Iconic yacht club HQ seeks tweaks to help taller and elderly members

Thursday 22 September 2022

One of the world’s oldest yacht clubs is seeking to make alterations to its St. Aubin home of around 80 years, to better accommodate diners, as well as its taller members and the elderly.

The Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club, which received its Royal status in 1869 and now has around 2,100 members, has been based at Le Boulevard since the 1940s.

A restaurant and bar were added to the premises in the 1950s and further refurbishment was undertaken in the 1980s as membership continued to grow.

The sixth oldest in the world, according to a recently submitted planning application, the club currently has a restaurant on the ground floor and al fresco dining on the first floor.

However, it is now looking to extend and tweak the upstairs area to better serve its members, and is asking planning permission to be able to provide a small enclosed dining area on the first floor, as well as creating a new internal and external staircase.

Pictured: The club is on Le Mont du Boulevard.

Explaining the rationale behind the application, Surface Limited said in a design statement submitted to Planning on behalf of the club: "The restaurant at ground floor can accommodate 40 covers with seating for dining also at first floor on the terrace.

"The club is keen to get more diners upstairs at first floor level but with part of the terrace covered in which would allow first floor dining to continue when the weather is not so good but the views could still be enjoyed.

"The present terrace has a guard rail system consisting of steel posts, rails, and vertical spindles which does not offer a lot of protection where there is a slight wind. A change with a replacement glazed balustrade option would help.

"The existing staircase appears to be the original staircase which at present is not easy to use and limited headroom for taller members, a lot of the elderly members are struggling with the stair arrangement to access the first floor."

The application, which has been graded 'Minor', remains before Planning. A decision is expected in October.

Pictured top: A view of the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club from the east submitted as part of the planning application.