Cape Town - South Africa’s oldest hotel, the historic Houw Hoek Hotel in Grabouw, has been sold for R42 million.
The seven-hectare property was recently sold by Greeff Christie’s International Real Estate to new owners Robert Haarburger and Drew Danford.
Haarburger said: “We’ve changed the name back to Houw Hoek Hotel in line with its original title; it was named Houw Hoek Inn some 30 years ago.”
Houw Hoek Hotel bears the distinction of holding the oldest liquor licence in South Africa. It is located on the site of a tollgate established in the Dutch East India era, and was built in 1779, while the upper storey was added in 1860.
Since then there have been numerous additions and renovations, but the structures are still characterised by old-world grace and charm, and today Houw Hoek Hotel offers guests an elegant combination of history and natural beauty, located as it is in the heart of the Kogelberg (Biosphere) Reserve.
The hotel comprises 53 rooms, conferencing facilities, an a la carte restaurant and the Hitching Postpub.
Mike Greeff, chief executive of Greeff Properties, said that while the hotel had been in continuous operation for longer than any other hotel in South Africa, it was a modern, three-star facility.
Haarburger said: “We are planning to retain the three-star status along with all the traditional much-loved attractions, such as the scone tea and the legendary Saturday night dinner-dance and Sunday carvery.”
THE ARGUS