Images and text supplied
Revitalising Elegance: Unveiling the All-New Grande Roche Hotel Experience
The new year has brought a burst of verve to the venerable Grande Roche Hotel in the Paarl winelands, with a stylish revamp of the popular Terrace Suites and a fresh new approach to dining courtesy of acclaimed chef Christiaan Campbell.
Blending the rich heritage of the hotel with a contemporary winelands aesthetic, the refurbishment of the 18 Terrace Suites at Grande Roche Hotel has created a chic new destination that offers an elegant home-from-home in the winelands.
In the quest to refresh the Terrace Suites, Grande Roche Hotel owners Theresa Britz and her husband Hansie aimed to modernise the interiors while preserving the inherent charm of a country hotel. Their goal was to create versatile spaces where guests could unwind with a book, work on their laptops, or savour a quiet meal in the seclusion of their suites.
To bring this vision to life, the couple enlisted the expertise of acclaimed interior designer Misi Overturf. Notably involved in the makeover of Grande Roche’s sister property, the Under Oaks estate in Agter-Paarl, Overturf is also recognised for her creative contributions to the restaurant makeover program ‘In Die Sop,’ hosted by Bertus Basson.
Nestled amid meticulously landscaped lawns, native gardens, and rows of trellised vineyards, each of the Terrace Suites now features a spacious bedroom, a modern bathroom, and a newly remodeled lounge area.
A Fresh Approach to Winelands Dining
In alignment with the nuanced refurbishment of the Terrace Suites, there unfolds a discreet transformation in the dining experience, orchestrated by the presence of chef and hospitality connoisseur Christiaan Campbell.
A chef and restaurateur of high esteem, Campbell has previously led culinary ventures in some of the Cape’s most renowned winelands destinations before joining Grande Roche in late 2023. Since his incorporation into the team, he has dedicated his efforts to subtly redefining the menu and solidifying a fresh culinary perspective encompassing both service and dining.
Reflecting on his approach, Campbell emphasises the importance of creating a welcoming atmosphere. He expresses the desire for patrons to recognise that the restaurant extends beyond in-house guests, aiming to become a space that embraces both locals residing in the Paarl vicinity and those exploring the Winelands. In both the menus and the style of service, the aspiration is to establish Grande Roche and the restaurant as a place that exudes a ‘home-from-home’ ambiance, extending a warm welcome to all.
The Grande Roche will once again be offering their popular out-of-season, Pearl of Paarl Accommodation package, which is valid from 1 May to 31 August 2024.
The package is priced at R5,960 for two people and includes:
- One night’s accommodation for two guests sharing and accommodated in a newly renovated Terrace Suite. (Full English Breakfast included).
- A four-course dinner experience by Chef Christiaan Campbell at The Grande Roche Restaurant.
- A bottle of Under Oaks estate wine of your choice to be enjoyed with dinner.
