Birkenhead House South Africa
Birkenhead House
119 11th St, Hermanus, 7200
South Africa
www.theroyalportfolio.com/birkenhead-house/overview/
HOTEL INFORMATION
Group
The Royal Portfolio
Shareholders
N/A
Date of Creation
2003
Hotel General Manager
Shane Brummer is the laid back, hospitable and incredibly well-liked General Manager of Birkenhead House. Shane was one of the first employees of The Royal Portfolio and has been with Birkenhead House since its inception. Shane loves surfing, and often offers to accompany guests on surfs in front of Birkenhead House.
Hotel Positioning
5-star luxury boutique beach hotel and part of The Royal Portfolio: a collection of boutique hotels, luxury lodges, private villas and private residences located in South Africa’s most iconic destinations.
Development Strategy
The hotel undergoes soft refurbishments every year and the spa is set to increase in size in 2019.
BIRKENHEAD HOUSE
History & Story
Birkenhead House was the second addition to The Royal Portfolio and added a unique coastal experience to the circuit of luxury travel experiences. Birkenhead House sets the standard for luxury hotels in Hermanus. With its exhilarating cliff-top position overlooking the whale watching paradise of Walker Bay, Birkenhead House provides luxury accommodation for those seeking an extraordinary coastal experience. The original building was beach home to the current owners of The Royal Portfolio for over 25 years before being converted into the hotel.
Date Renewal
With a few expertly curated design and decor elements, in 2024 Liz Biden transformed this space into a haven of creativity and relaxation. Our dedicated teams on the ground did remarkable job in breathing new life into Birkenhead House, making it fresher and more beautiful than ever before.
Date added extensions
2018
Main Strengths, Special Touch
As with each of The Royal Portfolio’s properties, Birkenhead House’s strength lies in its passionate and expert staff and the personalised experience they can offer each guest. Over and above this, Birkenhead House’s unique strengths are its unbeatable seaside location, intimate nature, and full board offering.
Location
The coastal town of Hermanus, South Africa. A 90-minute drive from Cape Town city centre and from Cape Town airport.
Key sites/activities in the area
• Whale watching
• Wine tasting
• Hiking
• Kayaking
• Golf
Fun Facts
Hermanus is renowned as the best land-based whale watching destination in the world. Whales can be seen from June to November from the hotel, on a boat cruise or from a light aircraft, with the best months being September and October. The town of Hermanus used to be known as the town with Champagne air due to the fresh sea air and fragrant fynbos growing along the coastline.
Children’s Corner
Children over 10 years are welcome at Birkenhead House. Children under 10 years are welcome at our Private Residences in Hermanus.
HOTEL FEATURES
Accommodation
Number of luxurious rooms:
There are 4 room categories at Birkenhead House:
• 2 x Deluxe Superior Rooms
• 4 x Superior Rooms
• 3 x Luxury Rooms
• 2 x Standard Rooms
Each room is unique in its size, view, layout and colour palette. They’re each equipped with air-conditioning, a minibar and hot beverage making facilities, underfloor heating, a television and WiFi.
Restaurants & Bars
• All inclusive
At Birkenhead House in Hermanus, world-class cuisine is served in a spectacular setting. Menus and meals can be designed to meet guests’ individual palates and dietary requirements. The beverages from the bar are all included, and the property has a wide variety of wines from the local region which is world renowned for the quality of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. There is a select list of wines at a surcharge.
Wellness
Unwind in style with our range of spa treatments at Birkenhead House. With a medley of massage, aromatherapy and reflexology treatments, there is no more relaxing way to round off a leisurely day in Hermanus. The spa offers two treatment rooms and a comprehensive menu to choose from. Delivered by a network of highly qualified therapists, the wide range of therapies include body exfoliations, massages, body wraps, as well as beauty and grooming treatments.
Corporate & Celebration Events
The setting of Birkenhead House makes for a perfect celebratory venue. The hotel hosts several small weddings and corporate events throughout the year.
Extra Notable Features
• N/A
Hotel and restaurant Awards
2018
• Condé Nast Traveler, Readers’ Choice Awards 2018: #5 Top Hotel in Africa
• Condé Nast Traveler, Readers’ Choice Awards 2018: #17 Top Hotel in the World
2015-2017
• Andrew Harper’s Top 100 Hideaways in the World 2017
• Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2017: #3 Top Hotels in Africa
• World Travel Awards: South Africa’s Leading Beach Hotel 2017
• Travel+Leisure Top 5 Hotel Resorts in Africa 2017
Number of employees
N/A