LadyLou: LUNCH AT THE COLONY CLUB, BARBADOS

FOOD AND GARDENS

For people with a hankering for a bit of luxury in their life and with pockets deep enough to accommodate it, the west coast of Barbados is the place to be. Hotels here hog the seafront and can seem a bit ‘over exclusive’ for the everyday visitor. But not a bit of it. A little known fact is that there are no private beaches in Barbados. Beaches are for everyone to enjoy and access paths can be found all along the coast road. With a bit of research though, you can add a bit of luxury to the experience. Many hotels are open for breakfast, lunch or dinner – and with just a little advance booking you can combine a garden visit with great food and relaxing on the beach.

LUNCH AT THE COLONY CLUB

There’s a wonderful Bajan tradition called the buffet lunch. It’s an ‘all you can eat’ affair and for the equivalent of between £20 and £40, the food is plentiful and delicious. I’ve indulged in (or pigged out on) quite a few over the years, but this year I decided that The Colony Club was worth a try and booked ahead. I can say, without reservation, that this buffet was particularly exceptional. Fresh fish, salads, beef, ham, lamb stew, vegetables, grilled fish to order followed by a selection of deserts stacked up to at least five courses. The elegant surroundings ,brilliant service and the steel band added to the ambiance of the occasion and after eating to a standstill, there was little else I could do but stagger a few yards to the beach for a lie down. Beach-bedside drinks service until sunset made the afternoon complete or, should I say, replete.

However, gastronomy aside, the gardens here were a real surprise. Winding paths through lush tropical planting made the grounds feel more like a garden than a hotel so, needless to say, I wanted to find out more and booked myself onto one of the weekly garden tours.

After setting the scene with a bit of history about the hotel, head gardener Sandra showed us round. Within minutes it was obvious that her plant knowledge was exceptional and she was pleased to answer all my questions on familiar and less familiar tropical plants.

The gardens are a horticulturalist’s dream from the trees, some of which had been there for decades and set the scene for the planting, to the myriad of palms, shrubs and ground cover plants which were all planted sympathetically and informally around the various guest buildings and pools dotted around and through the gardens.