Miami's legendary Surf Club is expanding beyond its original Surfside location for the first time with a new outpost on Norman's Cay in the Exumas, Bahamas. Olivia Palamountain reports

The exclusive Surf Club in Miami, which has hosted luminaries since opening on New Year's Eve 1930, is set to bring its tradition of exceptional hospitality to Norman's Cay, a small Bahamian island that stretches just a few hundred acres at the northern end of the Exuma chain.

Norman's Cay carries a colourful history that belies its modest size, having previously housed pirates, drug lords, filmmakers, explorers, writers, fishermen, and marine biologists. The island's dramatic past adds an intriguing dimension to The Surf Club's expansion strategy.

"Our commitment to The Surf Club's legacy has inspired us to carry this vision into a few extraordinary settings," says Nadim Ashi, founder of Fort Partners, the development company behind the project.

The original Surf Club welcomed notable figures including Winston Churchill, who famously sought "sun, solitude, serenity, and something to eat, perhaps something to drink" during his visits.

The Surf Club at Norman's Cay will feature villas, bungalows and cabanas, along with gathering spaces including a yacht club and beach club. The development includes new marina and airport infrastructure to connect the remote island to the world.

Fort Partners has emphasised its commitment to respecting and honouring Norman's Cay's unspoiled nature and complex history throughout the development process.

The project represents a significant expansion of ultra-luxury hospitality into one of the Caribbean's more remote and historically significant locations.