The next time you’re heading to Johannesburg for business, why not avoid the tacky franchise hotels and stay in a real gem. Nestled in Johannesburg's leafy northen suburbs The Peech Hotel is a beautiful boutique hotel just a cover drive away from the Wanderers cricket ground.

The two hotel buildings surround a delightful swimming pool, while a garden off to the side is a great place to find a quiet shady spot to go over your notes before your next meeting.

The origin of this ideal little hotel has its roots strongly embedded in a dream. James Peech has always entertained the idea of one day opening up his own hotel. This Englishman used to grind away a living in advertising, but when he met a South African girl, his life was about to change dramatically.

They quit their jobs in England and set out backpacking from Bangkok to Bali. Somewhere in the middle of the jungle the idea of opening a hotel became a serious consideration. They reached Bali shortly after the 2002 terrorist attacks and found all the top hotels empty, so it turned out fairly easy to barter their way in and pick up a few tips for opening their own place.

From Bali they moved to Cape Town and after a year of trying to realise his dream, James decided to give Johannesburg a go. A mere week after arriving in Johannesburg in February 2003, he found the ideal spot: an old residential home that he spent the next two years transforming into The Peech.

A stylish city hotel
This long rebuilding period is evident in the fantastic attention to detail throughout the hotel. The contemporary design is stylish yet comfortable — all six rooms are luxuriously decorated, without making you feel uncomfortable. Satellite television, pure cotton sheets, and deep feather duvets will make you wish you didn’t have to leave your room to go about your business.

The main hotel area includes a reading section, a trendy bar and a conference room that can accommodate 10 people. Guests at the hotel get free WiFi access as well as complimentary membership to the gym next door. Should you prefer a relaxing swim to building up a sweat, you can cool off in the hotel swimming pool.

In the heart of Joburg
In the evenings your choice of dining spots in the area is exhaustive, as the nearby Melrose Arch has a number of top-notch restaurants on offer. However, your best option might be 'Bistro 61', the in-house restaurant at The Peech which is due to open in September 2005, which is sure to become a local dining favourite.

The Peech certainly isn't a budget option for a stay in Joburg, but you get what you pay for and the stylish accommodation, modern facilities and excellent service make it well worth the little extra on the expense account.


RSS
Digg
de.li.cious
facebook