Sir Richard Branson’s Great House on Necker Island, severely damaged in a storm two years ago, has made its renovated debut.
The Great House, the private home of Sir Richard Branson and part of the Virgin Limited Edition collection which is available for $60,000 a night, was burnt to the ground during Hurricane Irene, almost costing the life of his 90-year-old mum Eve.
After a two-year project, the Great House was re-modelled on the original design, with the addition of some innovative design twists.
“Necker Island has been my home for more than 30 years and for me it is the most beautiful place in the world,” Branson said.
“The brand new Great House is the heart of the island and I’m thrilled with the results. This signals a new dawn for Necker, which I’m very excited about.”
Inspired by the beautiful features and Balinese style of the original structure, the new Great House offers breath-taking panoramic views of the Caribbean, the Atlantic and neighbouring islands.
Each of the eight guest rooms has a balcony, and all come with king-size beds and spacious en-suite bathrooms.
On the upper level is the Master Suite, which is 1,500 square feet and has been designed for panoramic views from virtually every angle and includes a two-person Jacuzzi, a stand-alone outdoor bath and a kitchenette area with a fully-stocked fridge.
The Great House is the place where people come together and has an expansive outdoor terrace with hammocks and sofas and a large dining table for everyone to gather round to enjoy their meal.
There’s a fully-stocked bar for favourite cocktails and up on the roof the crow’s nest has stunning views where you’ll find a Jacuzzi – perfect for sipping champagne as you watch the sun set. And for those that feel like a quick dip in the sea before lunch, they can hop on the zip-line that quickly transports them from the Great House terrace all the way down to the sandy white beach.
For exclusive-use bookings, accommodation on Necker Island includes nine bedrooms in the Great House including the Master Suite and six individual Bali Houses dotted around the island. There is also a bunkroom in the Great House that sleeps up to six children. The total number of guests that can be accommodated on Necker Island is 30 plus six children at a nightly rate of USD $60,000 until December 31, 2013.
For those who want to enjoy the full Necker experience without having to hire the entire island, ‘Celebration Weeks’ provide the opportunity to book an individual room ‘hotel-style’ for seven nights.
Necker Island is located in the British Virgin Islands, in the Caribbean, and is surrounded by turquoise waters and coral reefs and fringed with white sandy beaches.