In the 1980s, the Lonsdale Hotel in Durban was an established, posh family hotel
part of the Gooderson family’s hospitality chain. It was a popular venue for social events, featuring a pub called El Castilian and a grand ballroom. The hotel also served as a place where people developed fond memories, with some recounting attending dance performances and other festive occasions there during that decade.
The Lonsdale Hotel was a central place for social life, with the ballroom hosting grand events like weddings.
- El Castilian pub:The hotel had a lively pub named El Castilian, which was a frequent spot for festive evenings.
- The hotel’s pub, El Castilian, continued to be a popular spot for guests and locals. It also featured other watering holes, including the Bullring, the Pool Deck, and San Antone Rose.
The 1980s represent the last decade before the
Lonsdale, and many other older Durban CBD buildings, entered a period of decline.
- End of an era: The hotel’s high-end status began to give way to a less fashionable reputation in the decades that followed.
- Repurposing: The once-grand hotel and ballroom would eventually be converted into student accommodation. Its decorative mirrors and chandeliers were sold off.
- Changing cityscape: By the end of the 20th century, the Lonsdale, like many other city buildings, would lose its original grandeur as businesses moved to the suburbs and the character of the city center changed.
