The hotel: Situated on a site that has been home to a hotel since the 1930s, the new Oyster Box reopened in 2009 in the coastal town of Umhlanga, about 20 minutes north of Durban and with easy access to the new King Shaka International Airport. It is a member of the independent Red Carnation Hotel group, which also includes London hotels Rubens, The Milestone and The Chesterfield.
The check-in: Arriving early evening I was met in the car park and led into the hotel’s grand reception area. The revolving door at the entrance is an original landmark, as are the distinctive black and white terrazzo tiles and a sweeping spiral staircase. The Mediterranean decorative elements are a nod to more modern-day design tastes.
The room: The hotel’s 86 luxurious rooms, suites and villas are all individually decorated – no standard carpet or uniform colours here. My Classic Sea-facing room – small but well appointed – was decorated in clean yellows and whites and had a king-size bed, shower (no bath), and a balcony with two chairs that offered views of the Indian Ocean and Umhlanga’s iconic lighthouse. The room has energy efficient lights and sensors on the balcony’s sliding-doors that switch off the air-conditioning the moment they are opened.
The business: There’s a 24-seater screening room that can be used for presentations, and meetings facilities for up to 120 people. A fully equipped business centre with complimentary high-speed internet access is available. A sunken wine cellar houses the Chef’s Table and can be booked for private functions for between two and ten people.
THE FACILITIES: The hotel has a variety of dining experiences, including casual dining at the Ocean Terraces, fine dining in the Grill Room, or snacks in the Chukka Bar. The hotel’s three bars are very different: the Chukka Bar resembles a Gentleman’s Club from colonial times; the Lighthouse bar has all the casual but smart congeniality of a bar on a luxury train; and the all-white Oyster Bar resembles the trendiest of chic urban bars – guests can enjoy a plate of oysters on ice from the hotel’s own oyster beds. There’s also a spa, two heated swimming pools (including a rim-flow pool with ocean views) a fitness centre and direct access to the beachfront jogging trail that stretches several kilometres in both directions.
THE VERDICT: Red Carnation owner Stanley Tollman took his now wife Beatrice to the Old Oyster Box in the early 1950s. It was their first date and he promised to one day buy it for her. He stayed true to his word and has created a sumptuous hotel with a classical charm and understated elegance. Expect a classy contemporary experience wrapped in several whiffs of nostalgia and staff impressively well-informed about the hotel and surrounding areas.
THE DETAILS: 2 Lighthouse Road, Umhlanga Rocks 4319, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Rack rates for Classic Sea-facing rooms in January 2011 are around £300 per night.
See: www.redcarnationhotels.com Steve Hartridge
