• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

A Taste for Travel

The world's most amazing food, drink and sun destinations

Header Right

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About Us
    • News and Awards
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
  • Partner with Us
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About Us
    • News and Awards
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
  • Partner with Us
  • Contact

Header Right

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Destinations
    • Mexico
      • Mexico City
      • Cancun Riviera-Maya
      • Huatulco & Mazunte
      • Morelia
      • Oaxaca City
      • Puerto Escondido
      • Puerto Vallarta
      • Chiapas
      • San Miguel de Allende
    • Caribbean
      • Anguilla
      • Antigua
      • Aruba
      • Bonaire
      • Curacao
      • Dominican Republic
      • Grenada
      • Martinique
      • St. Kitt’s
      • Trinidad & Tobago
      • Virgin Islands
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • Guatemala
      • Panama
    • Europe
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Turkey
    • Canada & United States
      • British Columbia
      • Ontario
      • Florida
      • Hawaii
      • Kentucky
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfasts
    • Drinks
    • Desserts
    • Sauces & Salsas
    • Entrees
    • Soup
    • Guatemalan Recipes
  • Reviews & Tips
  • Types of Travel
    • Cruises & Boating
  • Destinations
    • Mexico
      • Mexico City
      • Cancun Riviera-Maya
      • Huatulco & Mazunte
      • Morelia
      • Oaxaca City
      • Puerto Escondido
      • Puerto Vallarta
      • Chiapas
      • San Miguel de Allende
    • Caribbean
      • Anguilla
      • Antigua
      • Aruba
      • Bonaire
      • Curacao
      • Dominican Republic
      • Grenada
      • Martinique
      • St. Kitt’s
      • Trinidad & Tobago
      • Virgin Islands
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • Guatemala
      • Panama
    • Europe
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Turkey
    • Canada & United States
      • British Columbia
      • Ontario
      • Florida
      • Hawaii
      • Kentucky
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfasts
    • Drinks
    • Desserts
    • Sauces & Salsas
    • Entrees
    • Soup
    • Guatemalan Recipes
  • Reviews & Tips
  • Types of Travel
    • Cruises & Boating
Home » Destinations » Caribbean » Montserrat » Olveston House Montserrat: A Tribute to Sir George Martin

Olveston House Montserrat: A Tribute to Sir George Martin

Posted February 6, 2018, Updated March 7, 2022 //  by Michele Peterson 9 Comments

We may earn income from links in this post. Please read this Disclosure for details.

During my visit to Montserrat, a tiny volcanic island with a rich Irish heritage located near Antigua and Barbuda in the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, I was hosted at Olveston House Montserrat. This gracious plantation-style guest home was once owned by Beatles producer Sir George Martin.

It’s filled with memories from the era when Montserrat was home to AIR studios, the island recording studio that opened in 1979 and for a decade played host to greats of the music world such as Elton John, Dire Straits, The Police and even Michael Jackson.

Olveston House Montserrat
Olveston House was once the site of a large lime plantation

Beatles Fans Should Visit Olveston House Montserrat

Known as the “Fifth Beatle” for his pivotal role in the success of The Beatles, George Martin also acted as the record producer behind many other top bands and musicians of the 1980s such as The Police, Dire Straits, Elton John and other superstars.

He purchased Olveston House in the early 1980s and it was the temporary home for many visiting musicians who came to record at George Martin’s AIR Studios.

According to Carol Osborne and Margaret Wilson who manage the Olveston House’s acclaimed restaurant and guest home, Sir George Martin returned to his beloved island of Montserrat every year, even after AIR Studios was destroyed by Hurricane Hugo in 1989.

George Martin with a very young Linda and Paul McCartney
A photo of George Martin with a very young Linda and Paul McCartney is on display at Hilltop Coffee House & Family Center in Montserrat

Guests Can Stay Overnight at Olveston House

During the first few days of my stay at Olveston House, I was alone much of the time. It was the off-season and not many other visitors were around. As a result, I had my choice of guest rooms and was honoured to be checked into Sir George Martin’s very own bedroom.

It was a modest room with simple decor featuring a French door that led to an expansive wrap-around deck and high ceilings with a fan that circulated lazily throughout the sultry day and night.

If it wasn’t for the framed record album of “Give My Regards to Broad Street” mounted on the wall, you’d never guess the room was a retreat for one of the world’s most famous music legends.

master bedroom at Olveston House Montserrat
Modest master bedroom at Olveston House Montserrat

While lying in the bed at night, listening to the frogs peeping outside and the warm wind blowing through the old-growth trees on the estate, I imagined how soothing it must have been for him to escape his busy life as an international record producer and arrive at this quiet, get-away-from-it-all, island.

Veranda at Olveston House
Veranda at Olveston House

Montserrat Volcano is Still Active

A deceptively sleepy island, it should be noted, as beneath its lush slopes, the Soufriere Hills volcano continues to bubble, gurgle, puff sulphuric fumes and otherwise make its presence known. 

As  I learned from an expert at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, the Soufriere Hills volcano is classified as a complex stratovolcano and has many lava domes beyond its main summit.

Soufriere Hills Volcano Montserrat
The primordial Soufriere Hills Volcano on the island of Montserrat

George Martin and his Legacy on Montserrat

While there, I also learned that due to illness, Sir George Martin would not be able to return to Montserrat in 2016 to celebrate his birthday as he had been doing every other January.  I was  sorry to hear he passed away a few short months later on March 8, 2016. He was 90 years old.

He leaves a rich legacy of music, admiration and love on Montserrat. His generous contributions raised millions of dollars to help rebuild the island after the devastation of first Hurricane Hugo and then the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano in 1995.

Viator offers an escorted tour of  Montserrat’s former capital — destroyed  by the volcanic eruption – in their Forbidden City Adventure Tour.   

He built a cultural centre in Little Bay, the island’s new capital after the destruction of Plymouth, to help nurture the arts on Montserrat.

Original Photography by Linda McCartney

One of the highlights of a stay at Olveston House, is the opportunity to see several original photos taken by Linda McCartney. They are quite touching photos – candid shots of Paul relaxing between recording session or close-up portraits of John Lennon.

Here are a few of the images I gathered during my stay at Olveston House Montserrat.

Hallway at Olveston House with photos by Linda McCartney
Hallway at Olveston House with photos by Linda McCartney

Most of the photographs are dated 1983, which would mean they were taken when Linda McCartney was 42 years old.

Signed photography artwork by Linda McCartney
Signed artwork by Linda McCartney

Dining at Olveston House

If you’re planning a visit to Montserrat either as an excursion during a Windstar Cruise (or via ferry or plane) and are a Beatles fan, a stop at the Olveston House restaurant/B & B is a must. You don’t need to overnight. 

One of the most popular desserts at Olveston House is Eton Mess, a summery dessert made of meringue, whipping cream and fresh berries, named after a dish served at Eton College in Great Britain.

Pub nights are especially popular on Friday nights as are the Sunday Brunches featuring a roast carvery or fish. Book early if you want to score a table on the wrap-around porch.

Eton Mess Dessert at Olveston House
Eton Mess, a summery dessert served at Olveston House

Beaches near Olveston House

During my stay, I took a walk to  Lime Kiln Beach, a 15-minute walk downhill, from Olveston House. There was no-one else on the beach that day and I had just a few chickens for company. It was a steep climb back up.

Lime Kiln Beach on Montserrat
Lime Kiln Beach is an important nesting beach for sea turtles on Montserrat

 

 

Travel Planner

Olveston House: http://olvestonhouse.com

Hilltop Family Centre and Coffeehouse: Browse a fascinating collection of music memorabilia at this coffee shop and restaurant operated by David and Clover Lea. gingerbreadhill.com/hilltop-coffee

Official Visit Montserrat website: www.visitmontserrat.com

How to Get to Montserrat: You can take a helicopter tour of the island of Montserrat from neighbouring Antigua and Barbuda. You’ll get an aerial view but won’t be able to visit Olveston House, the  Exclusion Zone or other attractions.  The best way to get to Montserrat is to take one of the 20-minute flights on Fly Montserrat Airways.    The airline also flies to Nevis and Barbuda so it’s possible to do some Caribbean  island hopping using Antigua as a base.

Montserrat is one of 14 British Overseas Territories. Other British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean and South Atlantic include the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Anguilla and Turks and Caicos.  

St. Patrick’s Day:Montserrat has a rich Irish heritage and is the only country outside Ireland that recognizes St. Patrick’s Day as an official holiday. Visitors to the island even receive a shamrock stamp in their passports.

Learn about another Caribbean island worth visiting now, before the crowds arrive, in 12 Reasons I’m Tempted to Drop Everything and Move to Grenada.

Looking for undiscovered Mexico? Check out the post on Escape to Gecko Rock Resort, in Mexico’s Turtle Country.

Michele Peterson
Michele Peterson

Dividing her time between Canada, Guatemala and Mexico (or the nearest tropical beach), Michele Peterson is the founder of A Taste for Travel. Her award-winning travel and food writing has appeared in Lonely Planet’s cookbook Mexico: From the Source, National Geographic Traveler, Fodor’s and 100+ other publications.

View more posts by Michele Peterson Read more

Category: Montserrat

About Michele Peterson

Dividing her time between Canada, Guatemala and Mexico (or the nearest tropical beach), Michele Peterson is the founder of A Taste for Travel. Her award-winning travel and food writing has appeared in Lonely Planet’s cookbook Mexico: From the Source, National Geographic Traveler, Fodor’s and 100+ other publications.

View more posts by Michele Peterson Read more

Previous Post: «Colorful courtyard at the Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico City. Top Things to Do on a Weekend in Mexico City
Next Post: Stunning Ocean Views and More at La Escondida Luxury Villas Oceanfront Swimming pool at La Escondida»

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Donna Janke

    April 4, 2016 at 11:43 am

    Olveston House looks idyllic on its own. Add in the George Martin history and it sounds like a very interesting stay. I would have wanted to listen to Beatles music while on that deck. I met people from Montserrat when vacationing on Nevis in the mid-1980s. They made the island sound very appealing. The 1989 hurricane was so devastating to the island. I’ve wondered whether they stayed after that or not.

    Reply
  2. Janice Chung

    April 4, 2016 at 5:03 pm

    What a peaceful, beautiful place. Olveston House also looks quite big. What’s so neat about your stay is George Martin’s history behind it. The Eton Mess dessert (with the odd name) looks absolutely delicious. This is an island I could visit. It doesn’t look too touristy.

    Reply
    • Michele Peterson

      April 4, 2016 at 5:18 pm

      Definitely not touristy at all Janice! Plus lots of options for active travel – quite reasonably priced too.

  3. The GypsyNesters

    April 4, 2016 at 9:43 pm

    Wow, what a cool place to stay! Truly a place of music history. We used to get ash from the volcano on Montserrat blowing over to St. Croix every so often so it is quite active.

    Reply
  4. Irene S. Levine

    April 4, 2016 at 10:58 pm

    What beautiful evocative writing. Looks like a wonderful place to relax and reflect!

    Reply
  5. Betsy Wuebker

    April 5, 2016 at 5:40 pm

    Oh, this is so wonderful. I would love to visit Montserrat. Sir George’s home seems like the perfect respite, as you say, for an internationally-famous person. I love that the house is so modest, particularly his bedroom. The Eton Mess looks divine!

    Reply
  6. Wandering Carol

    May 7, 2016 at 12:52 pm

    Oh, you and your complex stratovolcanos and lava domes. Seriously, though, this is a fascinating glimpse into a celebrity world.

    Reply
  7. Andrew Crowe

    May 19, 2021 at 11:28 pm

    I’m working on Montserrat presently and regularly eat at olveston house which serves great value really good food. One thing not mentioned is all the anecdotes you hear from the locals about life with the rock stars. Some very funny stories which I’ll leave you to hear.

    Reply
    • Michele Peterson

      May 20, 2021 at 6:49 am

      I’d love to hear those stories about the rock stars on Montserrat! There must have been some wild times!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Download the free ebook with 5 easy to make Guatemalan recipes!

About A Taste for Travel

Welcome to A Taste for Travel, one of the world’s top culinary travel blogs, welcoming over 1.5 million readers annually! 

I’m Michele, and, along with a team of expert travel writers, enthusiastic eaters and skilled photographers, we help readers plan incredible adventures and make delicious global recipes at home.

I divide my time between Canada, Guatemala and Mexico (or the nearest sunny beach). My writing also appears in Lonely Planet’s cookbook Mexico: From the Source, National Geographic Traveler, Fodor’s Oaxaca and 100+ other publications. 

A Taste for Travel awards and Memberships
Booking.com

Site Footer

Follow A Taste for Travel

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2016–2022 A Taste for Travel

107 shares
  • 100