St Brelades Bay Hotel new owner David Whelan, chairman of Wigan Athletic. Picture: Rob Currie

THE landmark St Brelade’s Bay Hotel is to undergo a £10 million refurbishment to be funded by the multi-millionaire behind FA Premier League football cub Wigan, Dave Whelan.

The hotel redevelopment will include a DW Sports Fitness club, a brand with over 50 clubs in the UK. The clubs have over 250,000 members and the Jersey hotel will be marketed to them all when it is complete.

However, when the project is finished Islanders will be encouraged to join the club and use the hotel facilities, which will include an indoor heated pool.
News of the plan to completely rejuvenate the hotel was unveiled yesterday by Mr Whelan and his team, including local architectural practice BDK.

By the time the whole development is complete some time towards the end of 2011 or early 2012, it is expected that £20 million will have been ploughed in. Mr Whelan said that it was his intention to make the hotel one of the finest in Europe as it overlooks one of the finest beaches on the continent.