THE HOTEL RE-Opens on Ambergris Caye, Belize

“The Hotel” was built as a high-end resort and has been in the works for about five years.  It is located just over the bridge on a very pretty lagoon side piece of property and has stunning ocean and lagoon/sunset views.  Two years ago, it was almost complete.  Molly Malone’s, an Irish bar (the owner is an American Irishman) opened.  A New York style deli and wine bar were announced.  My heart soared.  NY STYLE DELI?

I visited for St. Patrick’s Day 2012 and toured the whole place.  Impressive.  Roof top pool and lounge area, putting green over the water, gym and spa to come.  Wow…

And then rumors started flying…issues with neighboring bars, personal issues, who knows..I’m not sure at ALL what was going on.   And after about 6 weeks.  The businesses, all that had clearly cost PLENTY of money, were boarded up and the place closed.

No FOR SALE signs, nothing.  Just closed.

So many were surprised when there was a re-opening sign last weekend.  Just the bar, Molly Malone’s…but this was a good sign of things to come.  Very sad to have this pretty pretty spot just rotting away.

I was out-scooped by two Northern bloggers on the opening.  (And by Northerners, I mean North of the bridge on Ambergris Caye.)  Both John, in his blog about building his home in Belize next to THE HOTEL (see here) and Bob in his blog, Bound for Belize, about his very recent relocation to the island.  He put on pants for the opening!

They have the background information on the re-opening.  New managers of the place have relocated from Namibia and have a plan.

Yesterday, I stopped by with friends for lunch.  I got very little scoop…only that the place still looks beautiful (but need some serious clean up and finishing) and that the original owner is going to finish the construction and the hotel rooms.

Here is what I saw.  (And my pictures are taken with an IPhone 4s…my lost camera seems to be SUPER SADLY permanently lost.  I am not getting over this one easily.)

The lobby.  Tres chic.  Though I’m not quite sure about the Marilyn Monroe and James Dean pictures.  But who am I?

 

And just behind the sitting area, the old deli.  Not sure what the plan is there…

Outside Molly Malone’s.

And inside…very New York Irish bar.

 

We ordered.  Bar food for sure.

And decided to head up to the roof top to check out the beautiful pool and decking I remember.   We passed a display of PIcasso Spirits (the island maker of the deadly Green Fairy and Red Devil Wormwood Absinthes distilled on the island).

3 stories up…

Gorgeous.

The deck is faded and crumbling in parts…the pool is beautiful but filled with rain water.  The potential for greatness is there!

 

The view over the lagoon.  See the putting island with the bridge and then the island for your hole in one?

This bar can seat so many people.  Seating in the front, all of this seating in the back…

 

 

Oh yes…and the gorgeous bar bathroom sinks.  I musn’t forget that.

The food arrived and…well…I won’t whine about camera problems again.  But the pictures are not good.  So…here is how I leave it.  This place has potential galore but there is PLENTY of work that needs to be done to get it up and running.  6 months?  A year?  Maybe more…

If you are looking for a different type of bar, this is a nice one.  Different for sure from the usual beach bars…

I’ll try to keep you updated…