Calabash owner shares story behind this luxury hotel on Grenada
Published 20 February 2025
How one of our favourite Caribbean hotels came to be!
What makes our hotels unique is the inspiring work put into making them excellent. Leo Garbutt - the owner of the Calabash - recently shared his particularly eventful journey to becoming the proprietor and revitalising what has become one of our top-recommended places to stay in the Caribbean.
Leo's story
Invited out to Grenada on the 16 February 1985 by a friend to supervise the running of a rum distillery, Leo quickly became fascinated with Grenadian life and the local community around the company’s estate.
It was quite the twist of fate that due to a delayed inter-island flight to Barbados, his return to England was delayed and he had to find accommodation elsewhere. His friend recommended they visit his cousin’s hotel - the Calabash.
Describing it as a ‘sunny wonderland’, Leo had agreed with the previous owner to buy the Calabash by the end of April 1987. His ‘Grenadian adventure’ now being well under way with a growing family on the island, the hotel has since received numerous accolades including: An invitation to become a Relais and Chateaux member as well as listing as one of the top 10 hotels in the world on Trip Advisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards.
In addition to being an outstanding 5-star luxury destination, the hotel maintains its reputation as an environmentally-aware business committed to developing sustainable tourism in Grenada. For example, Lilian Garbutt’s family estate supplies 80% of the fresh fruit and vegetables used in the hotel cuisine. Also, the hotel cuisine is renowned for locally sourced seafood such as barracuda, fish and crab.
What we can arrange for you
The Calabash can be factored into a two-centre holiday! Fly to Grenada and stay at this fantastic hotel before taking an inter-island SVG flight to Bequia. Here you can stay at the Bequia Beach Hotel on Friendship Bay as an ideal way of concluding your Caribbean holiday.
Final Thoughts
With just 30 spacious suites facing seawards over a beach, beautiful gardens and excellent facilities, the Calabash awaits! Speak to us about booking a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the Caribbean this year.
