PORTS of Jersey is seeking ideas for the future of the La Folie Inn site from organisations with experience in developing and managing “high-quality visitor accommodation and hospitality venues”.
A market consultation – supported by hotel specialists Christie & Co – has been launched to determine the level of interest in developing the La Folie site, which was highlighted in Ports’ Harbour Master Plan as a potential multi-use development.
Ports’ chief executive Matt Thomas said the site was “ripe for sensitive development” that “keeps in mind its rich maritime and social history”.
He continued: “We want to offer both Islanders and visitors a renovated La Folie Inn and high-quality visitor accommodation, through a careful redevelopment of all the land and buildings on this site.”
Ports has been the long-term leaseholder of the land and buildings on the site for nearly a decade.
In a statement, the organisation said: “All the land, including the former pub, will be open to ideas from interested organisations with proven experience in the development and management of high-quality visitor accommodation and hospitality venues.”
Visit Jersey chief executive Tricia Warwick said the redevelopment of the La Folie site “presents an exciting opportunity to create a dynamic, thoughtfully considered new hospitality venue that can be enjoyed year-round by visitors and Islanders alike”.
In a statement, the co-chief executives of the Jersey Hospitality Association, Ana and Marcus Calvani, said they were “excited that the enormous potential for alternative and quirky accommodation is being explored by Ports of Jersey”.
“La Folie is an important historic site that holds memories for many Islanders, but it needs to be put to effective use. Creating another opportunity for visitors and Islanders to stay in historic properties will really enhance the experiences that Jersey can offer,” the statement continued.
“It’s just the kind of project that Jersey needs to make it even more appealing as a destination. We hope that Ports finds a suitable partner to make this exciting project a success and add to their growing list of unusual properties for Islanders and visitors to stay in.”
And Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel said that the provision of “diverse visitor accommodation” would be “of huge benefit to Islanders, visitors, and the local economy”.
Interested businesses should contact Christie & Co via email at lafoliesitejersey@christie.com.
In October, the JEP was given the opportunity to explore La Folie Inn with Richard Bitot, who spent his childhood years there. At the time, Mr Bitot suggested that any potential renovation of the Inn should maintain “a nautical theme”, in keeping with its history as a once-popular haunt for fishermen, sailors and Harbour workers.
