Peach and Quiet

In Depth

As you can tell by the name, Peach and Quiet has a strong theme of calm and tranquillity. It is tucked away on the south coast of the island, in a quiet residential area, and even when it is full it does not feel crowded. There is a maximum of 44 guests in the four and a half acres of the hotel. And then there are plenty of corners, in breezy, open-sided buildings, to which you can escape if you want to tuck yourself away to read a book or play cards. But Peach and Quiet is also an original. With its historical hikes and round table dinners with interesting island personalities, it opens up Barbados beyond the beaches and bars like no other hotel on the island.

The hotel is very distinctive looking. Its stark white plastered walls stand out against the Barbadian blue sky and against the blues of the sea, which are particularly strong on this area of the coast. The architectural style is a mix. Mostly its white curves and wooden beams hint at colonial Spanish baroque – an impression enforced by colourful Andalucian tiles built into the steps and some surfaces - but it is also momentarily Moorish, even Greek - and then there are strong touches of Bajan style too in the gingerbread and coral render. Of course the place is flashed through with tropical colour. There are sprays of bougainvillea in purple, white and orange. And as you would expect, in addition to the tranquillity there is also a certain theme of the colour peach, which appears in woodwork and is echoed in the brick paths, terra cotta roof tiles and the floor tiles in the rooms.

You arrive at Peach and Quiet through a developed area of modern local houses called Inch Marlow. The drive is marked by a rolling white wall and a line of casuarinas trees that point down to the entrance, which heralded by two pillars. A you enter you come to the first of Peach and Quiet’s open sitting rooms. There are bench seats around the walls which are covered with blue and white cushions. There is often a map in the centre of the room, where Adrian Loveridge gives the introductory talks to his walks, one of the key features of the hotel.

Ahead of you, the brick path continues between tall white walls to the office, where you will find Reception, before swinging left into the main courtyard of the hotel. This is circular and surrounded by the wavy white walls of the hotel’s style. Hefty wooden beams are stretched between white pillars and of course there are sprays of outrageous colour all around in the bougainvillea.

To your left is the dining area, where the tables stand beneath an angled shingle roof. When the weather is fine you dine out under the stars. If it is not looking so good you retreat undercover. Either way, it looks very nice lit with candles. Tucked into the corner nearest you is the buffet area (for breakfast) and close to that is the bar, set behind its white counter. This runs on an honour system (you mark up your drinks in a book). There are bench seats around the bar but also some nooks set above it where you can take your drink in the manner of a snug (these alcoves can also be used as dining rooms). The centre of the courtyard becomes a dance floor when there is an event or during the entertainment which takes place a couple of times a week.

There are several ways out of the courtyard. Beyond the dining tables a path leads to the rooms and to the right a Bajan-style wall sectioned into hefty coral-style rock bricks brings you into the Arena, a large room used mainly for weddings and other events. The main exit leads diagonally ahead towards the sea. Round concrete flagstoness, patterned with tropical leaves, are set into the grass and lead you out to the pool. Loungers are set on the pool-surround where you will also find tables shaded by wooden shingle parasols. The large oval-shaped pool itself is close on the sea.

The shoreline is rocky but the water immediately offshore is contained in a rockpool which is shallow and sandy-bottomed so you can swim and snorkel. On the lawn nearby, looking out to sea, is a raised wooden platform, which is used for turtle watching. Inshore of it you come to some of the other ‘central’ areas of the hotel. The Plantation Terrace is open-sided with a bamboo screen (which matches the furniture) to reduce the wind that can be quite strong on this area of the coast. It has a lovely view out to the sea, so it is a popular sitting area. Set slightly further back is the Breezeway. As you can tell from the name it is fairly open, but it is also sheltered, so guests sit and read here and often play bridge, another popular pastime.

The 22 bedrooms are on the other side of the resort, in two-storey blocks that recede into the gardens behind They are white-walled with gingerbread trim, peach-coloured doors and terra cotta tiled floors and the rooms are named after fruits and flowers – Persimmon, Plum, Peach and Passion. They are large and airy and mainly decorated in white – the walls, curtains and other fittings such as the built in bench seats - but then there is a splash of tropical colour in the bedspreads. There is a sitting area at the front, with a table and garden chairs. It is open to the sea breeze through louvers, so you can sleep to the wash of the waves, but it can also be closed off from the main bedroom with sliding glass doors. Ventilation is by standing fan (the rooms do not have air-conditioning) and there is a coffee and tea maker. Some have a small shelf of books but the main library is in the Reception.

The English owners of Peach and Quiet, Margaret and Adrian Loveridge, are very much part of the character of the small hotel. They have a have a very hands-on management style and so you will see them about the hotel when you are staying. Margaret runs the hotel, overseeing the dining room and the bedrooms. Adrian, who is also a writer, works behind the scenes but he leads the walks that are a key part of the stay for so many guests.

Peach and Quiet is relatively simple but comfortable for its very good price, but it is also surprising. It offers an experience unlike that of any other hotel in the island, or in the Caribbean for that matter. Through their active presence – the owners are happy to help anyone wanting to inquire about Barbados - and through their round-table dinners with stimulating local personalities and particularly through their Walking Weeks, they will give you a greater understanding than anywhere else of Barbados as an island. That’s if you want more than simple peace and quiet of course.

Beach & Swimming

The pool at Peach and Quiet is set right behind the shoreline. It is oval shaped and surrounded by a deck with loungers and sunshades. This area of the coast can be quite windy, so there are others sheltered areas for sunbathing.

The actual shoreline at Peach and Quiet is rocky, but it gives into a rockpool with a sandy bottom and outcrops of coral where you can swim and snorkel. The hotel can offer you snorkelling equipment. There are beaches either side of the property. Five minutes walk to the west brings you to Silver Sands, an excellent strip of sand which has a beach bar and is popular for windsurfing. Headed the other way you come to Surfers Point, a very pretty small cove and then to Long Bay, a mile and a half stretch of white sand which is excellent for walking but not so good for swimming.

Sports & Recreation

Guests at Peach and Quiet spend quite a bit of time reading and there is a shelf of books in several of the rooms and a small library in the reception. Bridge is another popular pastime with the guests.

Peach and Quiets Walking Week is one of the most original activities in the Caribbean. A package is offered for a week in which there is a walk each day in a different area of the island. Adrian Loveridge introduces the area with a talk and then he gives a stream of information along the walk itself. The walking is not intended to be strenuous (and non-walking options are thrown in if you would like to go out to the location but not to walk the distance), but it covers three to five miles each day over three hours or so. Points of interest include nature and the different environments such as the coastlines, forests and mangroves, but also historical aspects of the island such as the story of sugar, the old Barbados railway and, incredibly, an early model of the Iraqi Supergun. Walks are only available as a part of the special Walking Week package. During the week Peach and Quiet will host dinners with interesting Barbadian personalities, say a politician, an educator or a museum curator, who will talk about life on the island.

Star-gazing evenings are also on offer, with a Barbadian personality who sets up a telescope so that you can see the night sky at 13 degrees north.

Staff

There is a small but friendly team at Peach and Quiet, headed up by English couple Margaret and Adrian Loveridge. You are likely also to come across Barbara the housekeeper, the chef Chris and Lewis the gardener. The other ever present member of the family is Ollie, who will help out if you need a cab and takes any driving tours.

Dining

The dining room is central to the hotel, set along one side of its main courtyard. Breakfast is served as a buffet, with hot plates ordered from the menu. Lunch, consisting of simple dishes such as salads, sandwiches and toasties, is served at the poolside bar.

Dinner is served from a nightly changing menu with two or three choices for each course, including a vegetarian course if there are any vegetarians in house. They offer good, hearty Caribbean and international fare and occasional themed buffets with entertainment.

Weddings & Events

Peach and Quiet is happy to arrange a wedding or another event at the hotel, up to a maximum of 50 people. Margaret will liaise with you to tailor the event or ceremony to your wishes.

Practical Facts

Annual Closure Dates: 22 April to 09 November 2011

Dress Code: Casual

Facilities: Freshwater swimming pool, sea rockpool, restaurant, bar, library, reading room, 2 gazebos, Arena meeting room for 50 theatre style and reception

Complimentary: Occasional live entertainment

Other Services: Reception will arrange taxis, car hire, a private driver, tours, in room massages and picnic lunches. Walking tours available see special packages

Children: No children under 12 years of age

Weddings: can be arranged and are tailored to suit specific requirements

Accommodation: 22 suites

Room Types: All rooms are fan cooled and have an enclosed balcony/sitting area with tea/coffee making facilities. Bedrooms have either a king-size bed, two doubles or a double bed. All bathrooms have showers only

Credit Cards: Visa, Discover and MasterCard

Special Packages

Walking Week
A one week walking tour to discover the natural beauty of Barbados. It includes return transport from Peach & Quiet where applicable and has options for non-walkers. Items on the itinerary below marked with an asterisk are included in the package cost:

Mon - Arrival

Tue - Afternoon walk along the former railway line from Bathsheba to Bath*. Non-walkers option: Bathsheba and Andromeda Gardens.

Wed - Highland Hike* from Canefield Plantation in St Thomas climbing up to Barbados' highest point, Mount Hillaby.

Thu - A full day visiting the Flower Forest*, Welchman Hall Gully*, Harrison's Cave*, plus a scenic drive along the East Coast Road*. Non-walkers option: as above but transport between sights.

Fri - Early morning walk along the deserted South East Coast from Salt Cave Cove with its ancient Arawak settlements, past Gerald Bull's so called Iraqi supergun (H.A.R.P) to the spectacular Long Beach and Chancery Lane swamp (nesting area for Pelican, Blue Heron and the magnificent Frigate bird)*.

Afternoon cruise aboard a catamaran (private charter of small group or exclusive use) for a sail along the West Coast with snorkelling possibilities.

Sat - Coves and Castles. An afternoon walk from Bottom Bay past the ruins of Harrismith Great House, Ginger Bay, Sharks Hole and the Crane Beach*.

Sun An early morning walk of Bridgetown, with guide, exploring the historical sights*.
- OR - an afternoon walk with the National Trust (area varies each week)*.

Cost for the Walking Week is US$199 per person including VAT. Walking weeks operate from 30 Nov to 30 Apr and accommodation is not included.

Locality

Inch Marlow, which is situated at the southern tip of Barbados, is gradually being swallowed up by the ever-encroaching suburban development that is heading south and east from Bridgetown. However, there is still some breathing space the hotels scattered along the beaches in this area are fairly sparse by comparison to farther west. It is a short ride to Oistins, Barbadoss third town, which has supermarkets and banks (and an amusing Fish Fry most evenings) and from there the road continues to all the beaches and the action of the south coast around St Lawrence Gap, and then eventually to Bridgetown.

In the other direction you will fairly quickly come to the airport. The residential districts continue beyond here but eventually you come to the wild east coast, which is fun to explore.

The closest bar, or more accurately a rum shop, is Buffys Bar (and mini-mart), which is within walking distance. There are other bars at Silver Sands just a few minutes walk away. If you would like to go out to eat in the area, the Round Rock restaurant is popular. To dine out further afield, see the Restaurant section in our Barbados Island Guide.

Meet & Greet

Peach and Quiet is just 10 or 12 minutes from the airport. There are usually plenty of taxis available outside the Arrivals Hall and the fare costs US$15.

While they do not collect from the airport they are happy to run you back to the airport at the end of your stay.

Getting Around

If you want to explore independently, or to visit some of the restaurants on the West Coast, then you should consider getting a car for a few days. We recommend Stoutes Car Rental, who will deliver to the property and issue your Barbadian driving licence, price Bds$10. Vehicles can be returned at the airport or be collected from the property at a pre-arranged time on your departure day. Be aware that in the winter season there is often a shortage of cars in Barbados, so you are advised to book well in advance. Also book early if you want one for a week or more because the pre-booked rates can be better.

Peach and Quiet is tucked away, but it is not far off the bus routes. Just walk into Inch Marlow, from where you can get a bus or a Z-Van heading west into Bridgetown (Towards Town), via all the important beaches and busy spots along the south coast, including St Lawrence Gap and Worthing Beach.