Leigh House

In Depth

Leigh House was one of the earliest holiday homes to be built in the Sandy Lane area, back in 1967, and retains an air of nostalgia for that era. The home has been decorated very much in traditional English country style and was once featured in Country Life magazine. All that is missing are the log fires. Leigh House sits on one of the most exclusive pieces of real estate on Barbados, an enviable corner-spot right at the southern end of the illustrious Sandy Lane Bay. It has the best that the West Coast has to offer in terms of beaches, sports and recreation, restaurants, shopping and night life right on its doorstep.

The low lying, weathered, coral stone walls of Leigh House sit within the dappled shade of extensive landscaped gardens, with numerous mature trees, one of which is a huge Manchineel tree, which must be of some age, at the centre of the driveway. A large formal drawing room furnished in English country style, with the occasional piece of brightly painted rattan furniture and two turquoise painted bookcases, looks out onto the gardens. In the gardens themselves there are furnished terraces, where guests can sit and enjoy breakfast or an evening drink. Lawns provide areas to sunbathe or simply relax under the shade of the trees, and a kidney shaped pool is set in one corner, opposite one set of bedrooms. The gardens are enclosed from the beach by fencing and by planting, so that the beach cannot be seen until one reaches the gate leading straight out onto the sand. A formal dining gazebo is located to the side of the drawing room, with a beautiful antique painted dresser and baroque wall mirror and lampshades.

Leigh House has six air-conditioned bedrooms all with en suite bathrooms with tub/shower. Four bedrooms, including the master bedroom, are located in two adjoining cottages to the west of the drawing room, facing the pool. The two remaining rooms are located on the other side of the drawing room. All rooms face the gardens.

Beach & Swimming

The medium size, kidney shaped pool is set close the sea front which has screened fencing for privacy. It measures 20ft by 15ft with depth of 5ft with entry steps to one side and has a child-proof railing available. Leigh House is located directly on the beach at the corner of Sandy Lane Bay just south of the famous Sandy Lane Hotel and is accessed by gates to one side of the garden. There is excellent swimming to the north, directly in front of the hotel, which is a couple of minutes by foot. The swimming from Sandy Lane beach is some of the best on the island, however at certain times of the year there can be a swell with some undertow, so do make sure to look out for the red flags which warn against swimming.

Sports & Recreation

Sandy Lane's golf club, tennis courts, and dedicated spa are located within a few minutes drive of Leigh House, as are a range of water sports from Sandy Lane Hotel's beach. There is a fitness club at Warren's approximately 10 minutes away. The nearest polo field is at Holders Hill, approximately 6 minutes by car.

Locality

Leigh House has a prime beachfront location on the beach at Sandy Lane, just south of the actual hotel and very close to the golf course. This is the heart of St James, and the Platinum Coast and conveniently close the nearest shopping district which is Holetown, about 5 minutes by car. Here you will find the Cave Shepherd Plaza and the larger West Coast Mall. These contain a supermarket, bank, photo centre, duty free shops, video rental, and various shops and boutiques. The Limegrove Lifestyle Centre is a recent addition with a range of designer shops, an art gallery, bars, cafes and restaurants.
Also close by is the Chattel House Village, a series of traditional-looking Caribbean cabins selling souvenirs, the 24 hour Sandy Crest Medical Centre, and a market stall where you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables. The town also has a gas station (as petrol stations are known locally) which has an in-store mini-mart and an outlet of KFC, both open until late evening. Holetown, the place where the English first landed in 1625, later settling it in 1627, is also a local Barbadian community, with Police Station, Post Office, Parish Church, bank, pharmacy, clinic, fitness centre, school and so on.

There is a host of restaurants within 15 minutes drive along the main West Coast Road in either direction of Leigh House. You might consider the famous The Cliff restaurant, about eight minutes away to the south - also look out for Scarlet, Daphne's and Cin Cin By The Sea in this direction. Heading north beyond Holetown you could try celeb favourite the Lone Star, about 15 minutes north, or the Fish Pot. There are any number of restaurants in Holetown itself, including The Mews, Café Indigo, Nishi and The Tides as well as an excellent patisserie, Flindt's and several pizza parlours, cafés, a beach bar and some fast food outlets. There is also good nightlife in Holetown with lively weekend gatherings in 1st and 2nd Street, where the restaurants and bars stand shoulder to shoulder, with some providing live music. Drinkers tend to spill out into the street to mingle, creating an easy-going 'street party' type of atmosphere. The current hot spots' are The Mews, The Elbow Room, Spago and Lexy Piano Bar.

Useful Hints

Ask your travel organiser or the management company (if booking direct) for initial food and drink supplies to be laid in for your arrival. The cook will then prepare a welcome meal. Thereafter, staff will shop for you during your stay if you wish to delegate this chore, but a 10% service charge + VAT will be added to all shopping bills. Rental rates for villas in Barbados do not include 'tips', about which you will find advice in the guest information book at the villa.

*Large Manchineel trees are to be found in the grounds of Leigh House and it should be noted that their leaves produce a caustic sap and should never be used for shelter during rainfall or shortly after to avoid skin blistering. The yellow, apple-like fruit are also poisonous, so do be watchful around small children. If consumed seek medical treatment immediately. Most trees either carry signs or have a red painted ring around the base of the trunk.

Airport Meet & Greet

If you are booking direct ask the villa management company to send a taxi to meet you at the airport. Your airport transfers are paid for locally and take approximately 40 minutes. Alternatively, if you would prefer to be taken care of from the minute you arrive at the airport, with a range of services that can include limousine transfers, a Concierge Service is offered by St James Travel & Tours.

If you are booking through a travel organiser, it is likely that their representative will be at the airport to meet you. This service and your return airport transfers should be included in the cost of your holiday. Please check at the time of booking.

Getting Around

Although most things are relatively close at hand and Holetown can easily be reached by public transport (the good bus system passes by right on the main road), a hired car is strongly recommended for all private villa holidays, unless you prefer staff to call taxis for you as required. A car will be useful if you want to dine out at night or do lots of sightseeing and particularly when it comes to shopping for groceries. Book car hire via your travel organiser or direct with Stoutes Car Rentals and ask for your vehicle(s) to be delivered to the property approximately three hours after your scheduled time of arrival on Barbados or the following morning. Vehicles can be returned at the airport or be collected from the property at a pre-arranged time on your departure day.