Moon Gate Hotel & Spa celebrates a major 'topping out' milestone; we take a look at some of Antigua Carnival’s most cherished traditions; and we put the spotlight on a new Spanish tapas-style eatery Roquita, taking English Harbour by storm. All that and more in our latest newsletter.
All this and more to come – in Issue 21 of our Moon Gate newsletter.
Progress, Steady Progress... Since the start of construction, the vision of the Moon Gate founders has progressed along a true and steady course towards becoming Antigua’s newest boutique hotel and spa.
As our construction efforts continue unabated, certain annual events arrive in the Antigua calendar as regular as clockwork. We have Independence Day, Antigua Sailing Week and of course the Caribbean’s greatest summer festival – Antigua Carnival – to name a few. Lasting 13 days in July and August, Antigua Carnival is a local celebration of freedom and reconnection, while also drawing thousands of revellers from across the region and around the world.
And what, you may ask, does Antigua Carnival have to do with Moon Gate Hotel & Spa?
Well, we believe everything that is Antigua – the people, the food, the natural environment, the music, the customs and culture, even the glorious sunrises and sunsets – are and will always be an integral part of the Moon Gate experience. With that principle in mind we’re building in Moon Gate a place where our visitors and residents alike can embrace and live the entire spectrum of the Antigua experience.
From the Construction Desk. You may have spotted the Antigua and Barbuda flag flying from the roof of Moon Gate this month. It was attached to mark the milestone of the highest beam being placed on two of the buildings. In the construction world this achievement is known as ‘topping out’ and a ceremony is held to mark the occasion.
The practice of celebrating ‘topping out’ is said to have its roots in an ancient Scandinavian religious rite of placing a tree atop a new building to appease the tree-dwelling spirits displaced during construction.
Meanwhile, work at the site continues apace with the roof now completed on building one.
On building two, the third floor slab has been cast and block work is underway, while on building four form work on the third floor slab has begun.
Watch our video of the on-site progress update by Moon Gate Antigua – Developer Cameron Fraser.
Purchasing a property at Moon Gate entitles the buyer to apply for an Antigua and Barbuda passport. Citizenship here offers a range of tax advantages, plus visa-free access to more than 150 countries worldwide.
You wouldn’t be the first to fall in love with our beautiful twin isles?
The Citizenship by Investment Programme offers the chance to make the love affair with Antigua and Barbuda permanent.
From the Street: Antigua Carnival. Listen carefully and you can hear the thrum of sewing machines emanating from repurposed back rooms and offices island-wide as artisans work to the beat of an infectious soca rhythm.
Antigua Carnival is now less than a month away and many troupes are putting the finishing touches to the all-important costumes that will transform the streets of St John’s into a spectacle of colour and pageantry. Antigua and Barbuda is one of few Caribbean nations where people still painstakingly stitch much of the vibrant garb by hand.
Halo Foundation London Fundraiser
Under the patronage of the Halo Foundation founders, their Excellences Sir Rodney Williams and Lady Sandra Williams (pictured), the sixth edition of the Wings of Charity fundraiser once again attracted attendees in high numbers to The Dorchester Hotel in London. The annual charitable event raises vital funds for the underprivileged and vulnerable in Antigua and Barbuda.
New Tapas Restaurant Roquita
Back here in Antigua, it may be low season but there’s always entertainment to be found. Earlier this year, the award-winning team behind Sheer Rocks, Catherine’s Café and Rokuni threw open the doors to their fourth restaurant – Tapas-style Roquita.
