Parker is a small, owner-managed business with five permanent staff, six if you count Busby.

We’re Liz and Phil, (the owners), and came to Cape Town from the Eastern Cape (Grahamstown) in 2006.

We bought Parker Cottage in 2008 after a couple of years running another guesthouse, Mountain Magic Suites.

We’re also academics by profession: Liz works in the sociology of education and is writing her Phd at the moment

and Phil has a consultancy, English for Africa, that develops language solutions for business and educational institutions.

When we’re not at Parker, Liz likes nothing better than anything to do with horses, gardens and fantastic outfits!

Phil’s never happier than when covered in oil working on his Land Rover, skateboarding or windsurfing at Langebaan.

Robert has not been working in  hospitality long - he used to be a fresh juice salesman and after that, a cigar salesman,

so he knows about the finer things in life.  Don't let his Afrikaans distract you from his Scottish ancestory: he will tell

you that he likes nothing better than grey skies, rain and cold!

Robert is the manager at Parker and looks after all our stock and purchasing, as well as welcoming guests when Liz and

Phil get a (rare) day off!

Betty has been working at Parker for over 8 years: beginning as a cleaner, she’s now one of two senior

housekeepers along with Marie.

Betty’s the head housekeeper at Parker and is learning to be an Assistant Manager. Betty’s a mother

of 5 mostly grown up children and loves nothing more than a good laugh!

Marie came to Parker in 2004 to help Betty out but initially only as a maid. She’s now a housekeeper with Betty

and is mainly responsible for the kitchen and its smooth running.

She’s a self-confessed giggler and married to a lay preacher with one child. She’s also obsessed with her toy poodle!

Donovan is our caretaker at Parker.  Even at the tender age of 20, he manages all
painting and decorating here with exceptional diligence.  He's originally from the
Eastern Cape, Graff Reinet to be precise, and loves riding his racer bike around town.

He now lives in Mitchell's Plain and is the main breadwinner for his household of five.