Stories and pints at Noordhoek's Toad in the Village

Ronald Mustafa Ponsenby McGraff thinks you'll like it

A surfer dude at heart Dougie Boyes grew tired of being a chartered accountant; threw caution to the toad and began to work in ski resorts and boutique hotels. Moving back to South Africa, he had enjoyed working in the hospitality industry, but he was somewhat irked that his locality was lacking a local - a place where sports fans, good friends and families met over a refreshing pint of beer and some hearty pub fare. Along with his good friend Bob 'That Rugby Dude' Skinstad he opened Noordhoek's Toad in the Village in 2008. This was more than just a country pub. It was a place to call home.

Endangered Western Leopard Toad Ronald Mustafa Ponsenby McGraff is a central feature in this rustic pub. He can be found in photographs with the queen and Nelson Mandela, has a lager made by Mitchell's micro-brewery named after him and stories that adorn the stairwells have created a much loved character in the Noordhoek community. With his smart jacket and happy-go-lucky demeanour his adventures span from tracking lions in the Serengeti to guest of honour at Prince Charles and Lady Di's wedding.

A real sense of 'this is your local'

On a sunny day the beer garden with all weather grass and large benches welcomes locals and the upstairs balcony features a 'lily pad' overlooking the valley which gives a rolling countryside feel amongst the village. The upstairs section features a thatched roof, dark wooden flooring, a long bar with beer and lager on tap and both the downstairs and upstairs restaurants feature open roaring fireplaces for winter nights. Next to photographs of Ronald members of the community are present in images of good times at the pub, sporting and surfing tours. There's a real sense of 'this is your local'.

The menu isn't fancy or expensive, which is refreshing in Cape Town but its known for serving great food, reasonably priced and in healthy portions. Adults can feast on racks of ribs, gourmet pizzas, eisbein and cajun chicken salads and whilst there is a separate menu for children, they are made very welcome, both as guests of the Toad, and to make use of the whole menu. The long bar features Toad Lager as well as a selection of eight different beers on tap.

The Toad is a popular local hangout with big screens for match days and sporting events involving the South African national teams or major sporting tournaments. Crowds can get passionate about the sport and excitement levels can rise to fever pitch. The pub hosts a regular quiz night at 19:30 on Tuesdays, which has quickly become a reputation builder and breaker for the wild and wily of the south peninsular! Corporate entertainment is also easy as it’s a malleable venue, with smiling, attentive staff that’s also ideal for business and private parties.

The Toad is that place where good friends and family get together - a destination popular with locals but welcoming visitors from all over Cape Town and across the globe. We think you’ll like it!

By Lisa Nevitt

The Toad

Noordhoek Farm Village | +27 (0)21 789 2973

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