THE OYSTER BOX HOTEL JOINS LAND OF LEGENDS

The Oyster Box Hotel
(Photo : Land Of Legends)

"Another flagship destination joins the Land Of Legends"

One of South Africa's leading boutique destinations, the 5-star Oyster Box Hotel, has joined the Land of Legends, a synergistic grouping of premier tourism and lifestyle brands. Situated at Umhlanga Rocks on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, the Oyster Box has consistently been recognised as one of the country's A-list hotels.

The Oyster Box joins other celebrated KwaZulu-Natal legends such as Hartford House near Mooi River (also in the Midlands), Fordoun Hotel & Spa in Nottingham Road in the Midlands, Phinda Private Game Reserve (Zululand), Rocktail Beach Lodge (North Coast), the Beverley Hills Hotel (also Umhlanga Rocks), and Ardmore Ceramic Art near Nottingham Road. The proximity of some of the Land of Legends members might seem surprising, but Richard Bates of Fordoun comments, "Being part of the Land of Legends has always been about the group and not the individual destinations. We all share a commonality that celebrates the history, tradition and distinctive local culture of KwaZulu-Natal. We are all also committed to the upliftment of our people and the celebration and protection of our unique environment."

Land of Legends was formed in 1999, with the aim of promoting KwaZulu-Natal as a tourism option to rival all others, especially to the international market. At the time, just 4% of foreign visitors came to KZN on their first visit to the country, and the province was only the third destination of choice for travellers. A decade later, an impressive 40% include a visit to KZN on their first trip to this country.

The Oyster Box: A Legendary Landmark

The Oyster Box Hotel is certainly a landmark destination. The "grand old lady" of the coastal village of Umhlanga Rocks was built in 1869 and was once a navigational beacon alongside the unmissable lighthouse. Originally a beach cottage known as the 'Oyster Box' (after the abundant oyster beds on the rocks below), it was first converted into a hotel in the 1930's. The main building has undergone a number of changes since then, with the most notable architectural changes occurring during the 1950's.

Following an extensive two-year rebuild, the Oyster Box, having retained all the luxurious comforts, elegance and charm of a bygone era, re-opened in 2009. The new owner, the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, has gone to great lengths to preserve the original character and allure of the hotel during the restoration project, while incorporating state-of-the-art technology to bring this legend into the 21st century. A number of the original landmarks remain, including the grand revolving door at the entrance, the reception and foyer's distinctive black and white terrazzo tiles, an imposing wrought-iron balustrade and original, inlaid hand-painted tiles and murals. History has been interwoven with essential modern touches to satisfy the business and leisure guests that visit this acclaimed hotel.

www.landoflegends.co.za

FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH

LAND OF LEGENDS

Just a few weeks back, we told the world of our joy at Hartford being voted South Africa’s best restaurant in the House and Leisure / Visa Best Of SA competition. The results are now in the public domain following the publication of the November issue of House and Leisure, and we applaud our fellow KwaZulu Natal and Land Of Legends pals, The Homestead at Phinda Game Reserve and Fordoun Spa, for topping their categories alongside Hartford.

To quote House and Leisure editor, Naomi Larkin, “each of the winning destinations has a unique touch and global appeal, and deserves to be named the best in South Africa”.

And then back to renowned food critic, Anne Stevens, who wrote this past week in The Mercury : "But that’s not all, as they say in the ads. Hartford and the Beverley Hills in Umhlanga have earned Diamond Wine List awards as well”.

“The celebration was twice as sweet for both; the “Bev” was also awarded an American Express Platinum Award for its signature restaurant, The Sugar Club, and Hartford took its fifth consecutive American Express Fine Dining Award in Johannesburg”.

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www.landoflegends.co.za

IT’S SPRING TIME : NEW LIFE AND NEW HORIZONS

"... Spring is a glorious time at Hartford"
(Photo : Barbara Meier)

HOUSE AND LEISURE-VISA BEST SA RESTAURANT ACCOLADE FOR HARTFORD

It’s a glorious time at Hartford, and it was in spring that our garden first earned its accolades at the The Witness Garden Show more than twenty years ago. By the end of this month and well into October, both Hartford and Summerhill will be a profusion of rosebuds, flowering cherries, and the wisteria will be weighed down by its beautiful mauve petals.

By heavens though, we don’t remember a spring of so much celebration. Within the past fortnight, Hartford earned one of only two Diners’ Club Diamond Winelist awards in KZN with our old friends, the Beverley Hills, a fine compliment to all the work our hotel manager, Paula Mackenzie has put into her maiden effort.

The restaurant also took its fifth consecutive American Express Fine Dining Award in Johannesburg, and now comes the news that the readers of South Africa’s most widely publicized lifestyle magazine, House and Leisure, have voted Hartford House the best restaurant in the land in their Visa Best of SA competition. Now that’s quite a statement, considering that a world “Top Fifty” venue, the Tasting Room at Le Quartier Francaise, and last year’s “Eat Out” National Number One restaurant, Le Colombe, were among the finalists.

Most Hartford fans know of our proud affiliation to the Land Of Legends, South Africa’s only collection of properties connected through a mutual celebration of history, tradition and culture. Besides this unique “glue” in our respective make-ups, Phinda Private Game Reserve, Rocktail Bay Camp, Fordoun Spa and Hartford House all have exceptional records of social upliftment and environmental preservation (www.landoflegends.co.za).

Three of these, Hartford’s Restaurant, Phinda’s Homestead Lodge, and Fordoun’s Spa were nominated finalists in their respective categories of the House and Leisure competition, and quite amazingly, all three made it to the top spot on the podium. As much as this is a wonderful accolade for the Land Of Legends as a brand, speaking as it does not only of excellence but of depth and diversity too, it’s also a tribute to KwaZulu Natal as a world-class travel destination, which stands alone when it comes to value.

To those of you who rallied to our cause and voted for us and our Land Of Legends colleagues in the House and Leisure competition, may we add our heartfelt thanks for the trouble. We were up against the best here, and we understand there were more than 100 000 votes cast, so every single one mattered.

Wait a minute though, that’s not the lot. The champagne had scarcely run out, when head chef Jackie Cameron was notified once again that we’d made the finals for the Eat Out Top Ten, but we’ll have to await our fate in November for that one.

As we write, the Hilton Drama Festival is under way, one of the nation’s hottest expressions of the performing arts, and the wonders of nature have new revelations for us every day in the Summerhill foaling barn, were the champions of tomorrow are being brought into the world in some earnest.

Come and see us, we long for your return. If you can get here before the end of October, as an established Hartford customer, we’ll book you at our winter rate. We can’t promise that for November or December sadly, as advance bookings from our friends from abroad tell us that with value-for-money being the clarion call of most travellers these days, places of Hartford’s distinction are going to be in high demand. 

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www.landoflegends.co.za

EXPRESS REMAINS DOUBLE QUICK

AMERICAN EXPRESS WINNING MOST RESTAURANTS

It’s often been said that the great financial sage, Warren Buffet’s, winning-most investments were Coca-Cola and American Express, and American Express’ winning-most restaurants were announced at a gala function in Johannesburg on Monday night.  We’d scarcely dried the ink on Hartford House’ Diners Club Diamond Wine List Award, than we were greeted with the news that the culinary giants, Victor Strugo, Lannice Snyman and Vanessa Singh were among those that had selected Hartford’s restaurant, it’s celebrated young chef Jackie Cameron, and the talented cooking and hospitality teams behind them, among just four KZN based restaurants in the fine dining categories.

Just a fortnight ago, Shaun Munroe of Durban’s grand old dame, the Beverley Hills, joined Jackie in a chef exchange between the two gourmet gems, and it was gratifying to see the Beverley Hills and Andrew Draper among those locally based eateries, walking away with “gongs”.

Within the month we’ll know how Hartford fared as one of five finalists in House and Leisure’s national restaurant of the year, so (its..... award of the past twelve months) Hartford’s not just about being the only world class hotel on a world class stud farm.  It’s right up there with the best restaurants in the world, and if you think that’s stretching it, give it a shot.

Pamela White, Tania Maree, Vanessa Singh, Jackie Cameron, Victor Strugo
(Please click photo to enlarge...)