Nestled at the foot of the Outeniqua mountains in the leafy suburb of Heatherlands, George, lies the Hawthorn Boutique Hotel. This hotel is a George landmark which dates back to the 1940’s.
For folks living in George the old Hawthorndene known for its tall palm trees and peacocks proudly strutting their beautiful tails, was a memory-maker! Some got married at the hotel, others enjoyed the Sunday lunch and others… well let’s just say they remember the infamous happy hour pub nights.
As the hospitality industry changed in South Africa, independent hotels found it hard to compete with the big, branded hotels and the Hawthorndene Hotel eventually closed its doors.
The property lay derelict for many years and quickly became a safe haven for the homeless.
A businessman from Rustenburg that relocated to George, realised the hotel’s potential and purchased the property at auction in 2017. His admiration for antiques drove him to sympathetically restore many of the hotel’s original features, while carefully integrating modern conveniences revitalizing an old George landmark to take its place (once again) as the destination of choice for connoisseurs.
Original street lights that once lit up Adderley Street in Cape Town have found a new home in the gardens of this “Grand Old Dame”.
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