Having come from the ultra slick and professional Carlisle Bay, this is a complete contrast as we revert to good old fashioned Caribbean hotel keeping. The owners are there to greet you and are available throughout our stay, and the staff can’t do enough for you as we were embraced within colonial decadence.

Ottley's goes back to the arrival, from Ottley in Yorkshire (allegedly), of Drewry Ottley, in the middle of the 17th century. He created a sugar plantation and built what they call in this part of the world, a Great House. This is normally the home of the plantation owner set in a dominant position. Over 300 years later, some booksellers from New Jersey, the Keusch’s, started coming to the island in 1982 and then started to believe what others read in books ~ the romance of buying what was left of a 35-acre plantation and turning it into a hotel, whilst retaining and maintaining the magnificent British colonial tradition. By 1988 the temptation was too much for them and they immersed themselves in what was an unbelievable challenge ~ the purchase and refurbishment of Ottleys.

They opened in 1990 and have been here ever since – Ruth and Art Keusch with their two daughters, Nancy and Karen and their horticulturist son-in-law, Marty Lowell. The family has since grown with the arrival of two granddaughters.

And what a fantastic job they have done. The restoration and the furnishing of the Great House was an amazing achievement. They have added a pool, restaurant, a floodlit tennis court, croquet lawn and spa, and the vegetation is quite superb.

Their best room comes with its own small private pool. The atmosphere was very different to what we had experienced at Carlisle Bay (see other report). The clientele was older and there were no families. The clients reflect the hotel, its standards and what it is all about. The size of the property dictates, and limits, what’s on offer.

Lunch is more traditional, as indeed, is dinner, with a four-course table d’hote menu, where you will get a choice of starter, main course and dessert. The Wine List is predominantly American and French, which is predictable, and the selection was good and reasonably priced. The cooking and presentation of the food was old fashioned and veers towards the American style, and the service was excellent. Florrie is a brilliant waitress.

I would certainly recommend our customers to stay at Ottley’s, but would advise them not to take the half board option.

If you'd like to read Edwin's report on Carlisle Bay, click here.

Rosie & Edwin visited Ottley's Plantation in October 2006

The Royal Palm Bar




Pool and garden




Ottley's Royal Suite




Relax!




Try your hand at fishing!