FOR SALE IN THE WESTERN CAPE, SA: THIS IS A DELIGHTFUL LITTLE COUNTRY HOTEL THAT SHOWCASES AND CELEBRATES ART IN A BIG WAY ASKING PRICE: ZAR 7,5 MILL

Every room in the hotel is individually decorated, one of them by internationally-renowned design collective, Magpie Collective. Aside from the eye-catching interiors and artworks, much of it for sale, the art of winemaking is celebrated with a very good wine list. If Karoo cuisine is an art (and it is!) then this is the studio where it is practised best, being a winner of the Klein Karoo Gourmand Restaurant Award, and a member of the international gastronomic guild Cha?ne des R?tisseurs.

KEY FEATURES

THE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

To purchase or to lease/rent the property.

Large Hall plus 4 smaller conference rooms plus a 40 seater movie theatre - all ideal for lecturing and training.

Ideally situated to become the primary training centre in the Klein Karoo - only two and a half hours drive from Cape Town and George.

Huge training needs in the Klein Karoo: Barrydale and surrounding towns such as Swellendam, Suurbraak, Montagu, Ladismith, Carlitzdorp and Oudtshoorn are all within easy driving distance.

15 double rooms.

Staff/lecturer quarters.

Own kitchen and dining room.

Recreational facilities.

Swimming pool.

On-site parking and ample off-site parking.

Erf 194, Barrydale.

The extent of property: 2974 square metres.

CURRENTLY AN UPMARKET HOTEL

This is a little country hotel that showcases and celebrates Art in a big way. Every room in the hotel is individually decorated - room 13 by internationally renowned design collective, Magpie Collective. Aside from the eye-catching interiors and artworks, much of it for sale, the art of winemaking is celebrated with one of the best wine lists in South Africa. If Karoo cuisine is an art (and it is!) then this is the studio where it is practised best, being a winner of the Klein Karoo Gourmand Restaurant Award, and a member of the international gastronomic guild Cha?ne des R?tisseurs. Executive Chef Derek Lowe blurs the lines between food and art.

But perhaps the art that is closest to the beating heart of this funky country hotel is music. In the past 4 years, it has firmly established itself as the home of Klein Karoo’s best live music events. It showcases the talents of both locals from the area as well as top-notch musicians from the rest of the country including Dave Ferguson, Wendy Oldfield, Valiant Swart, Piet Botha + Akkedis, Nick Turner, to mention but a few.

Barrydale

Barrydale is a village located on the border of the Overberg and Klein Karoo regions of the Western Cape Province in South Africa. Named after Joseph Barry, a well-known merchant of the 19th century. it is situated at the northern end of the Tradouw's pass which winds its way through the mountains to Swellendam.

History

Barrydale's history dates back to the early 18th century when farmers moved into the area looking for fertile arable land with water. The community built their church on a spot where the R62 and R324 roads meet. In the days before the church was built there were a number of nagmaal houses (houses where Holy Communion could be celebrated) and a school, but not much else. The Dutch Reformed Community of Barrydale came into being in 1878 when land was purchased to build the church.

As the farmers in the area were encouraged to plant vineyards and orchards, it was natural that a winery and distillery would eventually be built. In 1940 the Barrydale Ko?peratiewe Wynkelder was formed and a distillery established giving rise to the wine industry in the area. Joseph Barry Brandy, produced locally, was voted best brandy in the world in 2003.

Over the years the village grew and eventually, a municipality was established in 1921. Today there is an estimated population of ~4100 permanent residents. The population increases dramatically in the tourist season, with visitors drawn by arts and crafts displays including textiles, jewellery and African souvenirs.

Climate

Barrydale has a temperate climate of warm, dry summers with averages of 25°C occasionally up to 35°C, and mild, wet winters when the temperature occasionally dips to around -1°C accompanied by light frosts.

The warm temperate climate is perfect for the growth of various fruit trees with numerous orchards on the fertile soils of the Tradouw Valley. Apples, pears and oranges are harvested in the winter and crops of apricots, figs, cling peaches and grapes in the summer.

Culture

The town still shows the legacy of the apartheid era when it was divided in two to separate whites from non-whites, a large proportion of which are direct descendants of the indigenous Khoisan tribe. Barrydale is culturally diverse for a small village with English- and Afrikaans-speaking inhabitants as well as a substantial European expatriate community including French, German, Spanish and Italian residents.

The annual Barrydale Spring Festival in October is an important event on the town's calendar. The Joseph Barry Tradouw Pass Half Marathon attracts a large number of runners who compete over a 21 km course through the pass.

Flora and fauna

Barrydale and the surrounding area is rich in species diversity with abundant wildlife such as baboons, genets, mongooses, klipspringer (small khaki-coloured antelope often seen perched on rocks), and rock hyraxes, known locally as dassies (smaller relatives of the elephant). More elusive animals, such as porcupines, aardvarks, jackals, otters and the reclusive leopards, are occasionally seen in the mountains. Reptiles are common, especially snakes, with a few poisonous species such as puff adder, boomslang (tree snake) and Cape cobra.

The area is also home to numerous bird species such as the Cape eagle-owl, Hadeda Ibis, grey heron, sunbird (these often have iridescent plumage), fiscal shrike which impales its prey on acacia thorns or barbed wire, and black eagles are often seen soaring high overhead on the thermals.

The area has many rare plant species, notably the fynbos flora on the slopes of the Langeberg mountain range in the south, and succulent-dominated Karroid flora to the north. There are many private and state reserves in the area such as the Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve.