How It Started...& How It's Going!

Many of you know of Calabash as the world renown five star, luxury boutique hotel it is today, however only a few would know of the intriguing story of how current owner, Leo Garbutt, stumbled upon this beautiful property, was instantly captivated, and never turned back.

In 1985, Leo left the UK for Grenada with the vision of investing in a rum distillery, namely River Antoine Estate Rum Distillery, which was owned by the family of one of his neighbours in England. This historic estate, which is one of Grenada’s top attractions today, has been around since 1785 and Leo was easily drawn in by the authenticity of its traditional operation, powered by the oldest working water wheel in the Caribbean. The more he learned about the island, the more he fell in love with it, and speaking of falling in love…

While at the estate, Leo met Lilian, and although he didn’t need another reason to return to this beautiful island, the connection they formed was very compelling. So it was on a subsequent visit to Grenada that his departure flight was delayed and he ended up having tea at Calabash, which was also owned by his neighbour’s family. He instantly felt that it was a place where people are happy, and decided that’s where he wanted to be.

With no experience in hospitality but a strong desire for people to feel the contentment that he felt on his first visit to Calabash, Leo purchased the hotel in 1987, married Lilian, and together, now along with their daughters, and backed by a very competent and professional team, they have developed the hotel into the outstanding establishment that you know and love.

The Garbutt family are keen on raising the bar in the tourism industry in Grenada, positioning the island as a five star luxury destination, while staying true to the treasures of its soil and keeping close ties with local farmers, and Lilian’s family Estate in the countryside, which sources the hotel with 80% of its fresh fruit and vegetable produce.

The Calabash team’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, as over the years, the hotel, as well as Leo himself, has been awarded several impressive accolades, of which the most recent and notable are listed below:

#2 of the Top 25 Hotels in the Caribbean for 2021 - Trip Advisor’s Best of the Best Travellers’ Choice Awards 2021

·         Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE): Leo Garbutt – The Queen’s New Year Honor List for 2021

·         Hotelier of the Year 2020 : Leo Garbutt - awarded by the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association

·         #1 Luxury Hotel in the Caribbean for 2019 – Trip Advisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards 2019

·         Accepted into the American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts program – 2018

·         Invited to be a member of the Relais & Chateaux collection – 2017

·         #1 Hotel in the Caribbean – Trip Advisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards 2017

·         Accepted into the Virtuoso program – 2017

·         Listed as one of the top ten hotels in the world – Trip Advisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards 2016