an activity, go to theclubhousewestport.com
“Yes, it's a sports bar. Yes, it's golf, but it's so much more than that.”