33 years a Caribbean Odyssey

Little Harbour Estates is an award-winning collection of three private villas on the picturesque Caribbean island of Anguilla. What began as the seed of an idea on a holiday in 1990 for British owners John and Val Barker has grown into a luxury property portfolio, allowing them to offer guests from around the world exceptional vacations in some of the most beautiful properties in the world.

33 years on from that first visit - that’s one for every white-sand beach on the tiny paradise island - in 2023 Little Harbour Estates continues to be run as a family business and is among Anguilla’s leading villa operators attracting international clients with its first-class all-inclusive experience.

With their initial purchase of two acres of land at Little Harbour on the island’s south coast, the Barkers developed some of the first villa rental properties on Anguilla. They saw the potential for an island in its infancy of tourism development towards a high-end international market and created two three-bedroomed villas – Turquaz and Indigo.

John and Val designed and managed the construction of both properties themselves, keen to oversee all aspects of the project to fulfil their vision. Today, they continue to lead the business in all areas to ensure that all guests experience first-class facilities and services throughout their stay.

Recognising the opportunity to attract a higher-end clientele, the Barkers invested further in both villas, increasing the number of bedrooms to five per property and working with their then-small team to build on improving the overall guest experience.

In the early 2000s, they acquired the land next to Indigo and sold Turquaz to begin a new project with villa Le Bleu, simultaneously extending and upgrading Indigo to transform it into a ten-bedroom five-star property.

The Barkers worked closely with local architectural designer-developer Ian Edwards of Sunset Homes to create a spacious and contemporary villa estate set in 2.5 acres of tropical gardens. Le Bleu would become one of the first super villas on the island with nine en-suite bedrooms, a beach pavilion and two small natural beaches. It continues to this day to attract a star-studded client list.

Despite the challenges of hurricanes and the property crash, the Barkers remained committed to their mission and in 2008 purchased a further plot of land on award-winning Meads Bay.

Working once again with Sunset Homes and Ian Edwards, The Beach House opened in 2012 offering a new level of exceptional luxury vacation homes on the island. Its striking all-white exterior is matched with sleek and contemporary interiors and unrivalled views across to the offshore cays of Prickly Pear and Dog Island.

Described as “a stunning contemporary masterpiece,” in 2012 The Beach House was awarded ‘World’s Best of the Best’ at the International Property Awards for architecture of a single residence, along with three further awards for best architecture on Anguilla and across the Caribbean.

With eight bedrooms, ten bathrooms, a 44-foot infinity pool, 18-seater cinema room and tennis court, The Beach House is the ultimate venue for larger groups seeking seclusion with all of the amenities of a five-star resort on site.

Ahead of the 2024 season, further outdoor event space has been created next to The Beach House to accommodate even more imaginative uses. Guests can now choose from waterfront, beachside and interior spaces for weddings, events, and celebrations. The addition of commercial-standard kitchens ensures that the highest standards of professional catering for large parties can be easily achieved.

Bringing the Little Harbour Estates story right up to date, this year the company has renewed its visual identity and bolstered its team with new appointments both on island and in the UK.

Award-winning Anguillian Chef Kelston “Sweets” Connor is now on board as Head Chef to lead the culinary excellence offered across all villas in the portfolio, supported by a new team of experienced staff to deliver Michelin standard quality cuisine.

Front of house has also grown with general manager Gordon Kennedy, Akiria Edwards, guest relations manager and a full-service team across all three villas.

MD Danielle Barker, John and Val’s daughter, is joined by Carolyn Brown, UK-based sales and marketing, with Madeleine Scheel the third generation of Barkers to join the team as marketing assistant.

Fuelled by a love for architecture and an unwavering desire to create the quintessential beach getaway, the Barkers have developed three unique villas that embody Anguilla’s premium experience, and the Little Harbour Estates journey continues with renewed energy.