Cobblers Cove, Barbados

Cobblers Cove
Road View, Speightstown
St. Peter, Barbados
www.cobblerscove.com

HOTEL INFORMATION

Shareholders

Privately owned

Date of Creation

1944

Hotel General Manager

Will Oakley – Experienced General Manager skilled in catering, hotel management, events management and hospitality. Strong Sales Professional graduated from Oundle with past experience at Bespoke Hotels, Luxury Hotel Partners and Bermondsey Square Hotel.

Hotel Positioning

5 – star luxury

Development Strategy

Key development strategy for Cobblers Cove is to look to develop new and emerging markets for luxury travel to Barbados.

COBBLERS COVE

History & Story

Joss Haynes was a sugar cane planter and a politician who was active in local government throughout his career. As was common amongst the Barbados elite, the family built a weekend beach retreat where they could escape the island’s windy and rugged east coast – they chose Cobblers Cove. The original plantation house was built in 1944 on the site of the original Quaker Battery Station and was then called Camelot, a name still retained today as one of the signature suites in the Great House as well as the hotel’s restaurant. At this time, the west coast of Barbados was largely undeveloped.
In 1968, Camelot was sold to Alan Godsal and his wife, Lady Elizabeth. Camelot was renamed as Cobblers Cove after the Frigate Bird, also called the Cobbler bird, which you still see fishing outside the hotel in Godings Bay. The house was converted into a hotel and by the 1980s was well established as a luxury boutique hotel with a reputation for fine food and wines, becoming a member of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux collection of hotels and resorts.
More recently, Alan’s son, Hugh, took on the role of overseeing the management of Cobblers Cove and alongside his wife Sam, remains closely involved in the development of the property and its direction for the future.

Date Renewal

Cobblers Cove has recently completed a five year renovation, upgrading all suites with new floors, fixtures and soft furnishings, whilst staying true to its colonial Caribbean glamour and original architecture. All 40 suites were treated with new fittings, fabrics and upholstery, accented by hand painted artwork by local artist, Hilary Armstrong. The bathrooms were also redesigned, increasing size, and fitted with new fixtures and amenities.

Main Strengths, Special Touch

Cobblers Cove sits in a protected cove with warm, calm water and an expansive reef offshore allowing for excellent snorkelling.

Location

Cobblers Cove sits on Barbados’s Platinum West Coast in Speightstown, in the parish of St. Peter. Just 18 miles from Grantley Adams International airport, and a 15-minute drive to Holetown’s shopping area, the hotel is perfectly positioned to offer every facet of Barbados, easily at hand.
Claiming one-quarter mile of white sand beach in a quiet cove, the property leads guests straight to the ocean. Its magnificent grounds are encompassed by a coral stone wall to ensure privacy and tranquillity. The lush gardens are carefully conserved, vibrant in colour and fragrant with an array of tropical scents. From the Pride of India trees to the multicoloured frangipani, there seems to be a natural attraction for the indigenous birds that frequent the property.

Key sites/activities in the area

• Heritage Tours – Barbados has a rich history and fabulous old buildings including Bridgetown’s garrison which now has World Heritage status. Cobblers offers guests tailor-made guided tours with the head of The Barbados National Trust. Tours can be public or private and include visits to plantation houses

• Cruise the coast & picnic on a deserted beach – All around Cobblers Cove there are beautiful spots which guests can visit via boat and spend the day eating, swimming and exploring coves

• Island Taxi Tours – Guests can explore the most celebrated parts of the island or go off the beaten track in air-conditioned comfort. This includes Chalky Mount, Bottom Bay, Bathsheba and Bath Beach

• Hiking Tours – Guided hiking across the island are available on request

• Catamaran sailing, deep sea fishing, golf, surfing, diving

Fun Facts

• The magnificent Hawksbill turtles hatch on both Cobblers Cove’s beaches, which guests can swim with

• Cobblers Cove’s garden is densely planted with many rare and wonderful species

• There is a personal trainer available to those wishing to stay in shape on holiday

• Guests can go fishing with long serving fisherman, Barker, in search of his ‘catch of the day’ which is served up to guests in the restaurant

Children’s Corner

Children aged 12 or under are not allowed at Cobblers Cove, however, for children over the age of 12 there are many activities to enjoy including cricket at the nearby Franklyn Stephenson Academy.

HOTEL FEATURES

Accommodation

• Number of suites: 40

The suites at Cobblers Cove blend Colonial elegance with Caribbean comfort and style. Each suite features either king size or twin beds with Egyptian cotton bed linens and goose down pillows. Bathrooms include marble finishing and showers. Elegant living rooms open out to private terraces or balconies with beautiful views.

• Number of luxury rooms: 0

• Number of rooms, (keys) in all: 40

• 20 Cobblers Garden Suites overlooking the gardens

• 8 Ocean View Suites with garden and ocean views, accommodating 2/3 adults

• 2 Two-Bedroom Suites accommodates 2+ adults

• 8 Ocean Front Suites accommodating 2/3 adults

• 1 Camelot Suite with private terrace, located on the upper floor of ‘The Great House’

• 1 Colleton Suite with private terrace and plunge pool, located on the upper floor of ‘The Great House’

Restaurants & Bars

• Camelot is run by Chef Jason Joseph who joined in 2008 and is instrumental to creating impeccable dishes with fresh and locally sourced ingredients
• Member of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux
• All suites are offered the Breakfast Plan with the option to upgrade to Half Board or an all Inclusive supplement
• Complimentary aftrenoon tea is offered daily to guests in the Great House
• The hotel bar offers Live live entertainement several nights a week

Wellness

• Cobblers features a centrally located, freshwater swimming pool, overlooking the ocean
• Air-conditioned gym
• Floodlit OmniCourt tennis court with complimentary usage and equipment
• Sea Moon Spa: Hair salon offering the finest skincare products from skincare specialists, REN. Treatments include massages, scrubs, facials, manicures and pedicures.

Corporate & Celebration Events

• The Manager’s Cocktail Party takes place every Tuesday
• Weddings – can buyout the hotel with 80 guests

Extra Notable Features

• Swimming with turtles – Barbados is home to the protected Hawksbill Turtles
• Watersports : Water skiing, tubing, snorkelling, kayaking, sunfish sailing, fishing, stand up paddle boarding
• Diving
• Gift shop, Saltwhistle Boutique

Hotel and restaurant Awards

2018:
• Cobblers Cove was awarded the 2018 Hotel of the Year at the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association (BHTA) Awards
• Cobblers received the Agricultural Linkage Award for sustainable agricultural and farm to table program
• Water Sports Supervisor, Bradley Broomes, was recognised with a Bravery Award for saving the lives of two visitors who got into difficulty swimming
2016-2017:
• Camelot was awarded BHTA’s ‘Restaurant of the Year’ for 2014 & 2015

Number of employees

Approx 100