Media article: Didsbury Magazine
The Lone Star Boutique Hotel and Restaurant is one of the Caribbean’s most exclusive destinations and attracts high-profile guests, such as Simon Cowell and Rihanna. Didsbury Magazine experiences how to holiday like a star…
As its name suggests, The Lone Star has always been exclusive. Originally built as a garage in the 1940s, it was the only stop on the west coast of Barbados licensed to sell petrol from a one-hand operated pump.
In 1996, the property was bought by English actor, Christian Roberts (best known for his role as Denham in the film To Sir, with Love) and he converted it into a paradise respite for the rich and famous. Today, its prime location in the exclusive St James area of the island continues to attract stars from all over the world.
It’s easy to see its appeal. The hotel has six luxury suites in total, making it the ideal getaway for people whom privacy and discretion is a priority. It has mastered that elusive combination of luxury and comfort, and its location is a winner – a stone’s throw from the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea and offering every room a stretch of beautiful beach.
In the last few years the Hotel has undergone a superbly sensitive renovation, which has included owners buying the beach house next door, turning it into a sophisticated, spacious, three-storey, coral stone property, complete with a tropical garden and access to the beach.
There’s a nod to the site’s automobile history in the room names: the Cadillac and Lincoln penthouses; two ocean front suites, Buick and Studebaker; and the Shelby and Corvette deluxe rooms of the beach house.
The décor, a wash of white and a range of blue hues, is influenced by the hotels ocean location, and the design is quality elegance, with polished mahogany floors, four-poster beds and crisp linen.
Private dining is available, but it would be a shame to miss the buzzy atmosphere of the restaurant, which is also open to nonresidents. Known locally as the ‘Ivy of the Caribbean’, Lone Star has an unrivalled setting; walk down a magnificent staircase to beautifully laid tables on a wooden deck raised just off the sand, close to the water’s edge, and with open views across the ocean.
Whilst the ambience is informal, the chef delivers fine dining with a casual twist, and the sommelier is on hand to offer an extensive wine list. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy the island’s favourite cocktail, a rum sour, at sunset.
If you’re travelling to Barbados over the festive season, and whether you are opting to stay at Lone Star or elsewhere (Christmas is one of their busiest times, so accommodation is booked well-ahead), a post-dinner glass of champagne in the hotel’s newly opened, beach-side Star Bar is a MUST!
It feels like we’ve sieved out the celebrity lifestyle and kept the best bits. This relaxing break is a paradise retreat, offering the ultimate in five-star luxury and making you feel both at home and a star.
MUST DO:
Personalised Catamaran sailing cruises – inclusive of lunch and drinks. A day at sea to experience the underwater life, including a swim with the island’s famous hawksbill and leatherback turtles.