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The former Caribbean Bar at the Hotel De Le Plage – which has been boarded up for two decades – could be revived into a new restaurant and bar, if plans are approved.
A planning application has been submitted to change the use of the former Hotel De Le Plage’s restaurant and bar which was associated with the former hotel, into a restaurant and bar independent of the former hotel and open to the general public.
The proposals, submitted by MS Planning Ltd on behalf of the applicant La Plage Hotel Ltd, explain that the new restaurant and bar hopes to bring "vibrancy and life to the Havre des Pas promenade".
Although the proposal does not however involve any external alterations, planning permission for a 'change of use' is required because the proposal seeks to operate the proposed restaurant and bar independent of its former use as a hotel.
Any plans for future external alterations will be submitted in a separate planning application by the prospective occupier who will be responsible for the fit out.
The upper floors of Hotel De La Plage obtained planning permission in 2005 for change of use from hotel to lodging house. This permit was renewed in 2009 and again in 2014.
On completion of these works the property was re-named Residence de la Plage, and features 40 lodging units and one staff unit.
Pictured: Lawrence and Gillian Seymour in the old Caribbean Bar. (Jerripedia)
In 2017, planning permission was granted to convert part of the ground floor into seven one- and two-bedroom apartments with basement stores. This was renewed in 2021.
The most recent planning application explains that the proposal for a new restaurant and bar "would complete the development of the ground floor".
MS Planning describes the plans as a "welcome investment in the evening economy sector" bringing "vibrancy" back to the Havre des Pas area.
Pictured: Tommy Eytle was a popular performer in the Caribbean Bar. (Jerripedia)
This "vibrancy" is something that other businesses are seeking to bring back to the area too, with a recent boom of new openings around Havre des Pas – which is soon to also become home to several new housing developments, which could mean significant new footfall.
The transformation of La Collette into the new 'Edinburgh House' complex is now complete.
Apartments under construction where the former Fort d’Auvergne Hotel once stood recently went on the market.
Up the road, on Green Street, Andium's development of more than 100 homes at the former Limes nursing home site is also taking shape.
The Good Egg and Hooray Henri’s beach cafés are recent additions to the area.
The former's owner Kate Mills told Express earlier this year how the these new businesses are bringing a renewed “sense of community” to the area.
She said: “There’s a growing sense of community in the area so it’s nice to have a place for people to meet, and we’ve also noticed the number of tourists in the area increasing over the last couple of years.”
Pictured: Jayne Gruchy at Hooray Henri’s, one of the most recent additions to the Havre des Pas area.
Jayne Gruchy, owner of neighbouring Hooray Henri’s, added that it’s nice to “bring a bit of life back into the area”, particularly in the evenings with both cafés running themed dinner events.
One of most iconic features of the Havre des Pas landscape is the Lido, however there have been ongoing concerns about the funding of the facility for the last few years.
In 2022, Constable Simon Crowcroft set up a ‘steering group’ of politicians, residents, the current operator of the café / venue and other interested parties to “maximise the benefit of the lido to the community and to resolve any issues arising in future”.
Speaking at a Havre des Pas Improvement Group meeting earlier this year, Marcus Calvani, who operates the venue, said that he had visited Guernsey recently and was taking inspiration from the Vive La Valette project.
The Vive La Valette group formed a charitable trust in Guernsey, raising half a million pounds for two swimming pools which were reopened to great acclaim last summer.
Pictured: Marcus Calvani is co-CEO of the Jersey Hospitality Association, alongside wife Ana Calvani.
Mr Calvani is co-CEO of the Jersey Hospitality Association and currently operates the Havre Des Pas Lido without a lease, although he had 30 weddings scheduled at the venue this year alongside other events.
"There is a love for the lido," Mr Calvani said. "We can have an incredibly strong group of people the finance firms and law firms that use it."
Mr Calvani added that he recognised the community's desire for the lido and kiosk.
The Lido also recently earned its place in a new anthology showcasing some of the most beautiful saltwater pools in the world.
'Sea Pools: 66 saltwater sanctuaries from around the world' by architect Chris Romer-Lee described the pool as “a sensuous shape, caressing the beach in a glorious and gracious sling of concrete”.
Celebrating the success, the Lido team wrote on Facebook: "We must #lovelido and continue to bring this special, iconic, unique and inimitable coastal jewel back to being as good as it can possibly be.
“We won’t give up, we know that we have the majority of people behind us as well.
"We need to nurture our island's assets and celebrate them with the rest of the world.”
The full planning application for the new bar and restaurant at the Hotel De Le Plage can be viewed online.
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