The View Boutique Hotel

Fantastic venue. You wouldn’t think you were in the city.

The parking doesn’t really match the number of guests the venue can hold. At a larger function, people will need to park on the street and walk. Still, this is a beautiful place, set in an old terraced English garden. I attended a wedding that began at midday and carried on into the evening. The food was absolutely delicious, the decor was lovely, with lots of input from the bride, and the staff were smartly turned out and helpful. I’d like to see whether they host high teas, because an afternoon in that garden would be wonderful.

The gardens were lovely for our wedding pictures, and the view across northern Johannesburg was the highlight of the venue. We wanted a garden feel with plenty of sunlight, and The View was just right. My husband and I chose it straight away after our first venue visit and held our wedding there in September. There’s no hall, but a large covered patio that fits about 150 people. We put a marquee on the beautiful lawn for 240 guests, with buffet stations. The price was in line with Johannesburg venues, though the marquee was extra. The old British-style property is well maintained. My bridesmaids and I had a comfortable room to get ready in all morning. There’s a generator for loadshedding, a well-equipped kitchen, and clean bathrooms with Muslim facilities. Parking is tight, but there’s extra space down the road and the venue can arrange someone to manage it. The manager was always easy to reach and the staff were very helpful. There were no surcharges apart from the marquee, which came with half a day before and after the function. It’s central in Johannesburg but still tranquil.

The garden was nice, but the facilities needed better attention. The shared toilet for men and women had become disgusting, and some areas were messy from people eating and drinking. Please keep the place clean throughout events for hygiene. Parking was another struggle: only one person was assigned to direct everyone, and it was hard to tell where to park. I was there for an event hosted by my employer and would give it 2.5 stars.