Tagged: anguilla, beach bar, caribbean, ivan's stress free bar, jost van dyke, perranporth, the watering hole, uk
One of the few drawbacks to owning a beach bar is its location on the beach. While it’s also one of the advantages, when Mother Nature decides to act up, the beach, and subsequently anything located on it, can pay the price. That is what happened to three of the most well known beach bars this year.
Ivan’s Stress Free Bar Rebuilds
At Ivan’s Stress Free Bar on Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands, it wasn’t one storm that caused the damage but rather years of beach erosion that finally resulted in the iconic beach bar being completely razed and rebuilt. On August 6th, they posted the following on their Facebook page:
“I KNOW THAT MOST OF YOU ARE CONCERNED AS TO WHAT HAPPEN TO THE BAR.
THE BAR WAS TAKEN DOWN BY US. DUE TO A 9 DAY RAIN STORM THAT OCCOURED ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO THE FOUNDATION WAS BADLY DAMAGED. JUST LIKE ALL OF OUR FANS .. WE DIDNT WANT TO SEE OUR BAR GO SO WE STUCK IT OUT FOR 10 MORE YEARS. UNFORTUNATELY THE BUILDING WAS SINKING MORE AND MORE WITH EACH YEAR, SO IN ORDER TO PROTECT YOU OUR PATRONS , WE HAD TO MAKE ONE OF THE HARDEST DECISIONS AND THAT WAS TO REBUILD THE BAR. NO WE ARE NOT DOING THIS TO BECOME MORE COMMERCIALIZED ..WE ARE DOING THIS FOR EVERYONE’S SAFETY. MOST OF THE SHELLS AND PUCTURES WERE SAVED TO BE PUT BACK ON THE WALLS.. WE INVITE YOU ALL TO HELP US TO ADD NEW MEMORIES TO THE NEW STRUCTURE.”
With a brand new foundation, building and second deck, Ivan’s reopened for business on December 15th. And don’t worry – the shells that adorned the walls and gave Ivan’s that special touch are slowly but surely being added to the new walls.
Beach at the Watering Hole Disappears
Brigid, a storm described as “apocalyptic,” exacted a toll on the Cornish coast in the United Kingdom and the Watering Hole, located in Perranporth, almost paid the ultimate price. Brigid nearly wiped away this popular British beach bar, coming literally within feet of washing it out to sea with the rest of the beach. Luckily, the storm subsided before the waters could do more damage and the Watering Hole survived with new artificial barriers installed and the beach completely replaced. You can read more about the storm and view images of the beach damage in my article here.
Gwen’s Forced to Relocate Again
No stranger to relocation, Gwen’s Reggae Grill in Anguilla had to relocate yet again after Hurricane Gonzalo passed through the Caribbean in October. Already teetering on the edge of falling into the ocean, Gwen’s was finally relocated to a new spot on Shoal Bay East, just left of Tropical Sunset and down the beach from Zemi Beach. She’s already back open for business, with a new road, valet parking and the Scratch Band making everyone dance just like they always have. For the latest updates, you can view Gwen Webster’s (the owner) personal Facebook page here.
Shoal Bay East, Anguilla. Photo courtesy of www.zemibeach.com
