24 hour hotel name change

Posted on Sat February 8, 2025.

After an iconic visit by Bobby Kennedy to Stellenbosch University's Simonsberg residence in 1966 they started calling themselves 'Die Withuis'. The name has stuck. When Die Withuis alumni (76-80) visited us we followed suite with our own name change.

The 1966 SA  visit of US presidential hopeful Bobby Kennedy to South Africa and the way it was ignored by the Nationalist government at the time almost reached a tipping point with the invitation of the house committee of Stellenbosch University's Simonsberg residence for him to address the res. Threatened with expulsion by the university authorities if 'anything went wrong' the res committee under the leadership of Willem van Drimmelin 

The story is well told via the link below. Well worth a view. 

Click here for the doccie on Bobby Kennedy's visit Simonsberg

For our part Barrydale's very own  Dominee Ollie is a product of Simonsberg residence and it's thanks to him that three years ago he organised the first Withuis  Barrydale reunion with the Karoo Art Hotel as party central. 

It's become a much looked forward event for the hotel and is a great example of one of favourite forms of booking - a hotel take over. 

Further Reading

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702 Talkshow host Reuben the Screwman returns with LBB2 (Life Before Barrydale 2).

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Doc Maclean blows in Thu January 30, 2025

One of the joys of owning SA's leading Art Hotel is the grand parade of fascinating people who pass this way. And here comes the blues legend Doc Maclean to etch another memory into the hand hewn beams that seperate the bar from the Barrydale room above. This is one night when the sound of the bar below wont be an issue - it's Doc's room

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