Ports of Jersey’s plans to develop the former La Folie Inn into visitor accommodation following at a “request” from a ministerial group, it has emerged.
CEO Matt Thomas told a Scrutiny panel yesterday that the concept of rejuvenating the dilapidated pub into a 150-bedroom hotel was not a Ports of Jersey idea.
Ports launched its search for a development partner to invest up to £100m in redeveloping the site, which has been closed since 2004 and sits between the English and French harbours, in July following a market study exploring various “commercially viable” uses for the area – which covers around 3,000 square metres and includes the listed former pub.
But focusing on visitor accommodation options, Mr Thomas said on Wednesday, came at a request from the Ports policy group.
The group is made up of the Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham, Treasury Minister Deputy Elaine Miller, Infrastructure Minister Deputy Andy Jehan and Economic Development Minister Deputy Kirsten Morel.
Mr Thomas and his COO Stephen King were being quizzed on the company’s motivations behind plans. To which it was clarified that Ports of Jersey has “no intention of running any hotels”, according to the CEO.
Mr Thomas told panel members that the Ports policy group had come to the conclusion that Ports of Jersey has “skin in the game” with visitor accommodation as “[the lack of hotels] is impacting our connectivity”.
However, he was clear that any hotel given permission to be built on the site would not be operated by Ports of Jersey, who would simply be leasing the land for others to take over.
The plans to revive La Folie form part of a wider regeneration programme to transform St Helier Harbour, as per the Harbour Master Plan, which was unveiled in 2022.
Construction work to reconfigure the Elizabeth Harbour is due to start next year and last until winter 2028.
Since the procurement process went live, Ports said separately that they had received “encouraging” interest and that an update would be provided when the process concluded at the end of the month.
A new pressure group seeking to maintain at least part of the site as a pub entitled ‘Friends of La Folie Inn Heritage Pub’ has been set up, attracting a following of more than 100 Islanders on social media so far.
It’s understood that the group have sought meetings with Jersey Heritage and the Jersey Community Land Trust.
