Berkley Beach Hotel

In March 1970 the Calypso Colony Hotel begins construction. There will be 70 rooms.
In September 1970 they are hiring for all positions.
On December 11, 1970 the hotel opens. They have regular entertainment.
From January 27 - February 3, 1971, Dee Dee Warwick, sister of Dionne Warwick, performed. She was backed by the hotel's resident band Linford Harvey & The Calypso Volcanoes.
On February 4, 1971 the hotel was put into receivership.
In September 1971 it was reported that the hotel had not been granted a licence to operate nor had incentives been given. The owner had asked the Ministry of Trade and Industry for help, but over 60% of the money for the hotel had been borrowed for five years at 15% interest. No hotel could make that amount of money to pay the interest.
In January 1972, the hotel, now called the Berkeley Beach Hotel, is advertising for management employees.
In April 1972 the NY Chapter of the American Society of Travel Agents stayed at the hotel. Events listed from then on.
In 1974, on Saturday nights there was a buffet and dancing to a live band advertised.
In 1975, Arthur Knibbs was the 46-year old musician and calypsonian of this hotel and The Runaway Bay Hotel. He died on May 26, 1975, after collapsing.
In January 1977, the hotel was taken over by a French Canadian consortium, and by the following year entered financial difficulties. The mortgagee, Walter E. Heller Company, of Miami, repossessed the property and it was put in receivership.
In December 1977, Mr. Lester Prendergast leased the hotel and changed the name to Sun Beach Hotel. He was then seeking to buy the hotel from Walter Heller.
But, in March 1978, Mr. Prendergast was alleged to have smuggled currency out of the island. Thus, refurbishing and reorganization of the property appears to be at a standstill, although occupancy rates are fair to fine with a full house expected for Easter.
In April 1978, the hotel is listed for sale by auction. The same month Mr. Prendergast is in court (the case goes on for weeks and weeks). He loses and disappears.
In April 1979, the hotel is awaiting an entrepreneur.
On November 16, 1979, the hotel reopened as the Berkley Beach Hotel with 76 rooms. It was taken over by Mr. Charles Munyon through the Minnesota based company Island Properties Inc. It had been in receivership for the past four years. Mr. Munyon will manage. Charters will provide the main source of guests for the hotel. He proceeded to rebuild the hotel.
In 1980, $600,000 was spent to restore the hotel after hurricane damage.
In August 1982, the hotel was put up for sale for $1.6 million. Mr. Munyon wants to retire from the hotel business and return to America. The hotel has facilities to accommodate in excess of 300 guests both indoors and on the beach, and a 200 capacity dining room.
In September 1984, the hotel is listed for sale in an auction. The hotel had 72 rooms, four suites and swimming pool on 2-1/4 acres of land with beach frontage of 567 feet.
In March 1985, ads start infrequently appearing.
In June 1985, a $4 million refurbishing program in underway. The hotel is now owned by Gar-bro Resort Properties Inc. of the USA. Mr. George Gardiner is now the chief executive, while Mr. Henry Worthy is the new manager. There will be a refurnishing program done in five stages. The 76 room hotel will not be all-inclusive, but offering a modification of the American plan. Water sports are being introduced. The hotel is to be renamed "Ambiance Jamaica Hotel." In reopened on December 19, 1985.
In April 1986, the hotel changed hands once again.
In the Fall of 1987, over $1 million was spent on refurbishing the entire room block, the main lounge, and the dining room. The beach area was expanded to create more space for bathing and a lunch terrace was constructed on the beach.
After Hurricane Gilbert on September 12, 1988, the hotel closed.
Close to $20 million is expected to be spent, reported a year later.
In October 1994, the hotel is owned by Allan Gotting, a classic car enthusiast. He was also Cruise Ship Director for the tourist board.
In May 1995, the hotel is spending US$750,000 on renovations. It is now 80 rooms operating under the European Plan, but will change to the all-inclusive concept on June 1.
In December 1995, the hotel is now being operated under the management of Club Caribbean, and it has a new name: Club Ambiance. And the hotel is changing from a family type package, to "adults-only."
In February 2017, Ernest Smatt says the hotel could be for sale. It was an 88-room property.
The hotel closed during the pandemic. The last website is February 2020. The pool is green in the satellite photo. The domain name is for sale.
On May 27, 2021, Ernie Smatt dies.
An unofficial Club Ambiance website had lots of pictures, but they didn't make it into archive.org. There are pictures at Google.