Previously known as the South Beach Hotel, the seaside resort has undergone a major refurbishment project to transform it into the ‘hip’ property it is today, drawing on local design and Bajan culture while tapping into the lively Rockley Beach area. 

The hotel is part of Ocean Hotels Group, a Barbadian family-owned company with several properties located in the area. Situated just steps from the beach, it has 49 guest rooms, including junior suites with kitchenettes and one-bedroom suites with full kitchens and separate lounges.

The Rockley’s colourful interiors, created by Barbados designer Michelle Leotaud of Apple & Iron Concepts, celebrate the island’s culture with locally sourced amenities, authentic Bajan phrases and the Caribbean hotspot’s iconic red Bus Stop sign. The Barbados-based design firm also created the interiors for the hotel’s nearby five-star sister property, the O2 Beach Club & Spa. 

“We’ve reimagined The Rockley as an experiential, culture-rich hotel connecting our guests with the vibrant surrounding community,” said Ocean Hotels chief executive Patricia Affonso-Dass. “From the cuisine to art and music, we welcome guests and locals to join us as we showcase and celebrate the very best of Barbados’s eclectic south coast.”

Barbados is known for the luxury hotels of the island’s west coast, but Affonso-Dass added she is keen for the south coast to become better known as an alternative option for guests looking for a high-end experience.

The Rockley has also introduced its exclusive ‘Dine and Sign’ programme, partnering with local restaurants around the south coast area to encourage guests to support the community’s rich hospitality scene.

The offer means clients can charge meals they have outside the hotel in certain restaurants back to their room, as if they were eating on-property, and to experience the area’s authentic cuisine. Guests who wish to dine closer to their rooms can head to The Rockley Bar, where light bites are served from 12 to 3pm. 

The Rockley also has a reimagined outdoor pool deck that runs the length of the resort, in-room spa treatments, and a fitness room of cardio machines and weights.

Activities includes mixology classes, power walks and sing-alongs, as well as table tennis, pool, and wall Scrabble in the hotel’s games room. Its Tuesday evening sundowners offer complimentary drinks and canapes, served to the sound of steelpan drumming. The lively event will also give guests an opportunity to browse vendor stalls for handcrafted Bajan souvenirs and mementoes. 

Meanwhile, art lovers will also find enrichment in the lobby, which has been decked out with a gallery of rotating installations by local artists.

Room rates for The Rockley start at £200, with breakfast included.