Businessman Marlon Laws is planning to give residents and tourists alike the liveliest beach parties in Bermuda.

Mr. Laws is opening Gombeys at Clearwater Beach to cater for what he believes is an unmet need for beachside entertainment.

A 32-year veteran in the hotel industry, he said the Island was crying out for a beachside venue with games and live entertainment as well as watersports, food and drink.

And Gombeys will have a distinctive Bermudian flavour with an all-local staff serving dishes such as shark hash, conch stew, macaroni cheese and peas and rice.

The Gombeys, of course, will provide entertainment, and Mr. Laws is hoping to have jazz and comedy nights as well.

?I?ve been in the hotel business for 32 years and I know the market is there for this because people want something happening at the beach,? Mr. Laws told .

?At most beaches you can rent an umbrella and a chair and lie on the beach, but if you are younger, or even older folk, you can find it boring.

?We?ll be having line dancing, the electric slide, limbo dancing and beach games with prizes.?

The business will hire out snorkelling and water sport gear. He is hoping to put on free tea and crumpets twice a month for seniors to get them out of the nursing homes, and on Saturday mornings he plans to hold a fun quiz show on Bermuda for teenagers.

Mr. Laws, who took over the concession for Clearwater Beach at Southside on May 1, is seeking final planning to build a large oval bar on the site of the skating rink, and wants to open on May 21.

Bermuda Land Development Company has awarded him a five year contract for the site at the edge of the former American military base with the option to renew for five more years.

The whole site, which includes large grassy areas next to the beach, will be able to seat 400 people and he said he already has bookings for large parties.

?I?m looking for a more mature crowd and I want to stay away from the thugs,? continued Mr. Laws.

?I?m trying to put on a live show aimed at cruise ship passengers once or twice a week with reggae, comedy and the Gombeys together.

?The Corporation of St. George is coming to see us and if they think its a good show it could be sold on to the cruise passengers.

?Once we?re all fixed up, we will be going to every hotel, every guest house, every taxi driver, travel agent and airport worker to tell them about it.?

He intends eventually to build a moongate at the site allowing tourists to get their picture taken with St. David?s Lighthouse in the background.

And visitors will be able to pose for pictures, developed on site, in borrowed Gombeys? gear.

Another new feature for families will be pre-made picnics, to save people the hassle of preparing and packing for a day at the beach.

Gombeys represents a dream come true for Mr. Laws, a St. David?s resident who has been itching to take on the site.

??I live in St. David?s and I?ve been coming here for years and I?ve always thought I knew what I wanted to do with it,? he said.