Long Street hotel development brings artistic tinge to luxury living

By Patrick Burnett

Having a good old South African joll with a strong artistic tinge is now a lot easier with the opening of The Grand Daddy in Long Street, a four-star hotel mixing theater, food and a place to stay.

Hotel Group Daddy Long Legs are behind the concept, having acquired the Metropole Hotel in Long Street. Co-owners Jody Aufrichtig and Nick Ferguson have renamed the building The Grand Daddy. The hotel has 25 rooms, restaurants and a bar, but is also in the same block as the Space Theatre, which Aufrichtig and Ferguson are in the process of restoring. The theater is an iconic venue in Cape Town. It was founded in the 1970s and gained a reputation for playing host to struggle theater. It will open at the end of the year.

Aufrichtig said the redevelopment of the Metropole Hotel, a historic Georgian building, was costing R4-5 million, but between the Metropole and the Space Theatre, cost price and redevelopment amounted to “about R50 million”.

“We are trying to develop the whole area, bringing the concept of a joll for the night, watching theatre and eating some good food.”

The group already runs Daddy Long Legs Independent Travellers Hotel, a 13-room boutique backpacker, which has been described as “like sleeping in an art gallery”. Each room is uniquely decorated by an artist, poet, photographer, designer or musician.

The Grand Daddy will feature a similar approach, but offer more amenities and luxuries, said Aufrichtig.

Aufrichtig said rates would be set at R945 per night, a price aimed at guaranteeing volume and value for money. The hotel will have a conference venue and offer special rates for corporates.

Aufrichtig said the approach was geared towards offering a value-for-money place to stay that people would remember.