With less than a year to go, Club Med at Tinley Manor is hitting major construction milestones as the buildings housing the kitchens and restaurants near completion.

The R2-billion resort, set to open on July 4, is being billed as a game-changer for North Coast tourism, combining luxury accommodation with international dining and cultural experiences.

The Courier was invited on site last week to see progress, with two signature restaurants now nearing completion. The Oceana, a 1 000-seater buffet-style venue, will showcase global cuisine, while the Nguni Gourmet Club will offer a refined dining experience highlighting South African seafood and locally sourced produce. The restaurants will, however, not be open to the general public.

Project lead Chris du Toit of Tinley Leisure Pty Ltd said the dining facilities represented the “heart of the resort.”

The Oceana includes a 1 000-square-metre kitchen fitted with 15 cold storage rooms. Du Toit said a key breakthrough had been designing the dining hall to absorb sound.

“This was quite an engineering feat. We managed to get the acoustics to a level where the sound reverberation is almost nothing. Can you imagine the noise in here with 1 000 people eating and talking? It could be quite disturbing if not done correctly,” he said.

He added that the setting overlooking the Indian Ocean, paired with the facilities, could set a new benchmark.

“This could be one of the best restaurants in the country,” Du Toit said.

Beyond dining, the resort will feature several bars, including The Injabulo, a main bar doubling as a coffee shop, and the Dunes Beach Bar, offering cocktails in a surf-inspired setting. A 70-metre swimming deck pool will extend from the main bar, giving guests panoramic ocean views.

Club Med’s signature festive atmosphere is also part of the plans, with nightly entertainment and occasional sea-facing garden parties designed to showcase South Africa’s cultural heritage.

Recreational facilities under development include tennis and padel courts, a surf school, flying trapeze rigs, yoga spaces and guided gravel bike tours.

The resort is also expected to create more than 800 direct and 1 500 indirect jobs, and already employs 1 200 construction workers.

Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news.

Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you’re on desktop, scan the QR code below.