# Oyster Box Hotel - Hotel - 4F - Umhlanga

[dysan1]

Name: Oyster Box Hotel
Location: Umhlanga Village
Owner: Red Carnation Hotel Group
Floors: 4F (3F at present)

The existing hotel is to be expanded by +/- 30 keys to 103 suites.

The entire building is to be gutted internally and started afresh with opening planned for December 2008 (I however believe early 2009 is more likely)

[dysan1]

For all Renovation Updates and Room Images visit - http://www.oysterbox.co.za/restoration_overview.htm



For intimate service, superb cuisine, gracious comfort and absolute beachfront, join us at the Oyster Box Hotel - situated in Umhlanga, just 15 km north of Durban, South Africa.

The Oyster Box Hotel is due to close temporarily for a major, yet sympathetic restoration. The final date of closure is still to be announced. We look forward to welcoming back all our loyal local clientele and guests from all around the globe towards the end of 2008, when the refurbished hotel is due to open again.

The Red Carnation Hotels Group - new owners of this prestigious hotel - are committed to preserving the character, style and charm, so uniquely distinctive about the Oyster Box. This enchanting establishment will be carefully and lovingly restored and upgraded to offer a new experience, while still evoking warm memories and nostalgia of days gone by.


Restoration





The restoration includes:

Nearly 100 newly refurbished and individually decorated luxurious rooms, including four charming garden cottages and a grand presidential suite

The legendary Grill Room, which was recently nominated Tourism KwaZulu Natal’s ‘Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year’, is to be refurbished and will continue to produce Durban’s finest curries and spectacular seafood fare

The Lighthouse Bar, with its breathtaking panoramic ocean views, will serve oysters plucked freshly from the hotel’s own beds

The well known and highly frequented Chukka Bar will retain its authentic warm charm and character

Banqueting and conference facilities will be increased and lavishly upgraded to meet high demand for special events and private functions

A garden gazebo offering the perfect setting for romantic weddings
A new heated infinity pool
A luxury spa like no other on the North Coast
A Fitness centre
Additional parking


New Suites

Meticulously refurbished with style and flair, each luxury guest room and suite at The Oyster Box will be superbly designed to provide the utmost in comfort. The décor will be a combination of natural stones, corals and woods, in simple elegance and complemented by soothing, light colours reflecting the different shades of the surrounding ocean and tropical vegetation.

Listed below are a selection of the planned deluxe amenities, thoughtful extras, personal features and services provided for the pleasure of our guests. A guest preference form will be sent out prior to arrival to ensure every need is anticipated and met.

- Complimentary mineral water, tea and coffee making facilities
- Fresh Fruit and flowers in all rooms plus a selection of current magazines
- Flat Screen Satellite TV with over 25 channels to choose from
- In-room CD/DVD players
- Deluxe bath amenities, two types of luxurious bathrobe and slippers
- Well stocked mini-bar
- Beach gear
- Housekeeping service twice daily
- Duvet and pillow menu
- Two direct dial telephones with voicemail
- High-speed Wifi
- Private in-room safes (laptop size)
- Finger-tip controlled heat and air-conditioning
- Heated towel rails
- Extensive 24-hour room service menu


Room Categories

Below are the planned room types at the Oyster Box indicating the number we have in each category (shown in brackets), the square meterage/footage. Each room can accommodate at least two people unless otherwise indicated.

*Classic Room (2)
Average room size :
32 square meters / 344 square feet.
One king bed or twin beds.

*Garden Room (24)
Located in the lush indigenous garden.
Average room size : 24 square meters / 258 square feet.
One king bed or twin beds.

*Luxury Sea Facing Room (47)
Offers views of the magnificent Indian Ocean.
Average room size : 25.5 – 36.5 square meters / 274 – 393 square feet.
One king bed or twin beds.

*Superior Sea Facing Room (15)
Boast uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean.
Average room size : 44 - 55 square meters / 474 – 592 square feet.
One king bed, queen or twin beds. Maximum occupancy is 2 adults and 2 children.

*The Garden Suite (4)
The Garden Suite offers a separate dining room and lounge, private garden terrace and spa bath, a full ensuite bathroom and individual outdoor showers.
Average suite size : 107 square meters / 1 152 square feet.
One king bed. Maximum occupancy is 2 adults and 2 children.

*One Bed Roomed Deluxe Suite (4)
With magnificent views of the Indian Ocean to the horizon, these room types all provide a separate lounge and dining area for private entertaining.
Average room size: 70 – 80.25 square meters / 753 – 864 square feet.
One king bed or twin beds. Max occupancy is 2 adults and 2 children.

*Presidential Suite ( 1 )
The Presidential Suite offers the very best vista in the house including the magnificent Indian Ocean sunrises from the private deck.
The main bedroom offers a king bed, private dining area and bar, study, spa bathroom, lounge area and separate guest
bathroom facility.
Average size: 137 square meters / 1 475 square feet

[dysan1]

Reviving a grand relic
May 31, 2007 Edition 1


THE historical Oyster Box Hotel, recently sold for a whopping R100 million, will close its doors on July 8 to undergo a major - "yet sympathetic" - restoration.

It was first opened in 1952 by brother and sister team Ken and Kathleen Pearl O'Connor (better known as Kay Hill), when it was no more than a corrugated iron cottage known as the Oyster Lodge.

With crayfish, mussels and oysters at their doorstep, they gained quite a reputation as a restaurant and guests like Cecil John Rhodes were said to have spent fishing holidays there.

In 1954, Kay and her husband, Alan Hill, built the Oyster Box Hotel on the land, using the rubble of the historic original cottage for the foundation. Appointed custodians of the lighthouse in those early years, the Oyster Box remains so today.

When Kay died in 2000, the hotel was taken over by her heirs and shareholders, until last year, when it was snapped up by International Red Carnation Hotels. The group is owned by the Tollman family and includes other prestigious resorts, among them The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa in Cape Town, Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Retreat in the Cedarberg Mountains and the award-winning boutique winery, Bouchard Finlayson, in Hermanus.

Clive Bennett, managing director of Red Carnation Hotels in South Africa, says the prime property will be renovated, with a special focus on retaining its legendary colonial charm and preserving its distinctive character and style. This is evident in the many imported tiles Hill was so fond of, which will each be carefully removed and reset.

Toni Tollman has undertaken the décor of the rooms, each decidedly different from the next, while maintaining the air of romance and luxury.

General Manager Wayne Coetzer offered a sneak peak at some of the completed rooms, saying the interior decorating project was no small feat considering the hotel will go from three-star to five-star and from 72 rooms to about 100 by November 2008.

Tollman's decor theme has included everything from bright pinks and classic blue and white to masculine browns and creams. Each room is marked by her lavish and luxurious taste; the height of truly decadent décor.

Coetzer says, overall, this is sure to be a careful restoration of one of Umhlanga's last remaining relics.

[SA BOY]

must admit when I was there last for a wedding last year, if felt very run down and old. Needs more than a lick of paint and a minor cosmetic update. Pool deck needs work, main bar needs a lot of work and so does the all day dinning and bufet and prefunction area. Render looks very La jolla or semi andalusian/colonial so lets see how she turns out.
Knowing the work red do , i think this cosuld be a spectacular as the 12 appostlkes which is a fantastic property and well worth staying in if anyone wants to be extravagent in CT.

[dysan1]

well there aim is to emulate the success they have achieved with the 12 apostles. the pool is being taken out and a new infinity pool will replace. it is going to be a big job.

I was also wrong (so were the papers) on the cost of the development. The R100m is what Red Carnation paid for the hotel. The spend on renovations is R369m

[dysan1]

Opening mid 2009 now.

[GregPz]

Love it! Looks quite exotic.

[Lydon]

Exotic indeed.

[SA BOY]

looks like a classical mobassa/ marina del ray type property- shouts St Regis to me

[dysan1]

totally agree. it looks like a terribly desirable place to stay and will give the Beverly next door a huge kick in the ass, as i believe it may be even more desirable to stay here than there. just looking at the pics, it feels like you are miles away from business and the city. i think they are going to do exceptionally well

[Durbsboi]

Spanish Villa on the beach, me like, all we need now is some hot chickita's

[BettiBlue]

Hiya
went on a site visit today (seem to be doing a lot of that lately, even got my own pink hard hat. I went on site at MM yesterday - sorry boys) Oyster box will be a gem (pardon the pun) when she opens Spring next year. And MM from the inside is even more awesome than from the outside.

[romanSA]

Oooh, do share more details, Betti. Love to see you in your pink hat (maybe get some pink pom poms to go with the hat).

[dysan1]

hehe.

Yeah this hotel has all the potential to seriously take the title of Durban's top hotel. The designs ooze style and sophistication, love to see more....

[dysan1]

some new models of the hotel

[dysan1]

Looks like there will be alot of bars and restaurants...



The restoration includes:

87 newly refurbished and individually decorated luxury suites and rooms, including 8 garden villas and a grand Presidential Suite, each with their own plunge pools.

The legendary Grill Room – will be refurbished and will continue to serve Durban’s finest curries and spectacular seafood fare.

The Ocean Terrace Restaurant, that overlooks the Indian Ocean, will offer the finest Indian cuisine and seafood in KZN as well as an á la carte menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Palm Court Restaurant, will have a spacious open courtyard with lush palms – a perfect venue for casual dining and sumptuous teas.

The Lighthouse Bar will offer enticing cocktails, with stunning views of the Indian Ocean and infinity pool.

The Oyster Bar will be a haven for fresh oysters and delicious snacks.

The well known and highly frequented Chukka Bar will be enhanced, and retain its authentic warm charm and character.

State-of-the-art banqueting and conference facilities will be increased and improved to meet the high demand for meetings, social functions, anniversary dinners and weddings.

The celebrated Pearl and Shell Rooms have spectacular seaviews, offering the most magical venue.

The amphitheatre in the garden will be the perfect setting for wedding ceremonies.

A leading spa with 6 treatment rooms, reflection pools and plunge pool, offering the finest treatments and relaxation, including a Hammam.

Two heated swimming pools: an infinity pool facing the ocean, and a secluded pool nestled in the tropical gardens.

24 seater cinema.

Private Fitness Club.

Additional secure parking.

A Kiddies Club.

[dysan1]

Below are the planned room types at the Oyster Box indicating the number we have in each category. Each room can accommodate at least two people unless otherwise indicated.

Classic Room (8)All with garden views.

Luxury Sea Facing Room (45)
All with a sea facing views and balcony.

Superior Sea Facing Junior Suite (8)
5 with one bathroom and guest toilet.
3 with one bathroom and balcony terrace.

Family Suite (4)
Master bedroom with a single room, suitable for an adult or additional child. These are garden facing.

Sea Facing Suites (7)
2 with one bedroom with a separate lounge and private plunge pool.
5 with one bedroom and separate lounge.

Superior Garden Villa (8)
4 with 2 bedrooms and loft.
4 with 1 bedroom.
All with private plunge pool, terrace, lounge, bar and bathroom.

Décor includes timber floors, enhanced with natural and beige tones and textures.
All with views of the surrounding gardens and garden pool.

Garden Villa Room (4)
Additional accommodation for the Superior Garden Villas.

Presidential Suite (1)
Split on 2 levels with private lift.
Master bedroom with sitting area, study and 2 bathrooms (his and hers) –
hers has a sea view.
1 additional bedroom for guests.
Rim flow swimming pool, lounge, dining room seating up to 10 guests, bar and kitchen. Décor includes white timber floors,
marble and white Caesar Stone.

Presidential Classic Room (1)
An additional superior classic connecting room is available if required.

[dysan1]

a shot taken this past weekend by Velocity at Avcom

This development is very close to completion now

[romanSA]

Great to see that at least 5-6 new restaurants / bars will be added to the area.

[Sand-Shark]

What are the best places to go to in Umhl at the moment?