The King Edward Hotel by the Donkin Reserve

My fondest memory of the Edward Hotel was having our matric farewell dance in the back hall.  And eating there a couple of times.  The hotel has been closed for a number of years now and have undergone a revamp and upgrade with plans to reopen later this year.  Since the announcement the management group has pulled out again and we're yet to hear what will happen next.  But regardless of what is going on behind the scenes, the majestic old gent still stands overlooking the Donkin Reserve.

The King Edward's Mansions was built in 1903 by Rochelle & Smith and was owned by Palace Buildings, Ltd. in the early days.  There were 120 bedrooms and sitting rooms and while the ground floor contained suites for doctors and dentists as well as restaurant.  The hotel was first called the King Edward's Mansions, later the King Edward Hotel and Edward Hotel.  Now i's back to King Edward Hotel.  

Courtyard pooldeck

I attended a tourism workshop at the Courtyard Hotel this morning and was reminded once again how stunning a setting some of the hotels on the beachfront has. 

Courtyard Hotel pool

Last night Travel Massive Port Elizabeth hosted a networking event at the Courtyard Hotel sponsored by the Courtyard and Town Lodge.  Before the formalities we had drinks outside by the pool and I must say that the hotel must have one of the best pool views around.   The best part is that one would never say that there is a road between the hotel and the ocean.

Boardwalk Hotel lobby lounge

The first time I entered the Boardwalk Hotel I was fascinated by the huge lobby space.  The hotel's lobby area is more than just a space where you enter and exit as well as check in.  They created a whole lounge area in the lobby.  Hence the name Lobby Lounge.  Other than a waiting area it's also a great spot to have a quick meeting over coffee while they also use the area to serve high tea and lunches.  The lunch menu for the Lobby Lounge has some mouth watering light lunch options on it and the prices compare to just about every other restaurant in town's lunch prices.

Then and Now - The Beach Hotel

Yesterday morning Errol Somerville posted two old photos of the Beach Hotel on the Friendly City of Port Elizabeth Facebook group.  The first one dates from round about 1924, the year the hotel was built.  I went to have a look on the Beach Hotel's website to see if they had any history about the hotel on there and found the following:

It is believed that the original Beach Hotel and surrounding area belonged to Piet Retief and his family.  His home, a tennis court and servants quarters stood on this ground. 

Tenders for the proposed Beach Hotel were called for on 22 June 1893.  The wood and iron structure was designed by architect George William Smith.  Construction progressed rapidly and on 16 February 1894, the hotel was officially opened with a grand luncheon party.  The first Manager was Mr. Edward Steinmann.

Then, sadly, at 5 o’clock on 1 December 1915, the hotel went up in flames.  Townsfolk rushed to witness firemen desperately fighting the fire which destroyed the entire building within an hour.  In 1922 Humewood was ripe for development after the Marine Drive was completed.  Mr. Bill Poole immediately took the option on the first hotel site and built the second Beach Hotel.  The building was completed in 1924. The hotel changed hands several times and was later bought by a Mrs. Lupping at an auction for £46 000.  Wilfred Guscott bought the hotel from the Luppings, and his nephew, Roy Lombard, bought it in 1958.

Mr Lombard brought about the first alterations to the hotel when he elevated it to the first three star hotel in the country.  It is now a popular family run hotel  which welcomes holidaymakers and businessmen alike from across the world. 

 The second picture dates back to the late 50's or early 60's and I guess was taken just after Roy Lombard made the alterations.

My car was in for a service yesterday and while waiting outside the Beach Hotel for the shuttle to pick me up I decided to snap a picture of the hotel as it looks now for a comparison.  I tried my best to get a good picture from a similar angle which wasn't easy with the boundary wall and parking area in the way.  It's pretty close though to make a Then and Now comparison. The outside building that was used as off-sales back then is now a restaurant in the form of Ginger. The entrance has changed and there is no more balcony (which is a great pity as the view would be awesome) while the Verandah restaurant has also been added since back then.

Drinks on the deck at the Kelway Hotel

The fourth Travel Massive Port Elizabeth event took place at the Kelway Hotel tonight and I was just reminded once again how an awesome place their deck is to enjoy drinks after work.

Boardwalk Hotel pool deck

The Boardwalk Hotel pool deck feels like an amphitheater with the hotel building on three sides of it.  Ideal to block the southerly and westerly winds off.

Boardwalk Hotel passage

Have you ever looked down a hotel passage while on your way to your room and noticed how symmetrical it is?  Well that was my thought exactly while spending a night at the magnificent Boardwalk Hotel recently.

Boardwalk pool deck

It's summer and we have been having some pretty summery weather these last few weeks.  The pool at the Boardwalk Hotel looks very inviting right now.

Tourists in Port Elizabeth

Haters are quick to say that tourists don't come to Port Elizabeth.  They are wrong.  Tourists do come.  You just need to go around the city and have a look and you will see them.  There are coaches parked at hotels.  Tourists walking around the beachfront and through the Boardwalk.  Addo Elephant National Park and all the surrounding game reserves are full of tourists.  They are visiting local attractions like Kragga Kamma Game Park, Bayworld, SAMREC, the Donkin Reserve and more.  They are around.  If only we could keep them here longer than a day or two though.  I promise you though.  Once they leave they all say that if only they knew how great a place it was they would have stayed longer.  Perhaps they should all follow Port Elizabeth Daily Photo.  

Pine Lodge - 25 years on

A week or so ago Pine Lodge at Cape Recife celebrated their 25th birthday.  I was invited to the events of the day and snapped this pic of the resort from the first zipline platform.  What is great of Pine Lodge is that they offer a range of accommodation types from camping and self catering to more luxury accommodation in their honeymoon suites. Add to this all the activities, including ziplining, high ropes, thick wheel bikes to ride on the beach, kiddies play area, donkey cart rides, guides walks and visits to SAMREC and the Cape Recife Lighthouse as well as a huge pool, the new River Spa, a restaurant and the beach just over the dune and you have the perfect holiday resort for this summer.

Pier view of the Boardwalk

Looking at the Boardwalk Hotel from Shark Rock Pier

A dark Edward Hotel

It was sad going past the Edward Hotel the other night and seeing that the whole place is dark except for the lights along the front.  I wonder what's going to happen to the place or is it a case of nobody really caring at the moment?

Kiplings T-bone

The most yummy T-bone and sides I've had in a long time was this one at Kiplings at the Boardwalk Hotel a couple of weeks ago. Nom nom nom...

A very tall hotel

The Cascades Apartment building in Summerstrand always looked like a tall building...  That was till the Radisson Blu Hotel was built.  Now the Cascades look pretty tiny in comparison.  

Coffee with a back to front view

 On Friday I attended a tourism marketing workshop at the Beach Hotel and afterwards a couple of us went for coffee at The Verandah.  I was sitting with my back to the beach but still had a nice reflective view of Shark Rock Pier.

Boardwalk Hotel Lobby Lounge

This is post #5 in the Boardwalk series I'm posting this week.  I could do a whole series just on the Boardwalk Hotel and if it depended on Donna Peo of Sun International I would.  To tell the truth she's already asked and I probably will at some stage.  For the sake of this series though I'm only including one post featuring the hotel.  When you walk into most hotels you find the lobby area with a couple of seats, but at the 5 star Boardwalk Hotel you get so much more.  The hotel's lobby flows into a stylish lobby lounge.  The lobby lounge is used for so much more than just waiting for transport to the airport.  Its also ideal for short meetings, reading the newspaper and even a quick lunch after a massage in the hotel's spa. What more do you want?

Radisson view

The view of the Port Elizabeth beachfront from the top floor of the Radisson Blu Hotel is breathtaking.  Don't think I need to say anymore.

Sunday afternoon on the Verandah

Port Elizabeth is fortunate to have a lot of very nice spots to go for a drink or cocktail after work or a relaxing Sunday afternoon.  One of these is the Verandah at the Beach Hotel with its stunning view of Hobie Beach and Shark Rock Pier across the road.  I haven't been here for a while until I rediscovered it the other day while having drinks with colleagues after a hard couple of days.

Boardwalk Hotel from the sea

The Boardwalk Hotel and Convention Centre has really changed the beachfront skyline since it opened a year ago.  I've heard that some people think it looks out of place while comparing it to a Disney like castle while others absolutely love it.  But love it or hate it, the hotel and convention centre has become an integral part of the city's leisure, business and events tourism landscape and a great asset to Port Elizabeth.  The photo was taken while on a bay cruise on the Jester.