The Merricks, Barbados
Barbados is one of the most popular luxury holiday destinations in the world with breathtaking scenery, a wealth
of chic restaurants and world-class golf courses. Located where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea and
close to the equator the island enjoys a warm and sunny climate all year.
The luxury 5 star Merricks Beach Resort is situated in a stunning cliff top position in the south east of
Barbados on the ruggedly beautiful Atlantic coast and enjoys spectacular panoramas forged over millions of years by
the powerful Atlantic Ocean's winds and waves. Located in the parish of St Philip, 4km north of The Crane and next
to Sam Lord's Castle it's just 20 minutes from the Sir Grantley Adams International Airport.
The Merricks Beach Resort will be managed and maintained to the highest standard by world-class hotel company
OASIS HOTELS & RESORTS. They are confident in providing the highest standards of quality, style and comfort for
guests. The resort will also benefit from the efficiency of their global booking system and established online
presence which will ensure maximum occupancy throughout the year.
Completion Date
We expect to receive full planning permission by the end of 2008 and to complete the resort by Christmas 2012.
Site Visits
The onsite sales & marketing suite will be completed soon and will be staffed 7 days a week so there will be
someone available to welcome you and guide you around the site when you visit. Please contact our Sales Support
Team to arrange your visit.
Location - Barbados
Barbados is one of the most popular luxury holiday destinations in the world. Renowned for its breathtaking
scenery, the richness of its culture and above all the friendliness of its people it provides the best of all
worlds - it is one of the best places to relax, but it's also full of chic restaurants, vibrant nightclubs and
world-class golf courses. Barbados has an endearingly British atmosphere and cricket is the national sport. But
despite the British influence, it is a cosmopolitan country with a strong character of its own. It is prosperous
and progressive and still full of natural charm; the Caribbean culture is very much evident in its cuisine, music
and people.
Located where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea and close to the equator, Barbados enjoys a warm and
sunny climate all year. It is predominantly flat with rolling hills to the north, and has a unique coral structure
which acts as a natural filter making its waters amongst the purest in the world. The Atlantic east coast is less
developed and ruggedly beautiful, offering some spectacular panoramas forged over millions of years by the powerful
Atlantic Ocean's winds and waves.
The Merricks Beach Resort is situated in the south east of Barbados on the stunning Atlantic coast in the parish
of St Philip, 4km north of The Crane and next to Sam Lord’s Castle just 20 minutes from the Sir Grantley Adams
International Airport.
Things to See & Do
Play golf at one of the island’s stunning courses – the Royal Westmoreland designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr;
one of Sandy Lane’s three courses - the infamous Green Monkey designed by Tom Fazio in 2002, the 18-hole Country
Club, and the Old Nine which opened in 1961 and was the first proper course on the island; the Barbados Golf Club,
a championship par 72 course designed by Ron Kirby.
Watch a game of cricket, the national sport of Barbados, at the Kensington Oval which is the Test Match ground
that hosted the final and several Super 8 matches of the 2007 World Cup of Cricket.
Gaze in awe at the sweeping landscape and beautiful coastline of the east coast from key vantage points at Cherry
Tree Hill, Chalky Mount Potteries, East Point Lighthouse at Ragged Point (the most easterly point of the island),
Hackleton's Cliff which rises almost perpendicularly within a few miles of the coastline and reaches a height of
one thousand feet above sea-level.
Bathe in the whirling waters of the shallow Bathsheba Pools, carved from the inshore coral reef; visit the
picturesque fishing village of Bathsheba where small pastel houses cling to chalky cliffs; surf the Soup Bowl with
its steady big rollers coasting in across the Atlantic ocean - the site of many local and international surfing
championships
Enjoy the best dining in the Caribbean. The fish and seafood is unbeatable – shrimps, spiny lobster, red snapper,
scallops, kingfish, flying fish and crab backs, crab shells stuffed with spicy crabmeat, are specialities. The most
traditional meat dish is pepperpot, a pork and beef stew. Eat out at world-renowned fine dining establishments such
as The Cliff, Lone Star and Tides restaurants on the west coast and Café Luna, Champers and the Restaurant at South
Sea on the south coast. Discover more casual bistros such as Daphne’s and Olives in Holetown and the Ship Inn, Café
Sol, Bubba's, Josef's, and Pisces at St Lawrence Gap.
Explore the great nightlife - Harbour Lights, Oistins Fish Fry, McBride's Pub and Cookhouse, Bajan Roots &
Rhythm where "fire eaters, stilt walkers, and showgirls "present the island's "most spectacular show".
Stroll the quaint streets of Bridgetown, the island's historic capital, and take advantage of the duty-free
shopping.
Indulge your sweet tooth with a taste of Island Nectar at one of the many great sugar plantations, or sample the
produce of the acclaimed rum distilleries as part of a guided tour.
Submerge yourself in the warm Atlantic waters and dive amongst the stunning coral reefs and many sunken ship
wrecks. Swim and snorkel with turtles.
Travel back in time 300 years and visit the wonderfully preserved colonial buildings including grand sugar
plantation houses and the parliament buildings.
Celebrate the Crop Over Festival which takes place in July & August to mark the end of the sugar cane harvest
season. The five week summer celebration is a fiesta of colourful parades, fairs, concerts, and fireworks.
Get close to nature at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve and see green monkeys, tortoises, deer, racoons, pelicans and
otters roaming free in a mahogany forest. There is also an aviary with peacocks, turkeys, toucans, macaws,
lovebirds and parrots.
Saddle up and canter along the beach at sunset, or attend one of the 20 horse race meetings during the two main
seasons (January to March and May to October) at the Garrison. Polo is also played to a high level at fields in
Holders, Lion Castle, Water Hall and Clifton. The Barbados Polo Club was formed in 1884.
Chill out amongst the wide variety of tropical plants and trees, including bougainvillea, frangipani, traveller
palms, mahogany trees, and, of course, the bearded fig tree from which Barbados got its name.
Barbados Key Facts
Population
280,000
Capital
Bridgetown (other important towns – Holetown, Oistins, Speightstown)
Area
430 sq km/166 sq miles; 34 km/21 miles long 23 km/14 miles wide
Geography
Barbados is predominantly composed of limestone-coral. The island was created less than one million years ago by
the collision of the Atlantic crustal and Caribbean plates which merged together and formed the base for an
accumulation of 300 ft of coral. It is primarily low-lying, rising gently to the central highland region; the
highest point is Mount Hillaby in the Scotland district - 340metres. The island has 62 miles of coastline - the
beaches are white sand composed of finely ground coral. The island has 11 administrative parishes - Christchurch,
St Andrew, St George, St James, St John, St Joseph, St Lucy, St Michael, St Peter, St Philip, St Thomas
Time difference
GMT -4
Language
Official language is English; the local dialect is Bajan English
Monetary unit
Barbados dollar (fixed to the US dollar); US dollars are widely accepted
Airport
There is one major airport – Sir Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA)
Flight times
8.5 hours from London - BA & Virgin fly daily; Virgin & BMI fly direct from Manchester; 3.5 hours from
Miami and 5 hours from New York – American Airlines fly daily
Climate
Tropical climate with little seasonal temperature variation averaging 27°c; average
daily sunshine is 8 – 9 hours; seasonal rainfall between June and
October
Location
Barbados is the most easterly Caribbean Islands and part of the Lesser Antilles. Located where the Atlantic Ocean
meets the Caribbean Sea, with the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast and the Caribbean Sea on the west coast
Government
Barbados is an ex-British colony and has been an independent state in the Commonwealth since November 1966;
Governor General - Sir Clifford Husbands; Prime Minister - David Thompson
Economy
Barbados is one of the most developed countries in the Caribbean with a market based economy and capital growth of
12%. The island is highly rated for the quality of its educational, social and healthcare services and ranks in the
top 30/31 countries in the Human Development Index (HDI) rankings. Its economy is driven by business and financial
services, tourism, agriculture and manufacturing. Large corporates are investing in Barbados e.g. PWC, KPMG,
Barclays
Tourism
Barbados is one of the most established tourist markets in the world. It’s been a
tourist destination since the early 40’s and has experienced a boom since the 60’s with the majority of visitors
coming from the UK, the US and Canada. It was one of Concord’s most profitable routes, with daily flights in the
winter months. In 2001 it welcomed 1 mn visitors who spent in excess of US$700 mn; in 2004 tourism accounted for
12.4% of GDP. High season - mid Oct to mid March
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