Latest news with #SeaPoint
Mail & Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
A new chapter in the life of the glitzy Ritz hotel
Legendary: At its height, The Ritz had a classy revolving restaurant on its top. (Supplied) If you've ever driven through Sea Point in Cape Town and caught a glimpse of that tall, skinny building towering above Main Road, then you already know her. She's hard to miss at 23 storeys high, 80 metres tall, with sleek curves and a shiny skyline presence that still steals the show even when she's asleep. I'm talking, of course, about The Ritz Hotel. She's bold and legendary. And now, after standing empty for nearly seven years, she's finally been sold. Yes, the grande dame of Sea Point has officially changed hands in what insiders say was a deal worth anything from R240 million to R300 million. An international family-owned hospitality group has taken over from another family business that owned the property for decades. It's a big moment,not just for Cape Town real estate, but for everyone who remembers The Ritz for what she once was, and who dreams about what she could still become. And as someone obsessed with buildings, their stories and the strange, beautiful crossroads where the two meet, this one feels personal. Construction of The Ritz wrapped up in 1970, and even then, it was considered futuristic. The way it was built was ground-breaking for its time — literally. The hotel's rooms, including the bathrooms, were all prebuilt off-site using modular construction methods — a technique that feels modern even by today's standards — and dropped in, one by one, from the top of the structure. It was a bold, efficient way to construct a high-rise hotel in a prime location, and it earned the project a string of awards in the early 1970s. The original owner, Barney Hurwitz — a pharmaceutical mogul — was no stranger to risk or innovation. He was the man behind the vision and the money. But he also knew when to let the professionals run the show. In the mid-1980s, he contracted Protea Hotels to manage and market the building, and that's when The Ritz began its golden years. Under the watchful eye of general manager Alan Romburgh and his deputy, John Watson (who would later manage The Peninsula), the hotel thrived. The energy was electric. Celebrities stayed. Sports stars partied. And the two nightclubs on the ground floor — Paschas and In-Excess — became legendary spots on Cape Town's nightlife map. In-Excess, tucked away in the basement, was known for its wild energy, bold music and fashionable crowd. These were the years when The Ritz was a social magnet. A place to be seen. A place that hummed with the energy of the city. But perhaps the most poignant story ever told about The Ritz doesn't involve celebrities or champagne — it involves a president and a view. More specifically, Nelson Mandela's view from the top. After his release from Victor Verster Prison, Mandela stayed at The Ritz for more than two months. The manager at the time told me something that still gives me goosebumps: Madiba made his own bed and tidied his own room every day. He was reported as the only guest to ever do this daily. He rose at 4.30am and went for walks along the Sea Point promenade, flanked by his security. When he returned, he'd sit and have tea with the hotel manager. He once spoke about how, during his years on Robben Island, The Ritz was the one building that stood out on the mainland skyline. Sitting in the hotel years later and looking back at the island that once held him prisoner must have been an emotional full-circle moment. That story alone captures what this building means to Cape Town. It's more than bricks and mortar. It's memory. Legacy. Layers of lived experience. At its peak, The Ritz boasted two penthouses and 213 hotel rooms, with a legendary fine-dining restaurant called Top of the Ritz. The crown jewel that looks like a spaceship. The restaurant revolved. It made a full 360-degree rotation every hour, offering diners a moving feast of Atlantic views, city lights and Table Mountain silhouettes. Sydney Joseph was its first manager and was the place to celebrate life's milestones. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the general manager was Bernard MD Cassar, a name that many in the industry will recognise. He graciously gave me his time to talk about those years, and I want to thank him here. Under Bernard's management, The Ritz was running at more than 80% occupancy. They even had a weekend special where you could stay for just R19.50. Can you imagine? But, like many grand hotels, The Ritz also had her darker chapters. Over the years, she became infamous for a series of tragic events, including a number of suicides. There are heartbreaking records of guests leaping from bathroom windows. And in one particularly chilling case, the hotel made front-page news for seven consecutive days after an axe murder took place in room 1803. Even so, the building soldiered on. Protea Hotels eventually stepped away and The Ritz became independently managed again. At one point it was operated by a company called African Sky, run by Gustav Krampe, himself a former food and beverage manager from the Protea team. The hotel underwent several refurbishments. In 2006, the iconic revolving restaurant was reopened. And in 2014, a large-scale renovation began to bring her back to life. At its height, The Ritz had all-round luxury. (Supplied) The Ritz had glitz, and she had glam. And then, she had the drama. In 2016, a new chapter seemed ready to begin. Celebrity couple Nicky van der Walt and Lee-Ann Liebenberg took over the lease of the building. Their company planned a dramatic relaunch, featuring R110 million in renovations, a fresh restaurant concept (Casa) with celebrity chef Bertus Basson, a champagne lounge backed by Dom Pérignon, and a nightclub with performances by Black Coffee. The dream was alive. The promise was seductive. But the fairytale unravelled quickly. Despite hosting a flashy launch party, the hotel never actually reopened. The landlord cancelled the 20-year lease agreement after nearly two years of no rent being paid, despite the R1.3 million a month rental obligation. The matter went to court. Nicky's company demanded R20 million in damages from the landlord. Then, in a twist worthy of a soap opera, Nicky resigned from his own company, and the saga ended with them vacating the property. Since then, the hotel has stood still and silent. Now, in 2025, The Ritz has finally been sold. Time for a new chapter. A hospitality group has stepped up to continue writing her story. Their portfolio of laid-back luxury, top hotels around the world is sure to make a statement with their latest acquisition in the Mother City. OKU Hotels is a Spanish hospitality brand best known for its beach resorts in Spain, Greece, Ibiza and Turkey. The brand is backed by Westfort Capital, a hotel investment fund that focuses on resort properties, as well as Alychlo NV, the private investment company of Belgian Marc Coucke. The website, under the coming soon tab, says: 'The team at OKU Hotels are constantly searching for opportunities to develop new OKU's, from Bali to Miami to the Maldives, our family is expected to grow soon – watch this space.' Whatever OKU decides to do with this site can only add value to Sea Point. The ground-floor retail spaces were more recently managed by Excellerate JHI, but the rest of the building has been dormant since July 2018. This sale marks more than just a transfer of ownership; it's the start of a reinvention and reimagining. She deserves it. Concrete isn't cold — it holds stories. And The Ritz is one of those places where personal history, architectural brilliance and urban identity intersect. Buildings aren't just structures; they're time machines, memory banks, cultural mirrors. I write about concrete because it's a language — one of ambition, legacy and the power of place. Got your own memories of The Ritz? Please share them with me. Ask Ash examines South Africa's property, architecture and living spaces. Continue the conversation with her on email (
Zawya
24-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Ritz Hotel changes hands: Sea Point's modular marvel set for revival
The rumours are true: Sea Point's iconic Ritz Hotel has officially been sold, with reports placing the price tag between R240m and R300m. The 23-storey landmark, famed for its former 360° revolving restaurant, is set to be revitalised by its new owners — a French-Dutch consortium and a local property developer — who plan to breathe new life into the grande dame. Ash Müller, property broker and columnist for the Mail & Guardian, said the hotel's new owners are currently in consultation with architects and the City of Cape Town regarding the early planning and approval stages for the renovations. She added that the hotel originally included retail frontage as part of its mixed-use design, and that if this feature is retained, it would add significant value to the redevelopment. Modular design legacy Less widely known, said Müller, is that The Ritz was also an engineering marvel of its time. When it was constructed in the early 1970s, the 23-storey tower was one of the few buildings in South Africa to be built using modular construction — a pioneering technique at the time. Entire bedroom and bathroom units were pre-fabricated off-site, transported to the location, and craned into position. This method allowed for faster, more efficient construction while ensuring quality control in each unit. For the current developers, this structural modularity may present a strategic advantage. The building's compartmentalised design could simplify upgrades to plumbing, electrical systems, and smart infrastructure, without the need for extensive structural overhauls. It also offers a unique architectural narrative to build on — one that blends retro-modern engineering with the potential for sleek, future-forward innovation. As they breathe new life into this grande dame, developers have the opportunity to honour and amplify its original design legacy, reinforcing its place as a timeless icon on the Sea Point skyline, Müller said. This vision for the future is rooted in a rich and colourful past — one that shaped the Ritz into a symbol of Sea Point's golden era. Glamour and grandeur From its grand entrance in 1971, The Ritz stood as a beacon of sophistication—offering panoramic ocean views, upscale dining, and upscale entertainment. Its launch signalled an ambitious era of luxury for Sea Point, contributing significantly to the suburb's mid-century development and identity. In its heyday, The Ritz boasted an 80% occupancy rate, hosted vibrant nightlife including popular clubs - 'Paschas' and 'In‑Excess' -, and welcomed many celebrities and dignitaries, including Nelson Mandela following his release in 1990. In late 2017, Shimmy Luxury Collection (led by Nicky van der Walt) invested R120 m in a full refurbishment—revamping infrastructure, interiors, restaurants, lounges, pool deck, and reopening the revolving restaurant Key highlights included a glamorous lobby with gold-tone accents and marble; the addition of Top of the Ritz restaurant on the 23rd floor, and the opening of the Dom Pérignon Lounge on the 22nd floor; Hennessy Cigar Lounge on the 21st, and Casa and poolside dining on lower floors. Source: Supplied. The former revolving Top of the Ritz restaurant. Vacancy and fallout But The Ritz has its darker chapters too. The hotel's reputation was tarnished in the late 1980s amid rising crime and social issues in the area. It also gained notoriety for multiple suicide incidents, and a high‑profile axe murder in Room 1803 in 1993. Perhaps more devastating was the legal battle which erupted in 2018 between Ritz Plaza (the freeholder) and the management company, which resulted in a High Court order forcing the latter to vacate due to non-payment of fees. Despite grand reopening plans, the hotel never reopened publicly, and has remained vacant and deteriorating since then. Legacy meets progress But now with a change in ownership, there is renewed hope for the hotel's reputation as new life is not only being breathed into the building itself but into a neglected part of Sea Point, enriching the area's character and boosting its overall value, Müller said. Once a symbol of Sea Point's golden era, the revival of The Ritz Hotel—can be seen as one of many bold moves contributing to the area's ongoing transformation. In recent years, landmark refurbishments—such as the fire station restoration and elegant Victorian-era conversions—have reinforced Sea Point's revival, which has its roots as far as 2010 when the suburb gradually fell into neglect as development energy shifted to the newly built V&A Waterfront. Vacancies increased, infrastructure aged, and many buildings and businesses lost their appeal. A turning point came in 2010 with the Fifa World Cup and the construction of the Cape Town Stadium in neighbouring Green Point. These catalysed fresh interest in Sea Point's potential, attracting developers who began restoring neglected buildings and modernising the area. A major milestone was reached in 2015 when the Berman Brothers transformed the old Galleria centre into The Point, a modern mixed-use lifestyle hub. This R300m redevelopment signalled Sea Point's commercial comeback, spurring further upgrades along Main and Regent Roads. Sea Point rising Between 2017 and 2021, heritage restorations and high-end apartment blocks emerged, including the rejuvenation of Strand Beach apartments and the iconic Winchester Mansions Hotel. The establishment of the Sea Point City Improvement District (CID) around 2018 further accelerated improvements to safety, cleanliness, and urban management. Today, the suburb is a vibrant blend of heritage charm, coastal energy, and modern convenience, drawing residents, investors, and visitors alike, and the new and upcoming Ritz Hotel will be part and parcel of that offering. Its revival stands as a rare opportunity — not just to restore a local landmark, but to celebrate a bygone era while reimagining it for a new generation. 'Sea Point has many personalities — the more you explore, the more you discover these distinct nodes, each with its own energy. This particular area has been tired for some time, and it's clearly been waiting for an upgrade. "I truly believe this project will add significant value,' Müller said. In Sea Point's ever-evolving story, the grande dame is poised to reclaim her place — this time, with one foot in the past and the other firmly in the future. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
