Our story begins with a delayed flight
In February 1985, Leo was asked to visit Grenada by a friend with the view to purchasing River Antoine Rum Distillery on the island. Whilst there, he met Lilian Ramdhanny, who in 1986 became his wife. Due to a delayed flight back to the UK, Leo found himself at The Calabash Hotel. There he felt ‘an aura of infectious happiness’, which led him to purchase the property with Lilian on 1st September 1987.
Starting off
Leo & Lilian purchased Calabash Hotel from Charles De Gale on 1st September 1987, inheriting 22 rooms and 44 staff members. They set to work immediately, despite never having worked in the hospitality sector. Their first daughter, Adèle, was born in May of the same year, so they had a small daughter and the Calabash to nurture and set in the right direction.
Pictured: Leo & Lilian in the back office of Calabash
‘An aura of infectious happiness’
Leo on his first impression of Calabash
Breaking ground
After demolishing some rooms, construction on new suites began in 1990. Beth, Leo & Lilian’s second daughter, was born in September of the same year.
The Duke of Buccleuch’s impression of Calabash from his suite in 1991.
Building a reputation
Calabash gains popularity amongst honeymooners and couples alike, renowned for its warm hospitality and romantic setting.
Pictured: Calabash Restaurant and Bar in 1998, now Rhodes Restaurant
The family grows
Bobbie, Leo & Lilian’s third daughter, was born in March 1993.
Pictured: The Garbutt Family in 1998.
‘Our passion is ensuring that guests feel this is a special place; from the moment we welcome them to the moment they leave us’
Leo Garbutt
A new millennium, a new era
To make the change from 1999 to 2000 an extraordinary occasion, Calabash was open only to family and close friends. Leo & Lilian welcome 2000. Fireworks accidentally set alight a coconut tree by accident, ensuring it was a night to remember.
Rhodes Restauraunt Opens
Having first visited the island in 1998 to film ‘Spice up your Christmas’, Gary Rhodes struck a friendship with Leo, so a working relationship developed. What started as a selection of Gary’s feature dishes on the menu at the hotel evolved into Rhodes Restaurant, opening in 2004.
Pictured: Lilian Garbutt & Gary Rhodes in 1998
Adèle & Beth join the family business
In December 2012, daughters Adèle & Beth emigrated back home from the UK. Adele, leaving behind her marketing job in London and Beth, fresh out of culinary school at Ballymaloe in Ireland. Beth focuses on developing the Food & Beverage offering whilst Adèle heads up Sales and Marketing.
The Pool gets a makeover
In 2015, a multi-million-dollar renovation project took place during the annual closure, upgrading the Pool and Spa area. The family ensure the business is constantly pushing forward to stand with the best in the world. It becomes their most significant and most exciting project yet.
A family wedding at Calabash
In July 2016, Adèle and Marc wed at Calabash, exchanging their vows at the newly renovated Pool area. They welcomed their first daughter Isabella in 2017 and Zara in 2019.
2017
Calabash becomes a member of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux group of hotels, a huge feat and a stepping stone in their journey. Thus, crowning their place as a world-class luxury boutique hotel.
Calabash joins Relais & Chateaux
2017
Beachside dining gets an upgrade
Ahead of the 2018 season, the Beach Bar receives a complete renovation, extending the dining area to further embrace its unique beachside location. As such, it is renamed The Beach Club.
Leo awarded Caribbean Hotelier of the Year
In early 2020, Leo received news from The Caribbean Hotel Association that he would be awarded Hotelier of the Year. This was a great honour as votes were from fellow Hoteliers. The family travelled to the Bahamas for the awards ceremony.
Life during the pandemic
The pandemic saw the Garbutt family come together in March 2020. All hands-on deck to maintain the hotel and look after the extended Calabash team members over the extended period of uncertainty. The family spend this unique moment reprioritising how they develop the hotel’s offering on a more conscious level.
Back to the land
Bobbie becomes closely involved with the family organic estate, L’Esterre, following the pandemic. As well as supplying fruit & vegetables to the hotel, tours are offered to Calabash guests, and the family are building their own tree-to-bar L’Esterre Chocolate company in the UK.
Leo is awarded an MBE
In December 2020, Leo received a letter that he is amongst the Queen’s New Year's honours for an MBE for his services to hospitality and the tourism industry-at-large for Grenada.
Pictured: Leo & Lilian outside Buckingham Palace after receiving his MBE from Prince William in June 2022.
Izakaya opens
As the hotel reopened in October 2022, two suite renovations are unveiled alongside a third restaurant, Izakaya, a dream turned reality, first coined during the pandemic.
Calabash Today
A multi-award-winning luxury all-suite hotel with a local workforce of over 130, and regular features in globally acclaimed publications, the Garbutt family have built Calabash’s international reputation to what it is today. What they’re most proud of is that they accomplished it together as a family.
The Garbutt family in 2023 in the newly renovated Penthouse Suite.