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A live music venue? Sea-themed bar and restaurant? A...drive through McDonald's? Debate over the future of the La Folie site has been reignited by the launch of a market consultation by Ports of Jersey.
It recently emerged that the pub, which has been closed since 2004, and the surrounding area – much of which has fallen into disrepair over the years – could be transformed into visitor accommodation or a hospitality venue.
The new 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.
In October, Richard Bitot, who spent his childhood years at La Folie Inn, had the opportunity to revisit the site.
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.
Pictured: Richard Bitot, who spent his childhood years at La Folie Inn, suggested that any potential renovation of the pub should maintain “a nautical theme”.
Ports has said that all of 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".
It is not the first time that the dilapidated La Folie site has been earmarked for development.
In 2017, it emerged that the area could be transformed into a hospitality venue with an “upmarket” restaurant, bar and self-catered holiday lets.
Hundreds of people took so social media to share their thoughts, with one islander joking that the site would be ripe for a "drive-through McDonalds".
Another suggested: "It would make a fabulous fish restaurant with a sea-themed pub attached."
Others also appeared to back the restaurant-pub scenario, with one islander stressing the site should be targeted at the "fishing, boating, local and visiting community".
Pictured: La Folie Inn, which closed in 2004, and much of the surrounding area has fallen into disrepair.
Some islanders suggested the site had potential for "a thriving live music venue", an opinion that also seemed to draw interest on social media.
Ports of Jersey has been the long-term leaseholder of the land and buildings on the site for nearly a decade.
Interested businesses with ideas for its potential development should contact Christie & Co via email at lafoliesitejersey@christie.com.
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