Von Essen to bid for Herm island?

UK-based luxury hotel operator Von Essen is understood to have made an offer for the Herm island in the English Channel.

The mile-and-a-half long and half-a-mile wide island is located three miles from the Guernsey coast and is being marketed by agents Knight Frank and Martel Maides.

Its 40-year lease is currently available to buy for £15m (18.8m euro, US$30m).

It is understood that Von Essen is looking to establish the island as a luxury resort by upgrading the hotel and building a health spa on the site.

The island boasts a 40-room country house hotel, called The White House, which is famous for not having any televisions, clocks or telephones. Other guest accommodation includes more than 20 self-catering cottages, an 80-pitch campsite and eco-friendly log cabins.

Cars are also banned from the island, which has 50 residents and is located 70 miles from the south coast of England.

It has also recently been reported that Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal is in talks over the possibility of taking a 40 per cent stake in Von Essen. Details: herm-island.com