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Compass News
Royal Palms plans receives green light
The return of two of Cayman’s most well-known beach bars is now one step closer to reality.
Local businessman Handel Whittaker has received conditional approval to redevelop the former Royal Palms and Coral Beach sites — offering hope for the revival of these cherished beachfront destinations.
As part of the transformation, the Coral Beach property will be rebranded as Jacks on the Beach — a tribute to the much-loved Calico Jack’s, which once operated further down Seven Mile Beach.
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Cayman Compass
Green light for new beach bars on former Royal Palms and Coral Beach sites
Businessman Handel Whittaker has received the green light for his plans to renovate the former Royal Palms and Coral Beach sites on West Bay Road.
Whittaker, who used to own Calico Jack’s beach bar, originally submitted an application for the Royal Palms site last year, but later withdrew it in favour of the latest application, which, he told the planning board, was “more straightforward”.
Documents filed with the planning authority show that Whittaker plans to build a new, covered bar on the site, as well as a 2,176-square-foot open deck, a seawall, service hut and two bathroom blocks.
Royal Palms used to be one of the most popular spots on island but was forced to close in 2020 at the start of the COVID pandemic. Since then, the site has fallen into a state of disrepair due to the weather, and the buildings closest to the sea, such as the kitchen, bathroom and oceanside bar, have since been demolished.
