Fern Hill Hotel
About Fern Hill Hotel
Fern Hill Hotel has a rich history dating all the way back to the mid-19th century. Since the original farm was built, the property seemed destined to be part of South Africa’s hospitality industry.
Built in 1851 by the Swann family, the original farm became a trading post and boarding house in 1888 for the Trekkers who stopped off before descending the treacherous Umngeni Gorge
What started off as a small hotel with only six bedrooms, a small bar, restaurant and conference room, has developed to great proportions.
Fern Hill Hotel Training College
Fern Hill Hotel has run its own private hotel school for the past fifteen years. Fully accredited with local training authorities (CATHSSETA, IEB, SETA) and with strong ties to international bodies like Chaîne des Rôtisseurs International Association of Gastronomy, Fern Hill Hotel Training College is one of South Africa’s most unique hospitality training establishments
No matter which side of the industry you wish to study (hotel management or cheffing) the hospitality industry is a practical one. As such, it makes sense that your studies lean towards a practical focus. Fern Hill Hotel Training College has designed a syllabus with this principle in mind and as a result, course work is split into 70% practical and 30% theory modules. There are two qualifications on offer: Hotel Management and Professional Cookery (cheffing). Both can be taken up to a Diploma level. In many other colleges, students studying hospitality qualifications attend lectures for over two years before having to find their own placement in hotels to do an internship for practical training hours. At Fern Hill’s hotel school, this all happens in one place and in one year – there is no need to find a hotel for an internship because at Fern Hill your syllabus is already practical.
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Fern Hill Hotel Conferences
Hosting conferences is one Fern Hill’s many specialities. Having hosted everything from government level departments to small private firms, Fern Hill Hotel has more than twenty years of experience in ensuring events are seamlessly accommodated.
Perfectly situated, Fern Hill Hotel is just off the N3 highway from Durban to Johannesburg. Being well within an hour from the beach and Drakensberg Mountains makes Fern Hill Hotel a perfect venue for your conference. Delegates will find themselves in a peaceful environment perfectly suited to ensuring maximum productivity throughout your conference. We have a number of individual-styled rooms to cater for any business or corporate occasion from a private dinner party to a board-room lunch or business breakfast, a training seminar or product launch, or a full conference and stage set. Fern Hill Hotel has what you need to be sure your function will be a success.
Fern Theatre
All conference facilities are climate-controlled and are furnished with the necessary equipment for a successful seminar including wireless ADSL Internet access. Our staff will deal with everything from the setting up of your venue to the catering and serving of all meals and tea breaks.
Greenwood Room
In addition to the facilities on offer at Fern Hill Hotel, our dedicated Functions Team is more than willing to arrange any external additions required for your conference. Various teambuilding activities can be booked on your behalf, including: water sports at Midmar Dam, hiking trails, Karkloof Canopy Tours, golfing, Midlands Meander touring, game viewing and much more.
Orange Tree Room
Fern Hill Hotel Weddings
Set in the heart of the KwaZulu Natal Midlands, Fern Hill Hotel is an idyllic setting for your wedding. With our 30 acres of park-like grounds and manicured gardens, it would be difficult to find a more suitable venue for your wedding – even more so once you see our very competitive rates.
Planning a wedding is often a stressful experience, but our highly trained staff and expert functions team have perfected the art of minimising stress during this your most important and memorable day of your life.
Fern Hill Hotel can cater for weddings up to a maximum of 250 people if you use our Fern Theatre for your reception. We do, however, have numerous venues for smaller, more intimate weddings. Outdoor weddings are our speciality, and our garden gazebo has been the backdrop for hundreds of couples saying their vows. Alternatively, our newly constructed Fern Hill Chapel is a picturesque venue capable of seating up to 200 guests. With large, contemporary stained-glass windows, concertina glass doors with views of the gardens and striking driftwood chandeliers, the Fern Hill Chapel makes for a memorable wedding service.
Our cost per head is based on the menu of your choosing, and we have dozens of menus for any budget. Fern Hill Hotel specialises in carveries when it comes to catering.
Special Accommodation Rates:
For guests and relatives travelling a distance to attend your wedding, we can offer a discounted bed and breakfast rate, subject to availability. This can be arranged with our functions department & we suggest that this be included with your wedding invitations.
Through our own agency, our functions department can arrange a variety of entertainment options, from hairdressers to DJs or a piper. Alternatively you are more than welcome to arrange your own entertainment. Our license allows for drinks and entertainment to continue until 24h00
Examples of additional charges:
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- R350.00 Red Carpet for hire
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- R8.00 per glass Non-alcoholic fruit punch
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- R10.00 per glass Alcoholic Punch (eg: Vodka)
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- R15.00 per can of mineral drink
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- R35.00 per jug of juice
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- R15.00 per organza overlay
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- R5.00 per organza tieback
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- R7.00 per chair cover
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- R30.00 corkage charge per bottle
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- R105.00 per bottle of sparkling wine
Please note we charge an additional R2000.00 per hour or part thereof for wedding receptions running past midnight.
Fern Hill Hotel Contact
- Telephone: +27(0) 33 330 5071
- Fax: +27(0) 33 330 5087
- Email: functions@fernhillhotel.co.za
- Postal: P.O.Box 5, Tweedie,
- 3255, KwaZulu-Natal
- South Africa
- GPS Co-Ords:
- SOUTH 29° 29′ 05.2″
- EAST 30° 11′ 21.5″