Necker Island: welcome to Richard Branson's island!
Necker Island is a real tropical paradise. It is here in the blue waters of the British Virgin Islands that Richard Branson, the charismatic President of Virgin has found his garden of Eden. Over the years, he has undertaken some major construction work to turn this small desert island into a haven of luxury with remarkable consideration for the natural environment... The adventure began in the late 1970s, when Richard Branson fell under the spell of the Necker Island, one of the islands in the British Virgin Islands archipelago. However he had to wait patiently for several years before enjoying his exotic paradise: it proved necessary to dynamite the peak of Devil's Hill in order to locate the main Great House, to dig into the hill to install generators and a desalination factory, to design and nurture the tropical gardens...
The refinement of Bali in the Caribbean
On Necker Island, Bali is the main source of architectural inspiration: i.e. decorative elements, chairs, furniture, traditional wooden and stone sculptures...even the straw used in roofs.
Wood is omnipresent in the decor: teak for the terraces, woven bamboo for the ceilings. The walls of the Great House are made out of volcanic stone dug from the island, while fresh tiles from Yorkshire have been used for the floors.
Forget about watching television...
All the rooms are open on the turquoise-coloured sea with beds protected by mosquito nets. The floor is in lava stones, the furniture in carved wood, and the shower is in the open air...Colourful West Indian fabrics provide a perfect contrast to the whiteness of the linen sheets. There is no television, but a telephone. There is no air conditioning either. Air circulates naturally through the large openings.
Necker Island can be rented when its owner is away. Wealthy businessmen invite their friends, celebrities stay here with their families.
Tranquility and solitude
In addition to the Great House situated on the peak of the hill, Necker also boasts five Bali-style houses that can accommodate a single person or a couple. As each mansion has its own atmosphere, guests can choose the one that best suits their fancy: Bali Hi and Bali Beach overlook the Caribbean , Bali Cliff is literally clinging to the cliff and Bali Lo and Bali Buah are in the center of the island.
Sir Richard's latest creation is Bali Leha, a spa where Leesa Penny supervises a team of therapists that offer algae or marine-salt-based treatments, revitalizing massages, aloe and mint packs, as well as stone therapy, which alternates between the placement of warm and cold pebbles.
Your choice of beach
There are two main beaches on the island. Turtle Beach and Main Beach are magnificently maintained, and there are a handful of completely deserted beaches, left in their natural state.
A total of 28 persons can stay on Necker Island. They are served by fifty employees and will revel in the cuisine of the new chef, Craig Harnden.
A day at Necker Island
At dawn, slip into the turquoise waters of Main Beach... Then, enjoy a hearty breakfast on your terrace or at the large table where guests usually meet up for meals.
At the Main Beach you can make use of the two lawn tennis courts or enjoy many different water sports.
At the end of the afternoon, relax by having a massage at the Bali Leha spa, then in early evening enjoy a cocktail, while snacking on some sushi at the floating bar of the swimming pool. Sunset on Necker is always an enchanting moment.
And the evening has only just begun...
