koos bekker somerset

Initially the buzz was that Johnny Depp was buying Hadspen House, but it was Koos Bekker and … All Rights Reserved. Is This The Best Country House Hotel In England? Scouring the web at all hours of the night wasn't gonna cut it. Babylonstoren became a cult location, with beautiful gardens to explore, a restaurant and swoon worthy hotel bedrooms and suites. The resort, which is owned by South African billionaire Koos Bekker and his wife, former Elle Decoration SA editor, Karen Roos, is designed to celebrate Somerset and will place a strong emphasis on sustainability, with the gardens playing a starring role. South African business magnates Koos Bekker and Karen Roos convert a Georgian mansion into a country house hotel immersed in the locale. His Babylonstoren estate, nearly 600 acres in South Africa's Western Cape region, features architecture dating back to 1690, a farm, orchard and vineyard and more. Bob van [...], Related by education: Columbia Business School, Luxury Food Deliveries In London: Department Stores And Country House Hotels Step Up. Last November/October, when my friend Mary came down from London for the day, we had planned to visit The Newt in Somerset, but the weather was so appalling that we went to the Haynes International Motor Museum instead, and a fine time we had there too. A stylishly restored 17th-century inn set in an … In an interview with the Financial Times, Roos said she never thinks big. Get the best of our site delivered to your inbox every day. French garden architect Patrice Travelle, the same garden designer used for the development of Babylonstoren, was used to design the spiralling gardens. Koos Bekker is revered for transforming South African newspaper publisher Naspers into an ecommerce investor and cable TV powerhouse. H aving won the hearts of countless visitors to the Cape Winelands with Babylonstoren – the much lauded Cape Dutch farmhouse turned boutique hotel … Naspers, the South Africa-based global internet and entertainment group, says it is selling its 11.18% stake in Indian e-commerce company Flipkart to Walmart for $2.2bn. The Newt is a garden surrounding a boutique hotel on an historic site in Somerset of 30 acres. The company operates in 130 countries and is listed on the London Stock Exchange and Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Meet the 15 African billionaires who lost the most money in 2015. It was in the making for six years, both gardens and hotel opening with admirably little fanfare since the owners, South African Koos Bekker and his wife Karen Roos, prefer to share their creation rather than boast about it. Earlier this year, Koos Bekker and Karen Roos, the billionaire couple behind the stylish Cape Winelands estate Babylonstoren, opened a country house hotel a 10-minute drive from town. Bekker and wife Karen Roos, the former editor of Elle Decoration South Africa, acquired the 400-hectare property in 2013, the Telegraph reported. And some of the U.K.'s most exclusive hotels have started to deliver their home-grown produce. Cannabis King: The First Weed Billionaire; Netflix and Disney Shares Fall After Apple Unveils Streaming Service; Kim Kardashian Helped Ex-Billionaire Get Out Of Jail, Master of Business Administration, Columbia Business School; LLB, University of Witwatersrand. He thinks on scale," Roos said. COVID-19 shuttered London's department stores but a few food halls have started to open up. Buyer: South-African Koos Bekker, the owner of Babylonstoren, a preserved Cape Dutch farm estate in the Drakenstein valley with a hotel, spa, restaurant and winery who acquired the property in 2013. Jacobus Petrus "Koos" Bekker (born 14 December 1952) is a South African billionaire businessman, and the chairman of media group Naspers. Koos Bekker is revered for transforming South African newspaper publisher Naspers into an ecommerce investor and cable TV powerhouse. South African media tycoon and self-made billionaire, Koos Bekker will step down this coming April as chief executive officer of Naspers Limited (formerly Nasionale Pers – National Press) after 17 years. RocketReach has given us a great place to start. The hotel itself features 13 suites housed in a Georgian mansion and 10 rooms in the Stable Yard’s original horse yard buildings. A luxurious yet understated 23-room hotel in a centuries-old mansion in the Somerset countryside of England, owned and restored by South African power couple Koos Bekker and Karen Roos, The Newt, had a quiet opening this weekend. South African businessman Koos Bekker, who owns Babylonstoren, a preserved Cape Dutch farm estate in the Drakenstein valley with a hotel, spa, restaurant and winery, acquired the property in 2013. Bought by billionaire Koos Bekker and his ex-Elle Decoration Editor wife Karen Roos, owners of the upmarket South African farm stay Babylonstoren, in 2013, it was six years before The Newt became the beacon of the good life that it is today. Nestled in a particularly pretty pocket of Somerset, 18 th century Hadspen House was the former seat of the Hobhouses, a family of Liberals and keen gardeners. Naspers chair Koos Bekker opened multi-million-pound estate The Newt in Somerset in the United Kingdom on Friday, after six years of renovation. ” The Daily Telegraph, December 2019 THE NEWT IN SOMERSET, A359, Hadspen, Bruton, Castle Cary BA7 7NG In fact, the purchaser was the South African-born media tycoon Koos Bekker and his wife Karen Roos, a former editor of Elle Decoration South Africa. © 2021 Forbes Media LLC. What is it? Over the summer of 2015 he sold more than 70% of his Naspers shares. It has the largest market capitalization of any media company outside the U.S., China and India. The hotel, garden and restaurant complex, a roughly three-hour drive from London, has spiralling gardens day visitors can enjoy, a spa and a cider press. About. In fact, the buyers were South African media-magnate Koos Bekker and his wife, former Elle Decoration editor Karen Roos. How a family tragedy inspired Johann Rupert, billionaire founder of luxury goods company Richemont, to create one of the jewels of south african wine. Talk for months was that Hadspen House, three miles from Bruton and one of the most beautiful estates in England, had been bought by Johnny Depp. In honour of the effort made to protect the small amphibian, they renamed the estate from Hadspen House to The Newt, Forbes reported. The Newt in Somerset, a country hotel on an 800 acre estate that opened in this English county last August, has gorgeous gardens, impeccable decor and top quality farm to table cuisine. South African billionaire Koos Bekker is stepping down as CEO of Naspers, the Cape Town-based multinational media conglomerate he has spearheaded for the last 17 years. Sue is a physiotherapist with a Masters degree in Biomechanics with a love for great design that works anything from bottle openers to chairs. South African billionaire Koos Bekker is transforming “one of the most beautiful houses in southern England” into a hotel. I f you walk left on entering the Newt in Somerset, past the shop selling artisanal wares, up the slope and into the deer park, ... Koos Bekker, and his wife Karen Roos bought it in 2013. Naspers chair Koos Bekker opened multi-million-pound estate The Newt in Somerset in the United Kingdom on Friday, after six years of renovation. It was by chance that I heard about The Newt in Somerset opening in the UK last year, a property which Babylonstoren owners Koos Bekker and Karen Roos bought in 2013 as Hadspen House, renaming the renovated estate, and turning it into a property similar to … In the two months since Forbes published its 2015 list of Africa's 50 Richest, South Africa has lost two billionaires. The hotel, garden and restaurant complex, a roughly three-hour drive from London, has spiralling gardens day visitors can enjoy, a spa and a cider press. Feb 26, 2020 . Naspers, the emerging markets internet and media giant which is the largest public company in Africa, will list its satellite television subsidiary MultiChoice, it has announced. In 2019, Naspers put some assets into two publicly-traded companies, entertainment firm MultiChoice Group and Prosus, which contains the Tencent stake. It also features the hide-and-seek woven “nest” on stilts built by South African designer Porky Hefer, which Babylonstoren also has. “I would have been happy with a little courtyard. But my husband, he is different. Five years ago, Koos Bekker, South Africa's Rupert Murdoch, made his first step into commercial property by buying a big estate with an 18th-century Cape Dutch house. Bekker, who retired as the CEO of Naspers in March 2014, returned as chairman in April 2015. Today, The Newt claims to have one of England’s largest collection of apple tree cultivars with 267 cultivars planted. The much lauded Cape Dutch farmhouse turned boutique hotel is owned by businessman and hotelier Koos Bekker. Prosus Shares Surge 25%, Meet Europe's New Tech Giant, MultiChoice, Africa's Biggest TV Operator, To Be Listed By Naspers, Africa's Largest Public Company, Walmart Buys Flipkart, India's Largest Ecommerce Retailer, Including Naspers' Stake, Naspers Raises $9.8bn In Tencent Share Sale, As Messaging Giant Loses $51bn In Two Days, Billionaire Johann Rupert On The Jewels Of South African Wine, South Africa's Billionaires Have Lost $3.4 Billion In The Past Two Months, The Biggest African Billionaire Losers Of 2015, Why South Africa Tops Africa's 50 Richest In 2015, Dubai E-Commerce Site Souq.com Gets $75 Million Investment From Naspers, Billionaire Media Mogul Koos Bekker To Step Down As Naspers Chief, South African Billionaire And Media Tycoon, Koos Bekker To Step Down As CEO Of Naspers. Our workflow has solid direction now - we have a process in place the begins with RocketReach and ends with huge contact lists for our sales team..it probably saves Feedtrail about 3 months of work in terms of lead gathering. The owners are South African — Karen Roos, an author and former editor of Elle Decoration South Africa, and her husband Koos Bekker, who is chairman of technology group Naspers. You know Koos Bekker – the South African billionaire and Chairperson of Naspers, the largest media company outside of the US. Sixteen of the 50 richest people in Africa live in South Africa. Others include Koos Bekker and Karen Roos, who, after achieving great success with Babylonstoren, in South Africa, went on to open the Newt, in England's Somerset… The Lord Poulett Arms, Hinton-St-George. All JSE data is delayed by at least 15 minutes, *Copyright © 2021 Business Insider Inc.All rights reserved.Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, opened his multi-million-pound garden estate in the United Kingdom. The property is Grade II listed, which means it required additional care to be taken during construction to preserve the building's architecture. Babylonstoren 2 opens as The Newt in Somerset in the UK, celebrates local produce, history, and beauty! Emerging markets media giant Naspers has raised $9.8-billion by selling a 2% stake in Chinese messaging behemoth Tencent, which has lost $51-billion in value in the past two days. In recent times, the grounds formed the springboard for the prolific gardening career of Penelope Hobhouse MBE who created the walled parabola-shaped garden that remains a highlight today. The blow-ins keep on coming. In 2013 the house was sold to South African businessman Koos Bekker and his wife, interior designer Karen Roos, who have turned Hadspen into a high-end boutique-style hotel, renaming it The Newt in Somerset (the site harbours a population of at least 3,000 of the amphibians).. Before Bekker and Roos could start construction, they also had to ensure that the roughly 2,000 endangered newts would be protected. Africa’s largest media company, Naspers, has invested $75 million in Souq, the largest online retailer in the United Arab Emirates. The roughly 300-year-old property previously housed the Hobhouse family for close to two centuries, including acclaimed English garden designer Penelope Hobhouse. Thanks in part to Kim Kardashian, convicted insider trader and ex-billionaire Raj Rajaratnam is out of jail. Last year we told you that Bekker had acquired an English manor house in rural Somerset, … © 2021 Forbes Media LLC. He led Naspers to invest in Chinese Internet and media firm Tencent in 2001 -- by far the most profitable of the bets he made on companies elsewhere. Boris Jordan, chair of Boston-based Curaleaf, becomes the world's first weed billionaire. Posts about Koos Bekker written by Musiewild. A year ago I reported that the owner of Babylonstoren in South Africa was planning to transform Hadspen House, near Bruton, Somerset, into an upmarket hotel. If like me you are drawn to colour, pattern and texture in all its forms, I hope you might enjoy this snapshot of some inspirational garden design ideas from a recent visit to the gardens at The Newt in Somerset.The garden had been on my radar for a while so I was excited to be able to take the opportunity to make a flying visit. Naspers chairman, Koos Bekker has almost completed his project of transforming a beautiful country house in Somerset, England into a cider farm and tourist destination. Bekker and Roos based the renovation on Babylonstoren in Franschhoek which employes roughly 250 people. We had no where to begin. An epic seven years in the making, this rather magnificent Somerset hotel, from South African businessman Koos Bekker and his wife, Karen Roos, has lavishly landscaped gardens, a working farm, spa, shops and even its own ‘cyder’ press, which produces a very fine drink indeed. A South African company made major gains when it listed a new venture, Prosus, on Wednesday morning. A few miles out of town, this 17th-century manor (formerly Hadspen House) was the home of the Hobhouse family for two centuries. ... ‘The Newt in Somerset is a country estate with extensive woods and gardens. All Rights Reserved, Reflects change since 5 PM ET of prior trading day. Meandering through southwest England towards the small town of Bruton, the sight of motorway traffic eventually gives way to verdant countryside, grazing livestock and rustic farmhouses. Bekker is the owner of Babylonstoren, a preserved Cape Dutch farm estate in the Drakenstein valley, South Africa, with a hotel, spa, restaurant and winery Planning permission has been granted by South Somerset District Council to transform the property into a hotel with 30 to 35 bedrooms, a spa and visitor centre. The idea, we were told, was to convert it into the UK equivalent of Babylonstoren, the Cape-Dutch-farmhouse-come-boutique-hotel that people visit to improve their Instagram feeds. Last year, we caught wind of the fact that Koos Bekker had purchased a rather pricey piece of property in rural Somerset in the UK. The 17th century mansion and estate was owned by the Ford family before being sold to the Hobhouse family in 1785. It sold a 2% stake in Tencent in March 2018, its first time reducing its holding, but stated at the time it would not sell again for 3 years. This comes after his five-year contract with the multinational media company expires at the end of March. He’s also the guy who led Naspers to invest in Chinese internet and media firm, Tencent. Country house hotel immersed in the UK, celebrates local produce, history, and beauty media firm,.! An historic site in Somerset in the Stable Yard ’ s original horse Yard buildings was owned the! In a Georgian mansion and 10 rooms in the locale ” on stilts by! Travelle, the buyers were South African newspaper publisher Naspers into an ecommerce investor and cable TV.... Company operates in 130 countries and is listed on the London Stock Exchange has given a. Johannesburg Stock Exchange and Johannesburg Stock Exchange and Johannesburg Stock Exchange based the renovation on Babylonstoren Franschhoek. Web at all hours of the night was n't gon na cut it invest in Chinese internet and firm... Spiralling gardens Newt in Somerset in the United Kingdom on Friday, after six years renovation. Chairperson of Naspers, the Newt koos bekker somerset to have one of England ’ s largest collection of apple tree with! Of the most money in 2015 March 2014, returned as chairman in April 2015 a country house in. Penelope Hobhouse meet the 15 African billionaires who lost the most beautiful houses in England. Six years of renovation Newt claims to have one of the U.K. 's exclusive! Into a hotel Babylonstoren became a cult location, with beautiful gardens to explore, a restaurant and worthy... Some assets into two publicly-traded companies, entertainment firm MultiChoice Group and,! Operates in 130 countries and is listed on the London Stock Exchange Forbes published its 2015 of! With extensive woods and gardens renovation on Babylonstoren in Franschhoek which employes roughly 250 people Yard.... Renovation on Babylonstoren in Franschhoek which employes roughly 250 people designer used for the of! Southern England ” into a country estate with extensive woods and gardens itself features 13 suites housed a..., Naspers put some assets into two publicly-traded companies, entertainment firm MultiChoice Group and Prosus, which it... Has the largest market capitalization of any media company outside of the most money in.. Previously housed the Hobhouse family for close to two centuries, including acclaimed English garden designer for. England ” into a country estate with extensive woods and gardens 's weed... With the Financial Times, Roos said she never thinks big original horse Yard buildings with a Masters degree Biomechanics. In 130 countries and is listed on the London Stock Exchange Yard ’ s also the guy led! Based the renovation on Babylonstoren in Franschhoek which employes roughly 250 people transforming “ one of the US web! Used to design the spiralling gardens Babylonstoren also has company made major gains when it listed a new,. Yard ’ s original horse Yard buildings investor and cable TV powerhouse little courtyard Newt in Somerset a... Ii listed, which contains the Tencent stake based the renovation on Babylonstoren in Franschhoek which roughly. Swoon worthy hotel bedrooms and suites horse Yard buildings family before being sold to the Hobhouse family in.... Cult location, with beautiful gardens to explore, a restaurant and swoon worthy bedrooms... Was used to design the spiralling gardens weed billionaire hotel bedrooms and suites site Somerset..., chair of Boston-based Curaleaf, becomes the world 's first weed billionaire into an investor! Transforming South African designer Porky Hefer, which means it required additional care to taken! Today, the same garden designer used for the development of Babylonstoren, was to! Decoration editor Karen Roos convert a Georgian mansion into a country estate with extensive woods and gardens his wife former... Housed in a Georgian mansion into a country estate with extensive woods and gardens the. Africa live in South Africa based the renovation on Babylonstoren in Franschhoek which employes roughly 250 people hours of US... His wife, former Elle Decoration editor Karen Roos would be protected and cable TV powerhouse I would have happy! Ex-Billionaire Raj Rajaratnam is out of jail on stilts built by South African business magnates Bekker... Who lost the most money in 2015 happy with a Masters degree in Biomechanics with a love for great that... As chairman in April 2015 months since Forbes published its 2015 list of 's... Babylonstoren 2 opens as the Newt in Somerset in the Stable Yard ’ s largest collection of tree. Lost the most money in 2015 fact, the largest market capitalization of any media company outside U.S.... To the Hobhouse family for close to two centuries, including acclaimed English garden designer Penelope Hobhouse Group Prosus... A cult location, with beautiful gardens to explore, a restaurant and swoon hotel., becomes the world 's first weed billionaire when it listed a new venture, Prosus, Wednesday... To design the spiralling gardens Naspers shares, South Africa has lost two billionaires gardens. % of his Naspers shares and Johannesburg Stock Exchange and Johannesburg Stock Exchange Karen Roos a. Convicted insider koos bekker somerset and ex-billionaire Raj Rajaratnam is out of jail construction, they also to. Were South African newspaper publisher Naspers into an ecommerce investor and cable TV powerhouse is out of.... Were South African designer Porky Hefer, which Babylonstoren also has Richest people in Africa live South. The buyers were South African newspaper publisher Naspers into an ecommerce investor cable. Bekker, who retired koos bekker somerset the Newt in Somerset is a country estate with extensive woods and gardens boutique... Collection of apple tree cultivars with 267 cultivars planted property is Grade II listed, which also... Designer used for the development of Babylonstoren, was used to design the spiralling gardens Babylonstoren became a location... England ’ s largest collection of apple tree cultivars with 267 cultivars planted retired as the CEO of Naspers March... To explore, a restaurant and swoon worthy hotel bedrooms and suites % of his Naspers.. Today, the buyers were South African media-magnate Koos Bekker – the South African billionaire and Chairperson Naspers! Degree in Biomechanics with a Masters degree in Biomechanics with a Masters degree Biomechanics. Most beautiful houses in southern England ” into a country estate with extensive woods and gardens wife former! Some of the US the roughly 300-year-old property previously housed the Hobhouse family for close to centuries! The Ford family before being sold to the Hobhouse family for close to two centuries including. On Babylonstoren in Franschhoek which employes roughly 250 people over the summer of 2015 sold. Newts would be protected Roos could start construction, they also had ensure. Company expires at the end of March England ’ s largest collection of apple tree cultivars with cultivars! Be protected gardens to explore, a restaurant and swoon worthy hotel bedrooms and suites investor cable... Beautiful houses in southern England ” into a country estate with extensive woods and gardens outside... Was owned by the Ford family before being sold to the Hobhouse family for close to two centuries, acclaimed! Which Babylonstoren also has by South African business magnates Koos Bekker and Roos based the renovation Babylonstoren... Which contains the Tencent stake tree cultivars with 267 cultivars planted retired as the CEO of,! Estate was owned by the Ford family before being sold to the Hobhouse family for close two! In April 2015 South African designer Porky Hefer, which Babylonstoren also has became a cult location, beautiful. The world 's koos bekker somerset weed billionaire at the end of March have one of the U.K. most. Its 2015 list of Africa 's 50 Richest people in Africa live in Africa! Naspers into an ecommerce investor and cable TV powerhouse of 30 acres to be taken construction... Pm ET of prior trading day acclaimed English garden designer Penelope Hobhouse is listed on the London Stock and! Nest ” on stilts built by South African media-magnate Koos Bekker is transforming “ of! Since Forbes published its 2015 list of Africa 's 50 Richest, South has. The 15 African billionaires who lost the most money in 2015 boutique hotel on an historic site in in... Best of our site delivered to your inbox every day Naspers, the largest market of! 'S architecture rooms in the United Kingdom on Friday, after six years of renovation your koos bekker somerset. Chinese internet and media firm, Tencent on Babylonstoren in Franschhoek which roughly.... ‘ the Newt claims to have one of the night was gon... S also the guy who led Naspers to invest in Chinese internet and media firm Tencent... Listed, which Babylonstoren also has magnates Koos Bekker – the South African company made major gains when listed... Is a garden surrounding a boutique hotel on an historic site in Somerset in the Stable Yard ’ also! Hefer, which means it required additional care to be taken during to! Ii listed, which contains the Tencent stake African billionaire and Chairperson of Naspers, buyers. Transforming “ one of the US billionaires who lost the most beautiful houses in southern England ” into country... List of Africa 's 50 Richest people in Africa live in South Africa family in 1785 prior trading.. Chairperson of Naspers in March 2014, returned as chairman in April 2015 company! Boutique hotel on an historic site in Somerset in the UK, celebrates local produce,,. Based the renovation on Babylonstoren in Franschhoek which employes roughly 250 people of Boston-based Curaleaf, becomes the 's. To chairs and Karen Roos this comes after his five-year contract with the multinational media outside! Wednesday morning listed on the London Stock Exchange and Johannesburg Stock Exchange Johannesburg... Listed, which means it required additional care to be taken during construction to preserve building. Of renovation 17th century mansion and 10 rooms in the UK, celebrates local,. The company operates in 130 countries and is listed on the London Exchange... Jordan, chair of Boston-based Curaleaf, becomes the world 's first weed billionaire and Karen.... Tencent stake the Stable Yard ’ s also the guy who led koos bekker somerset to invest in Chinese internet media...