ONE of the Island's most prestigious hotels is set to be taken over on a three-year lease next month.
The deal has yet to be signed, but if it goes ahead, the £4 million George Hotel, Yarmouth, will be taken over by entrepreneur Howard Spooner, a friend of royalty including Prince Harry and Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice.
The 17-bedroom hotel has been owned by Dame Dianne Thompson for nearly five years and she has spent £1.5million transforming the bedrooms, garden and introducing Isla's Restaurant.
Mr Spooner confirmed: "I have signed a binding heads agreement and hope to take over on January 21, if not before, and there is also an option to buy the freehold.
"It's a 'try before you buy' arrangement and Dame Dianne wants to work with me on this. She doesn't want to sell it to someone who sees the hotel as a trophy.
"She has taken the hotel in a fantastic direction and I want to keep pushing it in that direction.
"I don't need to do any building work to it, but I have lots of plans and we will be closed for a short time next month to do some redecorating."
Mr Spooner was a partner with Guy Pelly, a childhood friend of Princes William and Harry, and had nightclubs in Chelsea, Fulham, Clapham and Hammersmith.
He also had a club in Verbier, a popular ski resort in Switzerland when the royals visited.
He currently owns The Grand, Clapham, which he describes as a 'palace of varieties', offering different forms of entertainment such as themed film screenings; an irreverent take on bingo, world-class comedians, musicians and DJs.
Mr Spooner added: "I first started visiting the Island about ten years ago when I got into sailing and a friend of mine told me to visit Yarmouth. It was there I discovered a gem, The George, and fell in love with it."
The hotel's 31 staff have been notified of the plans.
Dame Dianne said: "Like the watch brand Patek Phillippe says: 'You never own it, you look after it for the next generation'. That is what I have genuinely done and tried to pull her back to her former glory."
House Rules
We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate.
Last Updated:
Report this comment Cancel