March 16, 2015 · Team HG
The doors of the brand-new Paviljoen Van de Dame on Lake Paterswold, set in sleek, modern architecture, are scheduled to open early next year.
The location where Bert Westerhof and his partner Imogen Wills are going to make an investment of 3.5 to 4 million euros is more than familiar to tens of thousands of Northerners. It is situated behind the Familiehotel Paterswolde, where popular waterside hospitality pavilions were formerly located successively under the names Meerval and Vergulde Anker.
“Last year, we were approached by the owner of the land and the old buildings to consider the operation. He already had a brochure ready for us in which Tim Vermeend of Urban Climate Architects, together with concept agency BIUM, had given shape to the owner's wishes,” says Imogen Wills.
It took a few more months to make the building, which looks exceptionally modern with its large glass facades and sleek lines, logistically suitable for a hospitality business. "We are now at the point where we can announce our plans and the name, Paviljoen Van de Dame. We hope to open in February next year and welcome the first guests," adds Westerhof.
For Westerhof, his big dream is coming true. Three times before, this hospitality entrepreneur, who owns four businesses in the city center, tried to secure a spot on Lake Paterswold. "We are going to build a pavilion where everything should be possible. Lunch, dinner, meetings, weddings, and receptions. On the upper floor of the pavilion, there will be function rooms and a rooftop terrace with a beautiful view," the entrepreneur reveals.
The pavilion will have a surface area of 1,200 square meters and will be positioned lengthwise along the waterfront. "Inside, there will be room for 200 dinner and lunch guests, and the terrace can accommodate another 200 to 300 guests. Above all, we want to offer our guests enjoyment," says Wills.
Until recently, he worked as an operating room assistant at the Martini Hospital, but he can no longer combine the preparations for the opening of the pavilion with this responsible work. "What we primarily want to achieve with the ultramodern pavilion is to give the hospitality industry in Groningen a new boost. Location and ambiance are always important for success." Bert Westerhof and Imogen manage the hospitality businesses in the city center of Groningen. The Black Sheep, Club Kokomo, Club Ocean 41 and The Sexton's House.
Source: DVHN.nl
