Word on the street is that Chefette Holetown has been sold and is soon to be torn down to make way from yet more beachfront condominiums. Apparently it was purchased by the same individual who bought the adjoining former Regent/Golden Palms resort which was sold at auction last year and is currently fenced off for redevelopment. There is a little anecdote which goes that when the new owner of the Regent/Golden Palms won the auction and thought he had a steal he was stunned after writing his check for US $42 million to learn that the auction he won was actually BDS $42 million. Perhaps it is with the savings from that transaction that he bought Chefette Holetown since word on the street is that he paid BDS $43 million for the restaurant and the beachfront land it sits on.
Many locals and tourists alike will miss the restaurant when it is finally gone primarily because of its location on the beach as one of the few remaining accessible “windows to the sea” on the west coast. It is one of the only places where you could pickup an affordable meal and enjoy it while taking in an unobstructed ocean view at the same time. But, business is business, and it is clear the restaurant was not doing as well as it could even for such a prime beachfront location. They pulled the Barbeque Barn a few years ago and for the last year and a half or so the only lines this blogger noticed in the restaurant were those created by the slow help or when there was a shift change. The Haloutes must have concluded that they could probably build another restaurant somewhere else in or around Holetown and still pocket a fortune on the sale of the current location.
At the moment all of this is just rumor, but as one nervous staff member put it, when they pulled the Barbeque Barn out of Chefette Holetown that too was first just rumor for a while also.
Jentillia
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Under Rihanna's Umbrella
Grammy-winning singing sensation, Rihanna, just landed herself a prime piece of property at the Apes Hill Club compliments of the Government and people of Barbados. The announcement was made last Thursday night by the new Prime Minister of Barbados, David Thompson, at an open-air concert in Independence Square, Bridgetown, Barbados to honor the singer for her recent Grammy win for her hit song “Umbrella.” Thousands of Bajans turned out to welcome the singer home and to witness her being designated as a Youth and Cultural Ambassador of Barbados. To seal the appreciation of the people of Barbados for her success in putting the tiny 166 sq. mile island on the music and cultural map the government gave her a piece of land in the 5-star golf and polo resort under development at Apes Hill in St. James overlooking the west coast.
Rihanna joins a growing list of rich and famous people including England Cricket Captain, Michael Vaughan, who have already purchased properties at the prestigious resort. The 470 acres US $1 billion resort boasts an 18-hole Pete Dye/Greg Norman golf course (under construction), a polo field (completed) - home of the Apes Hill Polo Club at Waterhall, St. James, and plans for 200 villas, 150 townhouses and a 5-star hotel and spa. Rihanna will also have access to the resort’s recently opened beach club a few miles north of the property at Speightstown in St. Peter. Needless to say, the owners of the Apes Hill Club will be hoping to cash in on Rihanna’s celebrity to sell the resort and are doubtlessly singing along with her - “When the sun shines, we’ll shine together - Told you I'll be here forever - You can stand under my umbrella-ella-ella….”
Jentillia
Rihanna joins a growing list of rich and famous people including England Cricket Captain, Michael Vaughan, who have already purchased properties at the prestigious resort. The 470 acres US $1 billion resort boasts an 18-hole Pete Dye/Greg Norman golf course (under construction), a polo field (completed) - home of the Apes Hill Polo Club at Waterhall, St. James, and plans for 200 villas, 150 townhouses and a 5-star hotel and spa. Rihanna will also have access to the resort’s recently opened beach club a few miles north of the property at Speightstown in St. Peter. Needless to say, the owners of the Apes Hill Club will be hoping to cash in on Rihanna’s celebrity to sell the resort and are doubtlessly singing along with her - “When the sun shines, we’ll shine together - Told you I'll be here forever - You can stand under my umbrella-ella-ella….”
Jentillia
Friday, February 22, 2008
Under My “West Coast” Umbrella-ella-ella
Grammy-winning singing sensation, Rihanna, just landed herself a prime piece of property on the West Coast compliments of the Government and people of Barbados. The announcement was made last night by the new Prime Minister of Barbados, David Thompson, at an open-air concert in Independence Square, Bridgetown, Barbados to honor the singer for her recent Grammy win for her hit song “Umbrella.” Thousands of Bajans turned out to welcome the singer home and to witness her being designated as a Youth and Cultural Ambassador of Barbados. To seal the appreciation of the people of Barbados for her success in putting the tiny 166 sq. mile island on the music and cultural map the government gave her a piece of land in the 5-star golf and polo resort under development at Apes Hill in St. James overlooking the west coast.
Rihanna joins a growing list of rich and famous people including England Cricket Captain, Michael Vaughan, who have already purchased properties at the prestigious resort. The 470 acres US $1 billion resort boasts an 18-hole Pete Dye/Greg Norman golf course (under construction), a polo field (completed) - home of the Apes Hill Polo Club at Waterhall, St. James, and plans for 200 villas, 150 townhouses and a 5-star hotel and spa. Rihanna will also have access to the resort’s recently opened beach club a few miles north of the property at Speightstown in St. Peter. Needless to say, the owners of the Apes Hill Club will be hoping to cash in on Rihanna’s celebrity to sell the resort and are doubtlessly singing along with her - “When the sun shines, we’ll shine together - Told you I'll be here forever - You can stand under my umbrella-ella-ella...”
www.chatteljentillia.info
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Arlington House Museum Officially Opened
Friday, 15 February 2008
"Speightstown is steeped in history, and the recently renovated Arlington House, is expected to be a gem added to the treasure chest. Co-ordinator, Paul Altman says Arlington House, opened Thursday morning is the result of a long involvement with the Barbados National Trust.
He says a public/private sector company was formed to work with the former owners the Barbados National Bank, and at least two studies were carried out before the project could begin.
Mr. Altman says there was also collaboration through the Barbados Tourism Investment Incorporate and a big part of the funding came from the Rousing family, visitors to the island. He says initially it was to be used as a model for others who wanted to do similar restorations.
Director of Arlington House, Ron Davis says the exhibits there embody different aspects of the island's culture and is ideal not only for visitors to Barbados but especially school children.
The exhibition at Arlington also carries prints of old Barbados and other exotic items."
http://www.cbc.bb/content/view/14178/10/
"Speightstown is steeped in history, and the recently renovated Arlington House, is expected to be a gem added to the treasure chest. Co-ordinator, Paul Altman says Arlington House, opened Thursday morning is the result of a long involvement with the Barbados National Trust.
He says a public/private sector company was formed to work with the former owners the Barbados National Bank, and at least two studies were carried out before the project could begin.
Mr. Altman says there was also collaboration through the Barbados Tourism Investment Incorporate and a big part of the funding came from the Rousing family, visitors to the island. He says initially it was to be used as a model for others who wanted to do similar restorations.
Director of Arlington House, Ron Davis says the exhibits there embody different aspects of the island's culture and is ideal not only for visitors to Barbados but especially school children.
The exhibition at Arlington also carries prints of old Barbados and other exotic items."
http://www.cbc.bb/content/view/14178/10/
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Inland Luxury Resorts Going To The Beach
Just two months after Royal Westmoreland opened it’s beach club on Mullins Beach (the old Mullins Beach Bar & Restaurant and the former Suga Suga Spa) the Apes Hill Club has joined them on the beach. The prestigious Polo - Golf - Tennis - Fitness Centre - Spa under construction at Apes Hill, St. James is setting up its beds and beach umbrellas on Goddings Bay off Queen Street in Speightstown, St. Peter less than a mile north of the Royal Westmoreland Beach Club at Mullins also in St. Peter. The signage on Queen Street in now up and Goddings Bay is destined to become a busier beach - not that it was not busy enough already with Cobbler’s Cove Hotel on its south end and Schooner Bay condos on its north end and several upmarket villas and condos in between them including the one previously owned by the late Hollywood actress, Claudette Colbert, who hosted President Ronald Reagan on his early 1980s visit to Barbados. Taxi and tour bus drivers still stop to point out the mansion to cruiseship visitors and other tourists.
One would have thought the Apes Hill Club would have been looking to share beach facilities with either the Port St. Charles Marina or the St. Peter’s Bay Condos under construction in Road View, St. Peter since they are/were associated with the same famous people. Why share when you can have your own! Especially so, when you are not hemmed in by the “highway” (Route 1) as is the case with the Royal Westmoreland Beach Club. Consequently, it makes for a much quieter and more secluded location for a beach club - not to mention the more space. The beach itself is on par with any on the west coast although much narrower now as a result of ongoing west coast beach erosion. Also, being in Speightstown it offers Apes Hill Club members and guests a lot more to do than just sitting around on the sand including visiting the recently opened museum at Arlington House a few steps away also on Queen Street.
So, the big question now is - will the other landlocked luxury resort under construction in the area, Apes Hill’s neighbor - Banyan Tree Golf Resort - at Black Bess, St. Peter, be joining the beach party in the near future. Its parent company - Bacassa Development Ltd. which has completed the landlocked Battaleys Mews near Mullins and are re-developing the also landlocked old Porters Sugar Factory in St. James for residential and commercial tourism related use - already owns Turtle Nest - the beach villa to the south of Royal Westmoreland Beach Club’s beach bar. It is currently still being rented as a beach villa but with Royal Westmoreland and now Apes Hill realizing that even golfers when they come to Barbados still want a beach the pressure must be on Bacassa to turn Turtle Nest into yet another west coast beach club for guests of landlocked resorts. Of course, that’s if turning Turtle Nest into a beach club wasn’t the original idea behind its purchase in the first place given the promotional video out there on the Internet which starts out selling the more than two miles inland Black Bess/Banyan Resort with a clip pointing to Mullins Beach and Turtle Nest circled in red.
Click image to enlarge
www.chatteljentillia.info
One would have thought the Apes Hill Club would have been looking to share beach facilities with either the Port St. Charles Marina or the St. Peter’s Bay Condos under construction in Road View, St. Peter since they are/were associated with the same famous people. Why share when you can have your own! Especially so, when you are not hemmed in by the “highway” (Route 1) as is the case with the Royal Westmoreland Beach Club. Consequently, it makes for a much quieter and more secluded location for a beach club - not to mention the more space. The beach itself is on par with any on the west coast although much narrower now as a result of ongoing west coast beach erosion. Also, being in Speightstown it offers Apes Hill Club members and guests a lot more to do than just sitting around on the sand including visiting the recently opened museum at Arlington House a few steps away also on Queen Street.
So, the big question now is - will the other landlocked luxury resort under construction in the area, Apes Hill’s neighbor - Banyan Tree Golf Resort - at Black Bess, St. Peter, be joining the beach party in the near future. Its parent company - Bacassa Development Ltd. which has completed the landlocked Battaleys Mews near Mullins and are re-developing the also landlocked old Porters Sugar Factory in St. James for residential and commercial tourism related use - already owns Turtle Nest - the beach villa to the south of Royal Westmoreland Beach Club’s beach bar. It is currently still being rented as a beach villa but with Royal Westmoreland and now Apes Hill realizing that even golfers when they come to Barbados still want a beach the pressure must be on Bacassa to turn Turtle Nest into yet another west coast beach club for guests of landlocked resorts. Of course, that’s if turning Turtle Nest into a beach club wasn’t the original idea behind its purchase in the first place given the promotional video out there on the Internet which starts out selling the more than two miles inland Black Bess/Banyan Resort with a clip pointing to Mullins Beach and Turtle Nest circled in red.
Click image to enlarge
www.chatteljentillia.info
Apes Hill Gets A Beach
Click image to enlarge
Just two months after Royal Westmoreland opened it’s beach club on Mullins Beach (the old Mullins Beach Bar & Restaurant and the former Suga Suga Spa) the Apes Hill Club has joined them on the beach. The prestigious Polo - Golf - Tennis - Fitness Centre - Spa under construction at Apes Hill, St. James is setting up its beds and beach umbrellas on Goddings Bay off Queen Street in Speightstown, St. Peter less than a mile north of the Royal Westmoreland Beach Club at Mullins also in St. Peter. The signage on Queen Street in now up and Goddings Bay is destined to become a busier beach - not that it was not busy enough already with Cobbler’s Cove Hotel on its south end and Schooner Bay condos on its north end and several upmarket villas and condos in between them including the one previously owned by the late Hollywood actress, Claudette Colbert, who hosted President Ronald Reagan on his early 1980s visit to Barbados. Taxi and tour bus drivers still stop to point out the mansion to cruiseship visitors and other tourists.
One would have thought the Apes Hill Club would have been looking to share beach facilities with either the Port St. Charles Marina or the St. Peter’s Bay Condos under construction in Road View, St. Peter since they are/were associated with the same famous people. Why share when you can have your own! Especially so, when you are not hemmed in by the “highway” (Route 1) as is the case with the Royal Westmoreland Beach Club. Consequently, it makes for a much quieter and more secluded location for a beach club - not to mention the more space. The beach itself is on par with any on the west coast although much narrower now as a result of ongoing west coast beach erosion. Also, being in Speightstown it offers Apes Hill Club members and guests a lot more to do than just sitting around on the sand including visiting the recently opened museum at Arlington House a few steps away also on Queen Street.
So, the big question now is - will the other landlocked luxury resort under construction in the area, Apes Hill’s neighbor - Banyan Tree Golf Resort - at Black Bess, St. Peter, be joining the beach party in the near future. Its parent company - Bacassa Development Ltd. which has completed the landlocked Battaleys Mews near Mullins and are re-developing the also landlocked old Porters Sugar Factory in St. James for residential and commercial tourism related use - already owns Turtle Nest - the beach villa to the south of Royal Westmoreland Beach Club’s beach bar. It is currently still being rented as a beach villa but with Royal Westmoreland and now Apes Hill realizing that even golfers when they come to Barbados still want a beach the pressure must be on Bacassa to turn Turtle Nest into yet another west coast beach club for guests of landlocked resorts. Of course, that’s if turning Turtle Nest into a beach club wasn’t the original idea behind its purchase in the first place given the promotional video out there on the Internet which starts out selling the more than two miles inland Black Bess/Banyan Resort with a clip pointing to Mullins Beach and Turtle Nest circled in red.
Click image to enlarge
www.chatteljentillia.info
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