Calabash Hotel and Villas Blog - Grenada, West Indies, Caribbean » Events

The Calabash nominated for “Grenada’s Leading Resort” Award

CalabashHotel — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:56:17 +0000

We all knew it but here’s proof!

The Calabash has been nominated in the category of “Grenada’s Leading Resort” by the World Travel Awards which will take place in Orlando in September. The nominations are based on last year’s voting and recommendations made by travel, tourism & hospitality industry professionals.

Added to this Grenada has been nominated in the “Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination” and Grand Anse beach may well be voted “The Caribbean’s Leading Beach”.

Very exciting news for the hotel and the island, so fingers crossed everyone!

Grenada Starts to Prepare for Carnival 2009!

CalabashHotel — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:06:04 +0000

Its one of our favourite times of the year! The whole island comes together to celebrate our culture and history with an amazing amount of enthusiasm and abundance of colour which is almost infectious!

The beautiful costumes paraded through St. George's town on Carnival Tuesday

Grenada’s Carnival is one of the biggest events on the island and is widely renowned as one of the best carnivals in the Caribbean. It is really a time to celebrate and appreciate the diversity and spirit of the people.

Carnival is not only for locals to partake in, visitors flock from as far away as Australia to participate and experience the event. In Grenada everyone is welcome to join in. It is really is a must see event.

Have a look at the video below for a taste of what Grenada’s Carnival has to offer!

44th Annual Carriacou Regatta is in Full Flow

CalabashHotel — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:58:06 +0000

The Carriacou regatta is now fully underway, having started on last Sunday, it runs right through until the 4th of August.

Sail Away

The festival started in 1965 as a mere boat racing event in Hillsborough Bay, Carriacou. Carriacou Regatta has now grown to become the biggest summer festival in the region. It is held over the Emancipation weekend each year and features keen competition among sailors from many of the neighbouring islands – Grenada, Tobago, Martinique, Antigua, Bequia, Union Island, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and of course Carriacou.

The Regatta Race events focus mainly on the locally built ‘Workboats’ with some twelve different classes of boats ranging from 14 to 35 feet in length.

Carriacou is an island to the north of Grenada, along with Petit Martinique it comes under the jurisdiction of Grenada.

Watch USA vs Grenada today in the CONCACAF Gold Cup

CalabashHotel — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:55:45 +0000

Grenada take on the USA today in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The USA are of course coming into the game after narrowly missing out in the Confederations Cup Final against Brazil. That was an incredible game, leading 2-0 at half time the USA looked good for an upset but Brazil showed their class to come back and win 2-3.

We’ve been alerted that you can watch this afternoon’s Grenada vs USA game for free online so please click here for instructions.

The game is in Seattle and kicks off at 6pm PT which is 1am on the 5th July (Sunday) GMT. We’re hoping for a Grenada win but it’s a really big ask!

A Fairytale Wedding in Grenada

CalabashHotel — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:20:35 +0000

On the 15th June Calabash was the happy host of the wedding of Margaret and John Bithell. We do of course have a bit of a specialism in helping to organise a lot of guests’ dream weddings every year and this one was really special because of Margaret and John’s story. It’s best told by John himself.

I first saw Margaret across a crowded room at a nightclass in 1958 and we started courting. In 1959 we got engaged but sadly it didn’t work out and in 1960 we split up .

Later we both got married to different partners and by 1984 both our marriages had ended. We met again briefly in 1984 but it was too soon for us to restart our relationship.

On 10th July 1988 Margaret telephoned my home out of the blue. I wasn’t in at the time but Margaret left a message for me to call her back. Later I called her back and we arranged to meet the following day and we have been together ever since.

In 1989 we went to the Cayman Islands on holiday, while we there I proposed to her and she accepted. Fast forward to June 15th 2009 and we were married at The Calabash Hotel in Grenada.

Margaret and John Bithell with Glenda and Sherlyn

The holiday at The Calabash was simply the best we have ever had and our special day and wedding went just like a dream. There were no hitches, everything went like clockwork and of course the sun was shining.

The success of June 15th would not have been possible had it not been for the help and friendliness of all the staff at the hotel who set out to make sure our wedding was a truly happy and memorable event. We cannot speak highly enough of the way the staff helped with the arrangements to ensure all went well.

Thanks to John for taking the time to write that, we appreciate it very much and again please accept our congratulations.

Liverpool FC Legends arrive in Grenada

CalabashHotel — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:33:12 +0000

Just a quick post to say that the Liverpool FC legends have landed, your intrepid blogger flew out with them today. Currently I believe they’re relaxing in the warmth of the Calabash Hotel bar enjoying a sundowner or two.

As we might have expected the plane journey turned into a bit of a social with players and entourage occupying the galley for most of the flight. The lovely flight crew were most accommodating to this, or at least put up a very good show of appearing to be.

Some quick pics, yes, they’re not great but then iphone cameras aren’t either. Better pics will follow this week and you can expect a bevvy of posts during their stay here telling you all about about what we’re getting up to. Check back again tomorrow!

Mark Walters, Jason McAteer and Gary Gillespie

Leo Garbutt and Mark Wright discuss the shock end of the 89/90 season

John Durnin spent the entire 8.5hr flight asleep

Party in the Galley with Mark Wright, Lourda and barman in chief (for the flight) Bruce Grobelaar

Liverpool FC Legends at Calabash Hotel

CalabashHotel — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:16:49 +0000

It’s only a few days now until the Liverpool FC Legends arrive at Calabash to stay for a week. Opodo published a story today on the subject, click here to read it.

We look forward to welcoming the following players next Wednesday (10th June):

Going for Gold, Gone for Gold

CalabashHotel — Sun, 31 May 2009 17:47:54 +0000

The Grenadian National Football Team (that’s football in the English sense) have a new coach, ex-Kings Lynn boss Tommy Taylor. He takes over at a time of promise for Grenadian football, currently the team is ranked 103rd in the FIFA world rankings, a record high for the nation. Taylor’s first job will be to oversee the CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign this summer for which Grenada have qualified for the first time in their history. Read the full story here.

In other news Grenada has won a Gold Medal at the Royal Chelsea Flower show. The theme for this year’s winning exhibit, created by Suzanne Gaywood, was inspired by the nutmeg, cocoa and spice producing estates on the island and the activities centred around a ‘boucan’, the area where the spices are brought in for preserving, packing and dispatching.

Gary Rhodes joined Suzanne Gaywood to help to promote Grenada and his restaurant “Rhodes” at The Calabash Hotel on the island along with Peter de Savary, one of the sponsors of the exhibit and owner of Mount Cinnamon Hotel and Mount Edgecombe Plantation in Grenada. Read the full story here.

The Embassy of The Calabash Hotel

CalabashHotel — Fri, 29 May 2009 10:58:33 +0000

This weekend the official renaming ceremony of Point Saline International Airport takes place. The airport will assume the moniker The Maurice Bishop International Airport. Many VIPs will be in Grenada for the ceremony and Calabash will be accommodating the Vice President of Cuba and his delegation. We will also be graced with an official visit from our own Grenadian Prime Minister, The Hon. Tilman Thomas over the course of the weekend. Other regional leaders attending Saturday’s ceremony include the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, The Right Hon.Dr. Ralph Gonzales and the Prime Minister from the Commonwealth of Dominica, The Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit.

UK Office goes to Ireland

CalabashHotel — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:17:54 +0000

The UK sales arm of Calabash will be in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on June Tuesday June 9th to support one of the major tour operators who feature the hotel. We’ll be presenting to over 40 travel agents who’ll be given the new Calabash sales brochure which details all aspects of the hotel including the new Heaven and Earth Spa, our accommodation and the Rhodes Restaurant.

If you would like to receive one of the new brochures please email john@calabashhotel.com