I always like to read the Obituary section in the Sunday Times, there is usually space for one or two famous people, like an actor, politician or musician... the articles are accompanied by a photo of the deceased...... I was surprised to see an obituary for a simple person like a barman..... this barman must have known some well placed people....
Heartless bunch that hotel group .. I hope they get the wheel come around ..
I somehow got the impression that this kinda barman would have fitted in perfectly with Oranjemund in the 70's.... margarita
Reminds me of Witsand ,, My brother Peter built his holiday / retirement home there at oystertbeds ,,, he was initialy taken with the place when doing a contract for Denel .. he stayed at the hotel it was owned by a couple .. run by them and their tribe of kids from both their previous marriages .. The old Oysterbeds hotel .. local friendly .. fisherman friendly .. slightly run down ,, but a really good going concern ... the old country hotel feeling with the dining room with staff that had worked there for ever .. below the bar was another huge area with bar and 8 or so pooll tables . in the bar above another pool table .. the youngsters from Heidelberg and all surrounding areas would flock there .. even more so during the holiday season .. the place would pump .. it got a bit quieter in winter but still was lively .. and yes if they were a bit more astute business wise could have really kept it going done all the necessary upgrades slowly and been a good inheritance for their tribe of kids and their pension .. They were approached by the Relais group .. the offer was sell out .. retain 20 % share .. the grand plan was build extra chalets on the unused ground ... that cost the group would take.. good idea .. people coming there on holiday .. furthermore upgrade the hotel .. one step was convert the downstairs area into holiday flatlets as well .. this menat that there were no more pool tables .. .. the pool table upstairs had to go as well cos the noise would disturb the people staying there .. huge amounts of money spent .. on upgrading the hotel .. the dining room moved from the lounge area .. to a new building ( more cost ) what occured was a lack of flow dining room to the cosy lounge area .. the final result .. a too posh, local unfriendy venue .. the locals ( and who apart from holiday makers kept the tills ringing throughtout the year ?? ) shunned the " new " ... the holiday season flood was cut by a huge margin ,, no more huge parties .. too posh ... the clever folks from relais did not do their homework it seems .. Drew and Barry now had 20 % share of the losses .. so many times I went back the hotel was like a graveyard .. sure they made money from sale of chalets ,, but thats where it stopped .. the steady income had dried up cos the locals would not go there .. I understand they have virually folded on this venture .. Barry died of a heart attack .. Drew I do not know what happened to her .. the tribe of kids scattered .. change is a good thing ,, it depends just how much change ... mess with a good going formula too much and yes personal tragedy is the result ... so yes the barman here was not part of their "posh plan " .. hey he could heave still been alive and dispensing good cheer if the assholes did their homework ...
:nono1:
Thanks for that Sandy.... Never been to witsand before, had to find some pics after your posting, and found the following..... now I have to go to Witsand....
Its indeed a beautiful place Mike .. just avoid the hotel ..