MONTHS of blood, sweat and tears are set to pay off on May 28 when the main building at the Hermanus finally reopens for business.

It was shut in the wake of a devastating fire on August 3 last year, just as the holiday industry was recovering from the impact of Covid lockdowns.

Manager James Denton told the newsletter: “It has been full days, long nights and a lot of hard work. The concentration has been on refurbishing the main building. The character hasn’t changed, but the décor has.”

He paid tribute to staff who were behind much of the effort, including the chef who has proved to be a dab hand with a paint brush. Now they are preparing to welcome the public back to the heart of the complex and to take part in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

“It has been a long hard process and there were challenges along the way,” he said. One of them was difficulty in getting hold of materials. Even now he is waiting for carpet to be delivered. “But we are opening, no matter what.”

James is delighted the Hermanus will be able to be part of the jubilee. “It’s kind of an opening party for us,” he explained. Plans include a family fun afternoon on Friday, barbecues and pizzas on Sunday and family discos on both nights, with money raised over the weekend going to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine appeal.

And although there are no plans to bring the carvery back, the popular plated Sunday roasts with a choice of meats will be back on May 29.