THE Grand Hotel, that has fallen into delapidation and decay in recent years is to be given another lease on life by a property development company.
THE Grand Hotel, that has fallen into delapidation and decay in recent years is to be given another lease on life by a property development company.
Talks are underway that may see the building restored to its former glory or renovated into student apartments.
The building, owned by Tom Coombs for the past six years, is currently used as office space by the South African Police Service. Coombs says this has been an under-utilisation of the building considering its former glory and the opportunities it holds. Coombs and partner Gerhardt Jooste, Managing Director of Prosperito Holdings, a national property development and investment company, intend to revamp the Grand Hotel to its former glory or even better.
“We want to restore the Grand Hotel to its former glory as a hotel,” said Jooste.
After being approached by Rhodes University to develop accommodation for them, Coombs and Jooste realised that the Grand had much potential which was being wasted.
New women’s residence?
The police will move out of the building on 30 June 2008. Until then, Coombs and Jooste will decide on the best course of action. One option is to turn the hotel into a women’s residence for Rhodes University as it is a few minutes away from the campus.
The public – and devoted Grand patrons of old – can have their say on the property’s redevelopment. A website has been established for people to to tell their stories of their Grand Hotel experiences and to hold interactive discussions of where to take the hotel. The website is expected to run for over a month.
Coombs and Jooste believe that by June next year they will know where to take the Grand Hotel with their multi-million rand investment.
The Grand Hotel dates back to the 18th century when it was the home of Sam Caw, a prominent 1820 settler. In 1870 it was turned into a railway hotel.
The Grand Hotel became well known for its superb cuisine and the splendour of its cellars. In 1984 the Grand Hotel won the Tastevin Award for the best wine list and selection of wine in the whole of South Africa. It was the venue of a great wine festival which drew visitors from all over South Africa and beyond.
