The Cara Lodge Hotel – Georgetown’s Most Historic Hotel

December 7, 2018

The Cara Lodge is the perfect hotel for those who want to soak up a cultural and historic environment. It was built in the 1840s and originally consisted of two houses. It has a long and romantic history associated with it and was the home of the first Lord Mayor of Georgetown.

History Of The Cara Lodge Hotel

Unlike many of Georgetown’s stately buildings, Woodbine House (now Cara Lodge) began life as two separate dwellings. The main house in front was the home of the Meservey family; the back house was where the Meservey servants lived.

The railing and the gates, which still carry the crest of Woodbine House, were imported from a foundry in England. The wrought-iron motif of the railings continues through to the drawing room of the house and has a unifying function. (The old ornate drawing room was to become the Ballet Room of the Taitt era). The doors for the drawing room were hand painted in India at this time and shipped to Guyana, especially for the house.

In 1926, Edward, Prince of Wale visited. During the Prince’s visit, he created quite a storm when he danced in the drawing room with a young lady who was not of European origin, ignoring the lily-white daughters of the elite of the Colony. From that day on, this young lady was referred to locally as ‘The Duchess’ until her death in the 1960s. He also planted a sapodilla tree in the garden to mark the occasion. The royal sapodilla tree, a Georgetown landmark, lived until the 1990s when it fell victim to a wasting disease. The ficus tree was planted in its place by President Jimmy Carter in 1992.

In 1996, Cara Lodge opened its doors under the management of Cara Hotels, a Guyanese company run by two Irish Guyanese, Paul Stephenson and Shaun Mc Grath. Since it’s opening, Cara Lodge has set the standard against which all other Georgetown hotels are measured. They offer first class services in a traditional setting, the hotel quickly became a favorite with visitors to Guyana.

Over the years it has hosted many dignitaries such as: President Jimmy Carter in 1996, HRH Prince Charles in April 2000, HRH Prince Andrew in 2004 and Mick Jagger in 2005. To be a guest at Cara Lodge is to become part of its illustrious history.

Facilities/Services At The Cara Lodge Hotel

  • Rooms – There are three types: 1/Executive Rooms, 2/Quamina Suites and 3/Raleigh Suite. All 38 rooms are equipped with a large flat-screen TV, 50 cable channels, ample air conditioning, a mini bar, complimentary high speed Wi-Fi internet, iron & ironing board, hair dryers, tea and coffee making facilities, and a safe large enough to accommodate your tablet and laptop.
  • Restaurant – The Bottle Bar & Restaurant, with its columns of English ballast bricks, display of Dutch Bottles and Portuguese ceramic floor tile, encapsulates Guyana’s rich colonial history and culture. Here you can experience the best international cuisine infused with a distinct local flavor.
  • Patio bar around a 100-year-old mango tree – The Mango Tree Patio with its open air to the Georgetown sky and hardwood furniture set among lush foliage imparts the enjoyment of life at its best. The perfect place for an aperitif before dinner in the Bottle Restaurant, it also offers an extensive bar food menu for those that prefer a more casual approach to dining.
  • The Ballet Room – This room is available for dinner parties for between 12 and 24 guests and for Cocktail Receptions for up to 80 guests.
  • Woodbine Room – This room can host up to 70 for dinner or 120 guests for a cocktail reception.
  • Free Parking
  • Business Center with Internet Access
  • Dry Cleaning
  • Laundry Service
  • Meeting Rooms
  • Room Service
  • Airport Transportation
  • Concierge

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Activities And Events At The Cara Lodge Hotel

  • Weddings – Cara Lodge offers sophisticated dining in the Woodbine Room or Ballet Room. Having a small intimate wedding could be the right choice, and to events such as these, the Cara Lodge Hotel brings a special sense of service, elegance, tradition, and a commitment to working with you from invitation to presentation in order to ensure the success of your event.
  • Conferences and Events – The conferencing and special event facilities at Cara Lodge Hotel are designed to provide you with everything that you need for a successful business or private event. Cara Lodge offers a memorable and professional experience for corporate conferences, banquets, dinners, weddings and private dining occasions.

The Cara Lodge Hotel In Guyana

This hotel is very vintage; many who desire a taste of the old fashioned life will enjoy staying at this elegant hotel. Not only is the hotel beautiful but it also carries a powerful history with it mixed with culture and enticing memories. The hotel is a great place to hold conferences or even your special wedding day – it can give you that peaceful and simple wedding you always wanted. The rooms are lovely, tastefully decorated and has all the amenities you need. You will find great enjoyment at the restaurant where you will enjoy fine dining as you reminisce about the most historic hotel in Georgetown – Cara Lodge.

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