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Hotel will be torn down and turned into "world class resort"

Hotel will be torn down and turned into

Thursday 30 July 2020

Hotel will be torn down and turned into "world class resort"

Thursday 30 July 2020


La Grande Mare hotel is set to be completely re-built by 2023, featuring a re-developed 18-hole golf course, a restaurant overlooking Vazon Bay and self-catering lodges for visitors.

Billionaire businessman Stephen Lansdown bought the hotel last year, with plans to turn it into a "world class golf club and resort".

Following lockdown, he decided not to reopen La Grande Mare for the time being, but fast track the redevelopment plans instead - giving Guernsey's tourism industry the boost it needs in light of the corona virus pandemic.

Mr Lansdown has now announced his plans for the resort, with work due to begin after the Island Games next year, subject to planning permission.

grande_mare.png

Pictured: The current building will be demolished to make room for the new facilities.

The current building will be completely torn down to make space for the new facility, which will be aimed at golfers as well as visiting families, businesses and people hosting events.

"This building is not fit for purpose," Mr Lansdown explained. "It will always be a bed and breakfast. It's four-star, but in my mind, I question that and this place deserves something special."

All of the accommodation will be moved out of the main building, making space for more communal and restaurant space, while around 15 self-catering lodges will be built for visitors to stay in.

"The lodges will give people more privacy, more luxury and allow them to enjoy the assets we have here," Mr Lansdown said. "It's easier to maintain, it's easier to manage and it should be more profitable, which is always a key factor as well."

Meanwhile, the well-used golf course will be redeveloped, with two new holes added and many extended to turn it into a par 68 course. Alongside it will be a new golf club with its own facilities, bar and lounge, as well as a 290-yard driving range and a golfing academy.

 La Grande Mare golf club plans

Pictured: A new golf club will be built alongside the main resort building.

On the other side of the main building will be a health and spa resort featuring a 25m swimming pool, a gym and treatment rooms.

"What we've done is make sure every square inch makes money," added Mr Lansdown. "If we don't do that we're not going to be sustainable."

 Although no price has been put on the privately funded project, Mr Lansdown said the "significant investment" would cost "a lot" of money.

"I think this will put Guernsey on a different level," he continued. "It will give the island a focal point to attract business, whether it's tourism in the form of going on holidays, or business-driven events like companies bringing their teams over for team building.

"They say with property it's 'location, location, location' and we've certainly got that with fantastic parkland behind us and the beach on the other side. We want to make the most of that. It's an ideal position because it's on the west coast, it's out of Town so it's not in the humdrum and it's a place where people can get away and really enjoy themselves."

La Grande Mare plans

Pictured: The main building will feature a 'great room', which can be used as a social space or sectioned off for events. 

"It will be aimed at all sorts of people - you shouldn't restrict yourself. Golfing holidays are the first thing that comes to mind because of the golf course, but the reality is that's just a part of it. We could do things like exhibitions for an international or local artist, for example. We could then market that on an international level and get people to come to Guernsey to come to this. I think we hide our light under the bushel here too much and that would certainly stop us from doing that."

The businessman is looking to employ local contractors to carry out the work and also plans to employ local staff once the facility is open. It's part of his vision for the resort:

  • To attract visitors to Guernsey 

  • To be a major benefit to the local economy

  • To contribute to the wellness of the population

  • To become an events, business and social centre

  • To become a major centre for the development of golf in Guernsey

  • To protect the environment, flora and fauna of the west coast

  • To make Guernsey proud

 La Grande Mare plans

Pictured: A 25m swimming pool will be available for members and visitors to use.

"We are part of the tourism industry and tourism needs a boost in Guernsey," Mr Lansdown said. "We have a great opportunity to do that through golf and general holidays. We also want to bring more business onto the island and generate more business-driven events.

"Golf is a key part of my life. I love playing golf and I'd like everybody in Gurnsey to benefit - whether you're five-years-old or 90-years-old, I'd like you to be down here playing golf and enjoying it. That's the idea behind the academy and the driving range, because it gives a unit where people can focus on learning more about the game of golf, improving their game of golf and just enjoying the area."

While the buildings are on track to be completed by 2023, the golf course will take slightly longer as it will close in phases. This will allow current members to continue using the course as the work takes place.

The entire resort is due to be completed by 2024.

Pictured top: An artist's illustration of what the main building at La Grande Mare will look like.

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