Leeu Estates South Africa
Leeu Estates
Dassenberg Road, Franschhoek, 7690, South Africa
www.leeucollection.com
HOTEL INFORMATION
Group
Leeu Collection
Shareholders
Privately owned
Date of Creation
Leeu Estates opened on the 15 June 2016
Hotel General Manager
Bianca Aucamp – Bianca’s passion for impeccable service delivery has seen her gain experience in numerous positions throughout her 15-year (and counting) journey in the hospitality industry. From her early days as the manager at Laborie Restaurant in 2003, she has constantly and consistently carved out her career path by gaining knowledge in events, recruiting, food and beverage, sales and marketing whilst holding positions such as Hospitality Manager at Boschenmeer Golf Estate, Events Manager at Pearl Valley Golf & Country Estate and as Events & Corporate Sales Manager for Leeu Collection South Africa. Working in the different spheres of hospitality has moulded her into a seasoned Hotel Manager for Leeu Collection’s flagship property – Leeu Estates in Franschhoek, South Africa, a role she embarked on in 2020.
Hotel Positioning
5-star premium boutique hotel
Development Strategy
Leeu Estates, an exclusive five-star premium boutique hotel property with 23 luxuriously appointed rooms and suites, takes central position on 100 hectares (247 acres) of vineyards, landscaped gardens and fynbos (indigenous vegetation) in the Franschhoek valley. Located between the mountainside and river, just minutes away from the village of Franschhoek, it is the ideal setting for an elegant and sophisticated private hideaway, offering superb comfort, fine dining and platinum service. At the centre of this working wine farm is the meticulously refurbished 19th-century Manor House with its six rooms and suites. There are two rooms adjacent to The Manor House, and the remaining rooms and suites are located in the spacious cottages among the gardens, oak trees and vineyards.
LEEU ESTATES
History & Story
It all started as a personal journey for Leeu Estates’ founder Analjit Singh (aka BAS), an international investor of Indian origin. He was first captivated by the Western Cape’s exceptional beauty and vibrant energy during a trip to South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Soon afterwards, his company acquired Klein Dassenberg farm in the Franschhoek valley of the Western Cape, which he originally intended to be a family home. But then, the seeds were planted to transform it into a world-class hospitality and winemaking destination.
“Visiting Franschhoek for the first time, the town and surrounding area immediately held a gripping beauty for me and I felt an immense sense of place. It is in my DNA to build, to create, to develop. The Leeu Collection is the manifestation of our vision for sophisticated escapes and unique guest experiences steeped in passion and pleasure,” said BAS.
Main Strengths, Special Touch
o Fine dining restaurant: La Petite Colombe
o Residents only restaurant: The Dining Room
o Leeu Spa by Healing Earth
o Mullineux and Leeu Family Wines – The Wine Studio
o Everard Read – Leeu Estates Art Gallery
o Landscaped property with Bokkie Garden and sculptures by leading South African artists throughout the gardens
o Nature trails (river, mountain, and vineyard)
o Two 15-metre (49-foot) swimming pools
o Complimentary scheduled transfers to the village of Franschhoek (a three-minute drive from Leeu Estates)
Location
FRANSCHHOEK – The breathtakingly beautiful Franschhoek Valley is renowned as one of the world’s great food and wine destinations. Settled by the French Huguenots in 1688, it has retained its Gallic charm and character. At the heart of the valley is the romantic village of Franschhoek, with its award-winning restaurants, art galleries, boutiques, and many other attractions.
Key sites/activities in the area
Within easy driving distance from Franschhoek, one can enjoy the pristine beaches of the Cape, play a round of golf or experience some of the best land-based whale watching in Hermanus.
Fun Facts
o An expression of love, the Bokkie Garden is very close to the owner Analjit Singh’s heart. The Afrikaans word bokkie means small buck but it is also a term of endearment used by South Africans, comparable to ‘beloved’ or sweetheart’. Pivotal to the Franchesca Watson designed garden, a meditative and serene space where guests can reconnect with nature and one another, is ‘Reflective Resonance’ by acclaimed sculptor Angus Taylor. It is a powerful piece in bronze and Belfast granite that has become a Franschhoek landmark
o Keeping true to its bespoke and exclusive offerings, enjoy a bottle of red and white BAS wines as part of the complimentary minibar available only to Leeu Collection guests
o The onsite Helipad affords guests arriving with a helicopter charter, the privacy and five star premium services from the time they land to ensuring the most exquisite experience at Leeu Collection
Children’s Corner
o Leeu Spa offers treatments for children aged six to 12 years of age.
o Professional babysitting services are available
o For our long staying children, a bespoke Healing Earth Amenity pack is put together for the duration of the stay
o Age-appropriate robes and slippers
HOTEL FEATURES
Accommodation
- Number of suites : 12
- Number of Luxury rooms : 10
- Number of rooms, (keys) in all : 23 (including one secret room)
Restaurants & Bars
o La Petite Colombe: La Colombe, the award-winning and world-renowned restaurant based in Constantia, one of the oldest winemaking regions of South Africa, has established a sister restaurant at Leeu Estates, run by the talented La Petite Colombe team. Visitors to the epicurean valley of Franschhoek can now look forward to experiencing the same level of service excellence and exquisite cuisine that put La Colombe on the map.
o The Wine Studio: The Wine Studio on Leeu Estates offers a truly immersive wine experience. The tasting room is run by the Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines team, whose knowledgeable tasting room staff will guide guests in the finer nuances of these premium handcrafted wines. There are three tutored tasting options to choose from (booking advised): Signature (one complimentary tasting per Leeu Collection guest per stay), Single Terroir and Leeu Passant.
Wellness
o Leeu Spa by Healing Earth : Set among the vineyards, Leeu Spa by Healing Earth is an immersive wellness sanctuary that offers holistic treatments and experiences by expert therapists. The tailor-made offerings are inspired by Africa’s rich natural resources, with a unique focus on the myriad therapeutic benefits of South Africa’s unique Pinotage grape. Pure and premium natural products from leading holistic wellness brand Healing Earth are used in memorable treatments. Leeu Spa by Healing Earth is open Monday to Sunday from 10h00 to 19h00.
Disclaimer: for non-resident guests of Leeu Estates; a minimum spend of R2 000 per person on treatments (excluding retail, food and beverages) is required for use of the pool area for a maximum of two hours. However, all spa guests are welcome to use the steam room and plunge pool.
Corporate & Celebration Events
Indaba – The Meeting Place at Leeu Estates is a state-of-the-art multipurpose event and meeting venue. The light-filled space, with its open roof trusses, tall windows, timber floors and natural finishes, perfectly complements the collection of art and sculptures by artists such as Deborah Bell and Stanislaw Trzebinski, among others.
The well-appointed venue can accommodate up to 60 guests (cocktail) both inside and on the terrace overlooking the beautiful valley and mountain landscape for a variety of private parties, exhibitions, product launches and high teas. Press briefings, seminars, business meetings and management think tank sessions for up to 20 guests (seated) can also be accommodated. Indaba, which is 140 square metres (1 510 square feet) in size and has its own lift, boasts audio and video conferencing equipment, a 203-centimetre (80-inch) television screen and high-speed Wi-Fi. The following room layouts can be configured: boardroom, cinema, school room or U-shaped.
Extra Notable Features
o Everard Read – Leeu Estates Art Gallery
Everard Read’s newest gallery at Leeu Estates in Franschhoek augments the existing gallery in the high street of Franschhoek. The focus will be on showing monumental sculpture in the breath-taking fynbos and vineyards of Leeu Estates, as well as exhibiting important works by our artists in the purpose-built gallery on site. The Fynbosch quarter, where the new gallery is located on the farm, was designed by DHK architects, who also designed the Norval Foundation. The gallery benefits from their experience garnered there, with understated but immaculate finishes that show the art to its best advantage, while offering glimpses of the spectacular natural environment that surrounds Leeu Estates.
Hotel and restaurant Awards
o Leeu Estates:
2021 – Luxury Lifestyle Magazine awards: 5th Best Hotel in Africa
2020 – Our partner restaurant, Le chêne, was named one of 20 of the world’s best new restaurants by CNN Travel.
2019
• First hotel in the Winelands to achieve 5-Star Premium Status by Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA)
• Condé Nast Traveller’s Hot 100 List listed at #58.
2018 –
• Leeu Estates was named South Africa’s leading Wine Country Hotel at the World Travel Awards Africa
• SA Wine Index 2018 fine dining SAWI Awards as a Platinum class winner
2017 –
• Featured on the Travel + Leisure’s list of « The Best New Hotels in The World
• Leeu Estates was named South Africa’s leading Wine Country Hotel at the World Travel Awards Africa
o Mullineux and Leeu Family Wines
Platter’s South African Wine Guide Winery of the Year 2014, 2016, 2019 and 2020
Wine Enthusiast Winemaker of the Year 2016 – Andrea Mullineux
Tim Atkin 2017 South Africa Report Winemakers of the Year – Chris & Andrea Mullineux
Only South African winery to be named in Wine & Spirits Magazine’s Top 100 Wineries of 2019
Platter’s South African Wine Guide’s 2020 Wines of the Year for their Granite Syrah 2017 and Straw Wine 2018
Platter’s South African Wine Guide’s 2022 Wines White Blend of the Year for their 2020 Mullineux Old Vines White, 4 Five-Star Ratings for their Mullineux wines and 3 Five-Star Ratings for their Leeu Passant wines
o La Petite Colombe:
2021 – Trip Advisor Best Fine Dining Restaurant in Africa – Runner up
2020 – Trip Advisor Travellers Choice
2019 –
• 50 Best Discovery
• Trip Advisor Travellers Choice
• Eat Out Top 10 Restaurant
• JHP Gourmet Guide – 2 Plates
2018 –
• Eat Out Top 10 Restaurant
• JHP Gourmet Guide – 1 Plate
2017 –
• Eat Out Retail Capital New Restaurant of the Year
• Eat Out John Psillos Outstanding Contribution to Service Award (Morné Wessels)
• Condé Nast House & Garden Gourmet Awards – Best Hotel Restaurant
Number of employees
91