A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR THE STACK

Posted on 09/06/2016

When Nigel Pace and his wife Sarah Ord announced that they were going to open a brasserie and private members club in Cape Town, South Africa the news was received positively. Pace has had a stellar career in hotel management (Cape Grace among others) and Ord is a well known interior designer.

Turns out that their partnership is greater than the sum of their individual accomplishments as their fortitudes were put to the test having had to launch their venue twice in a year after a devastating fire shut down The Stack days after it opened.
July 15, 2016 was full of promises, when The Stack opened for business in the historical Leister Hall, Gardens in Cape Town, offering a brasserie to the public and an upper floor reserved for members only.
Pace’s background as an hotelier is but one of the layers that define his hospitality. He is an easy conversationalist and generous with his attention and humour.
Ord has grace and mastery of literary expressions, and the woman knows how to drive a colour wheel. Hers is titanium alloy and she navigates it with ease to create inviting spaces.
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Six days after the opening, a kitchen fire destroyed the top floor of the building. Yet the Paces were determined to start again, having their team and investors in alliance.
“For me the most devastating outcome of the fire was the loss of the antique furniture, the old books and all of the history and nostalgia which went with them” said Ord, “ I spent a lot of time searching for pieces that could create a new story for The Stack going forward. The look is very much a quirky collection of one-off items in deep colour and pattern, mixed in with lovely old occasional tables, light fittings, cabinets and some crazy artwork!”
The ceilings on the upper floor fell in, and exposure to the elements damaged the downstairs areas in the months before the restoration, but they managed to clean and repair most of the furniture. Meeting rooms were damaged from smoke and water so “a good re-paint, deep clean and buff and polish was necessary.”
The Stack re-opened in July 2016.
The owners liken the interior of The Stack to a modern dandy, “Think fabulous well-tailored suits with bright yellow socks and a silk pocket square.
“Yes, we might be modelled on a private members club, but my gosh, you’ll be wearing pink, star-spangled socks when you’re there” said Ord.
Describing the signature dishes on the menu, she said, “As an authentic French brasserie, our menu is focused on hearty, honest French dishes – something not easily found in Cape Town. Think Steak Frites and Béarnaise, daily specialties like Bouillabaisse or Coq au Vin on the Plats du Jour menu but also simple dishes like Croque Monsieur or Terrine de Campagne.
“We strive to keep our menu and wine list accessible – we are blessed with an abundance of beautiful wines in the Cape and we wanted to showcase these to best effect without charging a fortune. Good value for incredible wines. We also have a secret cellar selection of limited edition vintage wines. The cocktail menu is not to be sneezed at – cocktail hour in this city has become more and more of a trend and The Stack aims to lead the pack!”
Visitors to The Stack enjoy a luxury chauffeur service provided by Über Black within 10km of The Stack at no cost.
Asked about the good things that have resulted since the trauma from the fire Ord answered, “Nigel and I have certainly grown incredibly from the experience. Life has sharpened its perspective – we no longer sweat the small stuff, what may have once been really stressful is now put in its place, dealt with and we move on.”
“It means you can focus on what is important, what has significance to the growth of this business and the brand that is The Stack.”