The Bagatelle

Welcome to Ruth de Nies who has joined the eScape Route, bringing another establishment to our listings. The Bagatelle is a 1 star hotel and backpacker accommodation situated approximately 4km north of Stutterheim, just off the N6 at the Döhne turn off.

Ruth, who originally hails from Australia, with her Dutch husband, bought this lovely property 21 years ago. Since her husband passed away, Ruth has kept the hotel going with the help of a group of friends, ‘the old timers’, who are always there when needed.

The Bagatelle is open 7 days a week, is fully licenced, and caters for family functions and parties. Ruth prides herself in only serving fresh and tasty food, so make sure to phone and book your table in advance. Comprising of 12 bedrooms, (9 of which are en suite), and 9 backpacker rooms which were converted from old stables and staff rooms 16 years ago, a charming dining room, several lovely sitting areas and a warm and inviting pub full of character, this property is steeped in history.

The original hotel was built in 1878 at a strategic sight along the East London to Queenstown railway line. Initially named the Döhne Hotel after Dr. L Döhne, the German missionary who established the Bethel Mission in Stutterheim, the small hotel catered for the growing amount of traders and business men who were now easily able to access the district.

The McCallum family owned the hotel from the early 1900’s until 1961 and renamed it, The Great Northern Hotel. During that time, Blikkiesdorp, a shanty town constructed to house workers and their families was erected across the old road from the hotel and a community hall and small school were built alongside the property. Although Blikkiesdorp was dismantled in 1947, the hotel had become a favourite venue for community meetings, dances and weddings. Over time, the school rooms and community hall were incorporated into the hotel giving it a total area of 2000 square metres.

For those interested in the area’s history, a visit to The Bagatelle is a must. Tapestries, oil paintings and photographs from the early 1900’s adorn the walls, including one of the East London Symphony Orchestra from 1905. An old Queen Anne stove sits tucked away in the fireplace and a snooker table which is thought to be 150 years old stands in the games room. A diverse range of collector’s items and bric-a-brac fill every room, from the world map surrounded by clocks showing the time in Stutterheim, Seattle, Sydney, Bangkok, and London, to Senegalese art work, boomerangs from Australia, Chinese parasols and a myriad of copper, brass and pewter items to numerous to mention. The huge, leather bound register from 1947 tells a thousand stories of all those who have passed through the hotel’s doors so spend a night and become part of the captivating history of The Bagatelle.