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Pretoria’s African Pride Irene Country Lodge, Autograph Collection has enhanced its distinctive farm-like nature with a number of new developments to highlight its unique ‘authentic farm in the city’ atmosphere. Celebrating its historical roots and links to the surrounding natural environment, the hotel and the Irene Farm are joining forces to provide a unique countrified experience in the quiet rural Irene Village atmosphere, just a short distance away from the Pretoria city centre and its urban sprawl.

With its location adjacent to the much-loved Irene Farm that dates from 1895, historical nuances are recorded throughout the property – in the farm buildings, the barn and the old dairy. This is the ‘slow movement’ at its best: tried and trusted farming techniques from a previous era coupled with the stillness of nature. With its characteristic roses – over 1 200 of them – and beautiful planted trees, coupled with the quietly gurgling Hennops River running through the property, this is a destination attractive to travellers from many an era, including high profile politicians and historical figures known for their contribution to the development of South Africa.

Joe Segers, the General Manager of the Hotel, is thrilled about the hotel’s latest progress. “Today the hotel is part of the Farm, and the Farm is part of the hotel,” he explains. This has been achieved by building an underground subway to link the hotel and the farm. Hotel guests can enjoy a leisurely stroll from the hotel through the subway to take pleasure in the farm’s many offerings: delicious, fresh food and dairy products from the farm’s Deli, and plenty of activities for children, who can feed the swans and get to know the cows on the farm.

The elegance and class that have always distinguished the hotel has been taken a step further with the addition of 48 superior rooms, taking the total number of rooms to 123, offering the comfort of a home-away-from-home experience within the exceptional country-like environment of Irene.

Long popular among the business community the hotel has also expanded its conferencing facilities with the addition of the 200-seater Lakeside Conference Venue. Situated alongside the placid, soothing lake, this is a venue bound to appeal – beautiful views of the countryside from the first-rate conference venue situated adjacent to the expanded Meadow Green Restaurant and the River Bar. Now able to accommodate 300 guests, the Restaurant is geared to serve hotels guests, outside day visitors, and large numbers of conference delegates.

Through the subway further refurbishment and expansion also brings to the property a new restaurant and three multi- purpose function venues, yet another mark of the historical and farming record that the area represents.
Recently brought into Marriott International’s Autograph Collection Hotels, the Irene Country Lodge joins a select community of iconic hotels in destinations like Dubai, Rome, Kuala Lumpur and London, each of which exemplifies a distinctive personality – Exactly like nothing else.

With more than 135 independent, one-of-a-kind hotels in the world’s most desirable destinations, Autograph Collection Hotels is a diverse and dynamic portfolio that champion values of vision, design and craft. Exactly like nothing else, Autograph Collection Hotels are hand selected for their rich character and uncommon details each celebrating the founder’s passion, thoughtfulness of design, inherent craft and connection with the locale.

For more information, please visit www.autographhotels.com and explore our social media channels on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to learn more about championing the independent spirit that is #ExactlyLikeNothingElse.