Royal treatment
Royal treatment
The absent “neighbour” is Gary Lineker and Morphet is master of all I survey. Under surveillance is his Royal Westmoreland estate in Barbados, a 500-acre belt of luxury villas situated on the Royal Westmoreland Golf and Country Club, itself a fixture on the world’s top ten of golfing residential resorts.
From Morphet’s colonial-style mansion villa we’re afforded an uninterrupted vista of lush greenery, ocean swirl and deep blue west coast Barbados sky. Here, on the aptly named Flamboyant Drive, Morphet’s native Lancashire might be out of sight but it’s not out of mind. The multi-million pound sale of his Lancashire-based South Lakeland Caravans business bolstered the fortunes of his Pure Leisure Group (PLG) which also owns Billing Aquadrome in Northampton. “Plcs had moved into our industry, they didn’t understand it and took on too much debt, expanded too quickly and failed,” he explains. “I sold before the rot set in."
Morphet’s prescient acquisition of Royal Westmoreland for circa £53m saw corporate kingpins and celebrities flock to buy million-pound plus villas. Owners included the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Mike Gatting, Andrew Flintoff and, of course, Morphet’s elusive neighbour, Gary Lineker. Kiera Knightley, Hugh Grant and Caprice have also added to the visitor star quotient. Here on Royal Westmoreland between $1.25m and $1.5m will buy you a 30,000sq ft plot on the newly developed Mahogany Drive leaving your imagination to design and build the dream villa.
For
corporate event organisers
the obvious magnet is the
18-hole
championship golf
course designed by
internationally renowned golf
architect Robert Trent Jones,
Jr. Guests of Royal
Westmoreland bypass
the
need to shell out the $25,000
joining fee and $10,500
annual
membership fees
that allow course access.
Still, US Masters
Champion
Ian Woosnam claims that the
par 3s are among the best
he's
played in the world.
Golf’s association with corporates makes Royal Westmoreland a firm event fixture for company incentive and motivational trips. “We’ve hosted for delegates from major banks and professional companies including Price WaterHouse Coopers, HSBC and RBS,” says Morphet. Late February to early March saw the 2007 DGM Barbados Open DGM take place with England’s Gordon Brand crowned winner. "During the DGM Open we have a three-day Pro-Am section especially for companies to invite their top clients for corporate hospitality and play golf."
John Morphet and England Cricket Captain, Michael Vaughan flank Royal Westmorelands
Morphet is keen to nurture events at Royal Westmoreland and plans are afoot to hold the Caribbean Corporate Cup tournament with support from a prestigious partner such as Barbados's Diamonds International. Costs of participating are mooted to be around $7,000 per team of four corporate delegates.
The growth in conference and meetings facilities has bolstered the corporate infrastructure. Sherbourne Conference Centre leads the way with capacity for 1,200 people in 165,000 sq.ft of space which includes 25,000 sq.ft of exhibition space. Two miles from the capital, Bridgetown, the venue has hosted conferences for the United Nations and U.S. and Caribbean government heads, aided by a media centre with television editing suites and microwave television link.
“As an incentive it has a strong image as being a luxury, up market destination, helped by its celebrity connections" Tony Jackson IDS London
Fifteen minutes away from the main Grantley Adams airport, the new Hilton Barbados features over 10,000 sq.ft. of meeting space and includes a boardroom, three divisible meeting rooms and a 6,200 sq. ft. ballroom with capacity for up to 570 people with wireless internet access facilities.
Certainly, Barbados is a hit for conference production and event management company IDS London Ltd, whose head, Tony Jackson organises far-flung corporate events. “We suggest Barbados as one of a number of long haul destinations as it is a safe island with plenty of local interest and opportunities to create diverse and imaginative programmes,” says Jackson. “As an incentive it has a strong image as being a luxury, up market destination, helped by its celebrity connections. Programmes are successful, the island is fun and corporate groups always enjoy it. From IDS's perpective there is a growing demand for top end hotels in the area and this is underlined by the calibre of delegates that visit.”
The international
commercial interest
has favourable
repercussions for
Morphet and the
coterie of Brits that
contribute to "Little
England's"
development. “I
started my business
at the age of 14 and
developed the
caravan business on
our family farm,” he
reminisces. “Sitting
here in Barbados I
know exactly what’s
going in my all
businesses. I’m
proud to bring value to Barbados which doubles as a fantastic holiday home. The fact that I bought an underperforming Royal Westmorelands after holidaying in Barbados typifies our work/play approach.”
The Cliff Restaurant
If there’s one restaurant that epitomises the languid relaxation of Caribbean dining it has to be The Cliff. The view from this cliff top venue comes into its own at night when candles and torches subtly induce an otherworldly glow. Diners overlook the terrace onto the artificially illuminated waters of the bay add to the shimmering languor of the setting.The Cliff Restaurant
The sultry reverie is only shaken up by the arrival of the food. This sees the table laden, chronologically, with foie gras and chicken liver parfait,smoked salmon ravioli and sautéed scallops on a truffle mash followed by main courses of grilled snapper in vinaigrette coriander sauce and Thai curried shrimp. Naturally, the seafood oozes freshness and the menu is replete with fish, meat and vegetarian choices. The unrushed atmosphere makes the dessert menu inevitable although choosing between white chocolate cheesecake and the crème brulee might not be so straightforward. The wine list includes vintage (and NV) champagne from the leading houses and a global selection of wines.
Chef, co-owner and author Paul Owens has succeeded in creating an optimum blend of service, presentation and cuisine, tempting the palates of royalty, celebrity and holidaymakers alike.
All in all, a fairly painless way to spend circa £150 a head.
The Boatyard
For a more laid back approach to Barbadian hospitality The
Boatyard caters for the
fun-seeking crowd. Rum and
coke and thumping house and
retro reggae mixes make this
bar restaurant a magnet
for the local youth and
overseas party animals alike.
"The crowd is very diverse
and this is what makes it
work," says Boatyard
co-owner, Sean DeFreitas. "It's
an exciting mix of
international jet set,
Revellers head from Harbour Master to the Boatyard
professionals, airline and shipping crews and local faces about town. They're here to get down to the music, dine in our restaurant and enjoy our beachfront location."
This location sees the infamous "Booze Cruise" ship, Harbour Master, decant up to 800 revellers at The Boatyard where they file across the bridge and hit the dancefloor until the early hours. "The travel professionals have a lot of fun here ," DeFreitas says. "Virgin have their 'Birdman' event here when staff, including Richard Branson, will jump off our pier into the sea. Crew from cruise ships will dock here to enjoy themselves and it means there's an everchanging scenery of people."
The Boatyard is open daily, 365 days a year located on the outskirts of the capital Bridgetown.
RK