Bellevue Plantation and Polo Club is one of Barbados’ best-kept secrets.
The property which was built between 1735 and 1750 was on a 60-acre plantation and had its own mill and boiling house, whose foundations are near the end of what is known today as the gully.
The property, originally known as Anton Hall and now owned by Paul Andrews, has expanded over the years. It now sits on 100 acres, extends as far as Glendairy Prison, has a boutique hotel, polo facilities, a swimming pool and a small pond.
Barbados TODAY received a tour of the original house which was designed in Georgian architecture. House Manager Shanese Beckles said the plantation house which housed slaves in the colonial period has kept all the original flooring and walls which gives the house a historical feel.
She said that while some guests come to the Waterford, St Michael edifice for historical tourism, the majority come to have a good time.
“Everything downstairs is still all original. This is all limestone and we still have the original floors. As you can see, we still have a grandfather clock. We also have a latrine and the original chimney in this bedroom. The walls and everything are still quite original,” she told Barbados TODAY.
The Plantation House is well maintained, and all the rooms have a bathroom adjacent. There is a beautiful view of the surroundings from the rooms on the upper deck and a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere awaits visitors.
For guests who are concerned about expenses, there are affordable cottages available from USD $100 to $150 per night. Hand painted artwork by employee Monica Harris adorns the cottages.
Owner of the Bellevue Plantation Paul Andrews said the Plantation House is home to many of the highly anticipated events on the island’s Crop Over calendar.
“We now have a boutique hotel of twelve rooms. We have a wild monkey trail which takes you around the property either by horseback or by foot. We host most of the major events on the island such as Bliss, Panache Aura and Bim Tipsy and Lost in Paradise. We have had pretty much over 100,000 people through the property in the last two or three years alone,” he said.
Andrews said his property is highly rated in the wedding sector. “We do endless weddings [and] are regarded as one of the best places to get married for overseas and local weddings. Nothing has changed here for 300 years,” he said.
He notes that with heavy foot traffic, business has been great thus far and guests appreciate that the property has maintained its historical value over the years. “Business is endless. Bellevue really is a lovely place to come and staycation or to just come and hang out on the grounds or use our new café. It really is a pretty place, and it has remained in its natural way instead of some of the more built-up areas around Barbados. Guests have enjoyed the fact that it is one of the few remaining places on the island that is natural,” he said.
Andrews told Barbados TODAY that due to its historical value and proximity to Bridgetown and its environs, Bellevue Plantation House has become a must-see tourist attraction.
“We have regular tourists coming through as it is an alternative to Sunbury or St Nicholas Abbey. It is a much easier location [to get to]. If you look on Booking.com, we have a number of reviews and we are up there in the 9.8 and 8.4 due to Carla and the team. There have been many happy brides,” he said.
The house also hosts Polo Games and retreats for corporate clients and locals. The Wild Monkey Café and Restaurant will open on December 1st, 2019.
To find out more about Bellevue Plantation and Polo Club, visit the website: www.bellevuebarbados.com (LG)
