Durban - Back in the day, going to Rawdons was “almost” an annual winter pilgrimage. I say almost because, since it was one of my mom’s favourite retreats, we kids didn’t always crack the nod.
I remember it as being very old-fashioned, English country style with Biggie Best (which was all the rage back then) everywhere, the rather staid dining room and, most of all, the roaring fires.
The fires still rage at Rawdons, but the hotel has had a major facelift and the gracious grand dame of Nottingham Road is looking mighty fine. It retains the graceful English country manor style, but the rooms and décor have been updated with a more contemporary design, without losing the timeless treasures that are so unique to the hotel.
Keeping up with the times is nothing new for the 59-year-old hotel which was built by brothers Graham and David Rawdon mainly to provide accommodation for parents of boarders at the nearby Michaelhouse school.
Gardens
Built over two years on bare land that cost £50 pounds an acre, the hotel gardens were planted by Marie Rawdon and her trusted gardener, Ephraim.
And today’s luxury of en-suite bathrooms was not even considered until the 1980s when the hotel had to add a private bathroom to each room to get its star grading. Back then, room rates (with a shared bathroom down the passage) were R34 for a week, with lunch and dinner costing R1 and breakfast 50c.
Staying there today will set you back between R650 and R850 a person sharing, but it does include a hearty breakfast and a comfortable en-suite room, complete with tea and coffee, a hairdryer, TV and nice bath smellies.
Mine had a glorious view of the front lawn and dam from the bay window reading alcove and the ball-and-claw bath. The bed was a luxurious king size with crisp linen and feather pillows. The under-floor heating was a treat, especially when we rolled in late last Friday night, a little intoxicated by the Notties hospitality and the crisp 7ºC temperature.
Dinner in the Boar’s Head pub was typical pub fare – Prego roll, oxtail, chicken curry, steak and the like, but there is an à la carte menu in the main dining room if you feel like being fancier.
If you like fishing and can brave the brisk morning air, you can tease the trout in the Rawdons dams situated right in front of the hotel. There are walking trails, a bowling green, lawn tennis court and – obviously for summer months – a swimming pool.
The Midlands Meander, with its varied arts and crafts and artisan food stores, is on your doorstep and there are several golf courses in the area and a number of acclaimed health spas.
Or you can just chill out in the lounge with a book or a game of backgammon or chess. Oh, and don’t forget a visit to the in-house craft brewery which offers a range of naturally brewed ales and lagers.
For a really special treat and absolute privacy – it’s a favourite with bridal and honeymoon couples – book into the two-roomed lake cottage, which is perched on the edge of the dam and which was once the old pool bar. From here you can literally cast your line straight into the dam from your front door.
Owned by Don and Wendy Attwood since 1966, the hotel has been handed over to their daughter Susan and her husband, Peter Dean, who is the mastermind behind the brewery. Their daughter Georgina is training overseas to follow in her parentsand grandparents’ hotelier footsteps.
So, all the old tradition and family spirit that was at the heart of the Rawdons experience is still there. My mom would be proud.
l Rawdons is offering a special “midweek madness” package with a stay for two nights and get-one-free deal from Sunday to Thursday. It also includes vouchers for the Bierfassl, Nottingham Road Brewery shop and Karkloof Canopy Tour and a bottle of wine.
Contact: Phone: 033 266 6044. E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.rawdons.co.za - The Mercury