About the Mount Grace
A fusion of classic charm and modern elegance, Mount Grace Country House & Spa is the ideal environment to unwind and dissolve the stress that comes with the grind of modern living.
Enjoy the magnificent views of the mountains and valleys while taking in the fresh country air amidst the ‘din’ of nature at work. The award winning luxury spa offers a sanctuary to refresh body, mind and spirit. Ignite the imagination and rediscover yourself in the relaxed tranquility of the famed hydrotherapy spa, which has a jacuzzi, waterfall and sound flotation pool.
Famous for the finest country cuisine, the trademark Twist Restaurant offers unrivalled gourmet delights while the à la carte Rambling Vine Restaurant offers more than just a plate of food, it offers a stylish and memorable eating experience.
Brief History
Mount Grace was originally named the Thatchstone Inn. It is not known exactly when it was built, but around 1935 it was reputedly one of the first country hotels in South Africa. In 1946, the hotel was purchased by Colonel Pretorius, a full-time soldier, who later sold it to a consortium of Gerritson, Economides and Davies in 1961.
In 1977, the hotel was sold to Mr Haydon and the name changed to The Rockberg Hotel. The reputation of the hotel plummeted and it became a drinking-hole and a retreat for illicit love affairs. The hotel fell into disrepair and eventually in 1980 it was closed down.
In 1981, the property was purchased by a group of people and converted into a church campsite. The camp operated for a short while under the name EI Hannan, but various difficulties were encountered with the venture and in 1982, the property was sold to one of its shareholders, Chippy Brand, who converted it back into a hotel. Chippy and his wife Cynthia, renamed it Mount Grace because of the beauty of the surrounding Magaliesburg - literally meaning 'mountain of undeserved favour'.
Major construction was embarked upon, upgrading all rooms to a three-star standard. This required almost total internal demolition. As much of the exterior as possible was left to preserve the charm of the original Thatchstone Inn.
Mount Grace opened in September 1983 with 20 rooms and one restaurant. In 1985, the double-story units, now known as Grace Village, were added and in 1989, Mountain Village was built, bringing the total number of rooms to 60. In 1990, the hotel was awarded the accolade of being one of the three best country hotels in South Africa, and was also awarded four stars by the SA Tourism Board. On 20 June 1997, a terrible fire destroyed the hotel's public areas and kitchens, including The Copperfield Restaurant, Main Lounge, Hartley's Bar, Reception and the Library, causing the closure of the hotel for almost eight months while Mount Grace was restored. The hotel reopened on 14 February 1998.
The Spa at Mountain Village was opened in September 2002 and the hotel was renamed ‘Mount Grace Country House & Spa’.
The mission statement of Mount Grace has always been to provide a peaceful, relaxing and beautiful environment for the weary guest. The extensive gardens surrounding the hotel are the creation of Patrick Watson, Granny Cousens (Cynthia Brand´s mother) and a dedicated team of full-time gardeners.
In Feb 2007 the Mount Grace Country House & Spa was sold by the Brand family and taken over by the Hospitality Property Fund (HPF).This fund comprises members from various fields of expertise, predominantly in the property, hospitality and investment sectors.
Refurbishment & Makeover
After an 18-month, R145 million makeover, including a two-month closure to facilitate the reconstruction of the public areas, the refurbishment was completed in June 2009.
This comprised a complete refurbishment of the existing 81 units, the construction of 41 new additional rooms (12 luxury villas and 29 luxury room types), a new conference centre, new reception and administration block as well as a complete renovation of the restaurants, bar, lounge and kitchen areas. The refurbishment, which has received widespread acclaim, preserved the classical design theme enhanced with the introduction of contemporary fabrics and colours. Each bedroom now has the latest in-room technology with LCD televisions, 26 TV channels, coffee machines, digital safes and the latest energy-reduction technology.
The new conference centre with a capacity of 250 delegates opened on 14 July 2009. This greatly improved the resort´s ability to host larger conferences and assist in attracting the mid-week incentive markets. The resort is also popular with the weekend wedding market from the Gauteng and Pretoria areas.
The acclaimed Rambling Vine Restaurant is currently receiving rave reviews with Executive Chef Franc Lubbe responsible for the epicurean delights and the Twist all-day-buffet restaurant has proven immensely successful with the weekend markets in particular.
The award-winning Spa has, since the enlargement of the treatment facilities and addition of a state of the art fitness centre, seen a dramatic increase in volumes.
All staff accommodation facilities were reconstructed during the refurbishment and new laundry facilities were added to assist management in reducing the operating costs at the resort. New water treatment plants have also have assisted in the environmental management programme and utilise the "grey" water for irrigation purposes in the newly landscaped gardens. The generator capacity was also enhanced to allow for fullly uninterrupted service to the estate in the event of a power outage.
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Careers at Mount Grace
The opportunities available at Mount Grace are unlimited. We recruit talented and dynamic professionals across the board, including Management, HR, IT, Food and Beverage, security, Finance, and Housekeeping.
If you would like to be part of the Mount Grace team please fill in the enquiry form below.
