The Old Farm
When you choose Soverby for your accommodation, you will sleep in what was once a wine cellar, built in 1907 by the Joubert Family. Later the cellar was converted into a stable, and as farming methods changed and cooperative wineries were established, the rooms each took on yet another new purpose:
- Room 1 (now transformed into a honeymoon suite) continued to be used as a stable.
- Room 2 (now a family suite) was a garage, as cars had become affordable.
- Room 3 (now a twin-bed room) was a bachelor's flat used by older sons of the family.
- Room 4 (a double-bedded room) and Room 5 (a twin bedded room) were a large store room.
- Room 6 (now a family suite) was a farm shop in use until 1995, and
- Room 7 (a twin bedded room) and Room 8 (now a double-bedded room) were the "poison room".
.
The Guest House
Gielie Hanekom bought Soverby in 1988. After much thought and research, Gielie and his wife Dolly decided to convert this old cellar into eight guest rooms.
Renovation started the end of 1995. It took about two months to demolish the old wine tanks which were reinforced with steel cables! Steel had not been readily available at the turn of the century, and these steel cables had been transported to the farm from the Okiep Copper mines in Namaqualand. After their removal during the renovations, the cables were reused in the entrance wall, just to keep the history going!
"So-verby" means "just beyond" — beyond the border of Cape Town and Stellenbosch. By coincidence it has an appropriate meaning in Danish too: "Sleep village"!. Soverby Guest House opened its doors to the public on May 1996 and since then, Gielie, Dolly and the staff count themselves fortunate to have met so many people and made so many friends.
About Soverby Guest House
- First guest house on the way to Stellenbosch from Cape Town International Airport.
- Farm-style Bed & Breakfast and self-catering accommodation on a working Cattle farm near airport and nestled in the Winelands valley situated between Stellenbosch, Somerset- West and Strand.
- Close to golf courses and swimming beaches.
- Large play area for children as well as safe hiking on the farm and surrounds.
- Superb braai facilities - preparation of meat and accompaniments - cleaning up by our friendly staff.
- Dam stocked with Mozambican Tilapia for the keen angler.
- Swimming pools.
- Breakfast in the manor house circa 1901.
- Rooms in the converted wine cellar circa 1907.
