Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant in the Bahamas Receives First-Ever Blue Plaque Award for Excellence
Congratulations are in order to Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant for receiving the British Blue Plaque for Excellence awarded outside of the United Kingdom, due to their outstanding contributions to promoting English wines and spirits in The Bahamas. The owners of the historic institution, Enrico and Anna Marie Garzaroli, received the honor and physical plaque from the British High Commissioner to The Bahamas, His Excellency Thomas Hartle, at a ceremony held on the property on April 9th, 2024.
The plaque signifies both the UK’s appreciation and gratitude, as commended by the British High Commissioner, who remarked at the ceremony, “I am charged with bringing Britain and The Bahamas closer together. We’re doing this through trade, education, and sport, and through food and drink. Our very first success was getting a Bahamian rum into the UK market – Bassetts may soon be an international prize winner. And we are now celebrating Graycliff for their promotion of the finest British spirits and English wines. Congratulations to Enrico, Annamaria and the whole Graycliff team, we’re so proud to present this award to you.”
Enrico Garzaroli thanked the High Commissioner and the The British High Commission in Nassau, which maintains and develops relations between the UK and The Bahamas on a wide range of issues including political, environment, security and the shared Commonwealth agenda, saying, “At Graycliff, we believe in exceeding expectations and embracing innovation. Receiving the British Blue Plaque from the British High Commission underscores our role as pioneers in showcasing the finest British wines and spirits in The Bahamas. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to our dedicated staff for their passion and expertise as we continue to elevate standards and create memorable experiences for our patrons.”
Although they are the first recipients of the new British award anywhere in the world, a distinction of this type has been a long time coming for the Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant, which was founded in 1973 when the Garzarolis purchased the historic Graycliff mansion in the Bahamas. They transformed it into a 5-star retreat that is known for its grand suites, incredible continental cuisine with a Bahamian flair and an amazing array of spirits, including two award winning English Sparkling Wines that were recently added to their world-renowned wine cellar. It’s also listed in the Bahamas’ National Register of Historic Places, with a history that includes pirates, the American Navy, various royalty, Winston Churchill and Al Capone to name a few.
You can find additional information about Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant at www.graycliff.com.
