Following years of discussion and speculation, the ambitious plans for Fort Regent have been revealed.
The new multi-use venue will be developed over a period of ten years and will feature the following:
- botanical gardens: ornamental planting, lawns, specimen trees, cafe/restaurants, formal ‘hidden’ gardens and pavilion
- bastion and rampart loop: ornamental painting, heritage trail, rampart loop walk, cafe and concession(s), woodland planting, play, pedestrian route connecting South Hill with Hill Street
moat play: small play structures, sand and water play, picnic area for younger children and families - active zone: outdoor adventure play, high ropes, large structures, netting and climbing
- The Venue: multipurpose events venue for entertainment, conferences and exhibitions. 2,000 seated (3,200 standing) main auditorium, with surrounding breakout facilities, hospitality and meeting areas and a sky bar and cocktail lounge overlooking the winter gardens
- walkways in the sky: graded walkways winding through a nature landscape, shrubs, large trees, high canopies and water jets, water walls and water misters. A place to get lost in nature, read a book or splash in the water area. Accessible to all. Travel 20 metres high up into and over the tree canopy and walk among the treetops
- leisure zone: boutique ten pin bowling
- multi-screen cinema
- flexible leisure box for a range of activities including soft play, trampolines and laser quest
- casino: a high quality small to medium casino to include state of the art table and machine gaming and a full-service restaurant, bar and waitress service
- hotel: 150 bedroom independent hotel with restaurant, leisure and spa and small meeting room spaces
- food and beverage: a range of food and beverage outlets across the site including a food area in the main plaza
The plan sets out a phased approach, consisting of an Early Phase, which is expected to take up to three years, and Longer-Term Phase, which is expected to take up to ten years to develop.
The Early Phase will involve stripping out the asbestos and redundant structures, improving access to the venue and creating a new internal flexible space, offering a large venue area to be used for concerts, events, shows, exhibitions and more. Plus, outdoor plans include; reinstating the garden area and heritage walkways and building a children’s activity play in the moats and ramparts, all providing more much needed open space within St Helier.
The later phase will focus on creating the winter gardens, a multipurpose venue, an indoor ‘leisure box’ with modern play area, food and drink venues, other entertainment attractions and a hotel.
