Old Marine is inspired by old-fashioned values, a sense of camaraderie, and the role sports clubs once used to play in neighbourhoods and communities.

Franschhoek is among South Africa’s finest and most in-demand hospitality destinations. It is also at the heart of the Cape Winelands and its ever-growing sports tourism industry – a niche market with very different needs and its own distinct identity. In elite sport, discipline, hard work and respect are still the foundation of performance – and Old Marine is a place where the next generation of young athletes can experience these traditional values as natural and appropriate, rather than outdated and out of step with the world on social media.

In the not-so-distant past, local sports clubs were the soul of a community, a home-from-home where friends joked, told tall tales, and lingered over a weeknight beer or a Sunday lunch. Some offered rooms to stay for visiting teams, or friends of members in town for the weekend – and they held onto their heritage and lore with a fierce loyalty. Today, many of the sports clubs in the Franschhoek Valley do not even have a clubhouse – and the clubs themselves struggle for survival. Old Marine aims to bring back those traditions, and serve as a clubhouse for local residents and visiting sports stars alike. And while players will fill up on protein before and after training, they will gather around the fire and make memories that bring them back year after year. They will become part of the story of Old Marine, as day after day we work to fulfil its purpose:

“A home to stay, train, rest, recover, and make friends for life with people who have lived life to the full and who are dedicated to keeping it real.”