I drove past the Marina Beach front where the Sunborn Yacht Hotel is moored in Lagos and I just couldn't believe it was the same hotel that only a few years ago was decribed as 'The Pride of London and Great Britain'. Instead it laid there like the 'waste of Lagos' with broken windows, rusty shells, unused and derelict..I did a double take like my eyes were playing tricks on me and then took some pictures on my phone. Looking at the pictures, I can't help but feel sad..what a waste..! I remember back in England how the Sunborn Yacht Hotel was a choice venue, for weddings, birthdays and exclusive events and even more personal, I remember spending a whole day there with some of my models and photographer on a fashion shoot for a whole day in what was a truly breath-taking location..I touched and experienced every nook and cranny of the Yacht and I can tell you..It was truly ostentatious, opulent, beautiful, elegant and world-class..  |
This picture was one of the shots we took on location at the Sunborn Yatch Hotel when it was still in London. (I styled the shoot, hair, accessories the lot...It was lots of fun! The corset dress was designed by Adebayo Jones Couture). The theme of the shoot was 'Opulence' and the Sunborn Yacht was the perfect location. Beautiful on the inside and outside...Absolutely breathtaking...you need to see the rest of the images from the photoshoot..which I would happily release if it could save the yacht..but I doubt it very much.. |
The Sunborn Yacht Hotel London was the world’s first custom built Yacht Hotel offering business travellers and holidaymakers a truly unique accommodation experience. It was originally set within a breathtaking waterfront environment in the historic Royal Docks and adjacent to the ExCeL centre (West entrance). According to reports, A Consortium, including the Lagos state government paid £20 million for the 5,800-tonne vessel whichwas towed away on 6 August 2008 for its new home in Nigeria. |
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When the Sunborn Yacht Hotel arrived in Lagos in November 2008, an official described the yacht hotel as "a delightful addition to the Lagos skyline as it would add value by being one of the very few floating hotels in the world thereby putting Lagos in the league of cities like New York, Barcelona, Paris and Finland just as it has already put the state ahead of cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, which are said to be at various stages of setting up similar floating hotels..." |
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Yet to date, the Yacht lies derelict, unused and in ruins...In my opinion, the Sunborn Yacht hotel has been robbed of its rightful position as a pride hotel of the world..I have personally seen, touched and experienced the Sunborn Yacht hotel and I know that no matter what the issues are around it, finances,corruption, mismanagement etc, the Sunborn Yacht Hotel does not deserve to rot away before the very eyes of the world in this manner ..Nigeria..My Nigeria.. Wake up Nigeria from your slumber and rescue this dying beauty at our doorstep... PLEASE! PRETTY PLEASE? |
