Mangrove Opens at Biras Creek Marina; Premier
The Mangrove, a waterfront restaurant at the redeveloped Biras Creek Marina in North Sound, Virgin Gorda, officially opened on Friday, January 2, 2026, with Premier Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley in attendance. Government leaders praised the rebuild, which restores a historic social and tourism space and adds expanded docking for larger yachts, while early reviews celebrated the restaurant’s ambience, architecture and food.
The Mangrove at Biras Creek, a new waterside restaurant and bar, officially opened on Friday, January 2, 2026, as part of the phased return of Biras Creek Marina & Resort to full operation following years of repair after Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The launch was attended by Premier Dr. the Honourable Natalio D.
Wheatley and other government officials, and attracted positive early reviews for its ambience, architecture and cuisine. Biras Creek has long been a fixture of North Sound. Historical accounts noted by BVI News recall the waters once used by Sir Francis Drake in the 16th century and trace the property’s evolution through local enterprises until its closure after the 2017 hurricanes.
After extensive planning and restoration, the property began operating as Biras Marina & Resort in 2024 and reopened to guests, recording higher-than-expected visitor numbers on Old Year’s Night, according to BVI News. The resort’s return has been staged in phases. Earlier openings included Ikigai, a Japanese-Caribbean restaurant, and the recent launch of The Mangrove completes another phase of the waterfront offerings.
According to a post from the Premier’s Office cited by BVI News, The Mangrove opened “to rave reviews for its ambience, beautiful architecture and delicious food.” Addressing guests at the official ceremony, Premier Wheatley emphasised partnership and confidence in the territory’s tourism future. “We are all on the same page, and we are partners in that endeavour, to make the VI number one,” he said, as reported by VINO.
He also spoke about the marina’s upgraded capacity, noting the complex can now accommodate mega-yachts and that the added facilities will help draw more visitors to the Virgin Islands. The Premier praised the project’s environmental care, telling attendees he was impressed with the way owners preserved the site. “I’m impressed with the way that Patrick Guillermo and the family, you have preserved the environment,” he said, and expressed his belief the development will be celebrated for decades: “I have no doubt that we are going to be celebrating another 30 years of this development here at Biras Creek,” VINO reported.
Junior Minister for Financial Services Lorna Smith also attended and described the opening as a milestone for the territory, saying North Sound is “returning in all its glory.” BVI News reported that she congratulated the Houwer family for rebuilding “stronger and better” and noted a moment of silence held in memory of Mr Houwer during the ceremony.
Local benefits of the redevelopment are expected to include increased demand for marine services and provisioning, support for fishermen, farmers and other suppliers, and new jobs in hospitality and services for island residents. The expanded docking for luxury yachts is likely to boost marine traffic and spending in the wider Virgin Gorda community as the resort grows its offerings.
As the North Sound community continues its post-hurricane recovery, the opening of The Mangrove represents both a restoration of a historic social space and an investment in sustainable tourism that organisers and officials say balances visitor appeal with environmental stewardship (sources: VINO; BVI News).
Primary source: VINO