One of East London's oldest surviving hotels, the Dorchester Hotel, famous for its seafood and Chinese restaurant, closed its doors at the end of February 2005. The hotel opened in 1937. The building's new owners, Real People, will transform the rooms into offices. The bar and kitchen will continue running as The Dorch.
Hugh LOTTERING bought the hotel in 1975 from Jack VORSTENBOS, a Dutch citizen who arrived in South Africa in 1952. In 1977, Hugh brought in Chris BURLS as a partner. In February 1989, they sold it to the WHITAKER family who owned the hotel until its closure.
The hotel's 57-year-old receptionist, Lindile "Kaunda" MCEKA, worked and lived at the hotel since October 1968. He started first as a "yard-boy" (one year), then "bar-boy" (eight years), porter (16 years) and later receptionist (12 years). He is moving to his home village near Lady Frere.