Brookdale Estate is a place to come together, to strike up a conversation, and to explore your understanding of yourself and the world around you. The opening of the Manor House at Brookdale Estate in April 2021, an elegant, new accommodation experience arrived in the historic Paarl Winelands. Bringing this vision to life is our Brookdale team at the Manor House, composed of people with experience from all across Africa bringing a wealth of understanding to ensure your needs are not only met, but truly understood.

Gary and Yvonne Coetzee in the Brookdale Manor House kitchen

MEET GARY & YVONNE COETZEE

Yvonne and Gary Coetzee joined the Brookdale team as our management couple before our doors were even open. Together, they have shaped Brookdale Manor House, our guest experiences and our dining philosophy.

The Coetzee’s are well-known in the travel industry and come with extensive management experience in the luxury hospitality business. This includes the past ten years at Leeukoppie, the Kerzner Estate in Hout Bay (Cape Town). Before that, they spent many years at Singita in the Sabi Sand. While their experience brings finesse, it’s their style that brings soul. As a team, Yvonne and Gary take a personal, hands-on approach – perfectly suited to the vision of Brookdale as a world-class country estate in the Paarl Winelands.

The opportunity to come to Brookdale Estate was serendipitous for myself and my husband, Gary. Here I have found a place to create something new based on my experiences with Singita and a decade of working for Sol Kerzner, discerning clientele, while feeding my passion for personalised experiences and exceptional moments. This is a journey of a lifetime, and I am loving the ride.

~ Yvonne Coeztee, General Manager at Brookdale Estate

Brookdale Manor House hospitality team: Gary, Justin and Yvonne

We believe in individuality and exploring one’s own curiosities. As such, we place great importance on understanding what it is our guests are looking to discover during a stay, while making time with us truly memorable.

I have always been someone who shrugs off labels when it comes to my cooking style. I have spent many years working as a private chef as well as managing kitchens across the country, and as a result I enjoy cooking – period. No specific styles, no single ingredients. Thoughtful food – that’s my philosophy – health, wellness and balance in both flavour and nutrition.

~ Gary Coetzee, Executive Chef of Brookdale Estate

KEEP READING

MEET THE WINEMAKER   |   VIEW THE MANOR HOUSE   |   FIND AVAILABILITY