TROUTBECK RESORT UNVEILS RFRESHED HARE AND HOUND BAR

Troutbeck Resort has completed the refurbishment of one of its most treasured spaces, the Hare & Hound Bar, breathing new life into a corner of the Nyanga property long regarded as one of its greatest draws.

The bar has always held a special place at Troutbeck. Guests know it as the spot for a fantastic evening, a good whisky, and a seat that tends to hold you far longer than planned. It is this reputation the resort was keen to protect when planning the refresh.

Rather than reinvent the space, the design team focused on restoring more of its original character. The result blends rich timber finishes with traditional tartan detailing, warm colour tones, and a scattering of wonderfully mismatched chairs. Together, these elements give the Hare & Hound a new lease on life while keeping intact the cosy, countryside pub feel it has always been known for.

The refurbishment forms part of a broader renewal at Troutbeck, which has also seen updates to other public areas of the resort. Set at the foot of Nyanga’s pine-covered hills and overlooking a trout-filled lake, Troutbeck has long been a fixture of Zimbabwe’s Eastern Highlands, prized for its old-world charm and mountain scenery.

For many guests, the Hare & Hound is where the day winds down. It has traditionally served a wide selection of local and international beverages, drawing both resort guests and visitors from the surrounding Nyanga area for its relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. The refreshed look aims to enhance that experience without losing what made the bar special in the first place.

Hospitality refurbishments of this kind are typically approached with care, as guests can be quick to notice when a beloved space loses its personality in the process of modernisation. Troutbeck’s approach appears to have leaned deliberately toward preservation, using materials and design choices that nod to the bar’s heritage rather than departing from it.

The bar remains a key feature of the resort’s offering to both leisure travellers and those visiting for conferences and events, for which Troutbeck has long been a popular Eastern Highlands venue. A refreshed social space adds to the overall guest experience, complementing the resort’s dining venues, lake activities, and golf course.

With the refurbishment now complete, the Hare & Hound stands ready to welcome guests back into its familiar embrace, a little refreshed and a little more colourful, but still unmistakably itself. The update reflects Troutbeck’s broader commitment to preserving the character that has defined it for decades, even as the resort continues to modernise its facilities.

As Troutbeck moves forward with its wider refurbishment programme, the Hare & Hound offers a glimpse of the balance the resort is striking between heritage and renewal, ensuring that longtime visitors and newcomers alike can settle into that same seat, for just a little longer than they intended.