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Get close to Anguilla’s musical royalty

05 Mar 2017

Backed by palm trees on a white-sand beach, just metres from the crystal turquoise waters of the Caribbean, you will find the wondrously ramshackle Dune Preserve.

A beach bar-slash-music-club, cobbled together with driftwood, sailboats, fishing skiffs and coconut trees. Founded by Anguilla’s legendary folk son, Bankie Banx, this laid-back venue on Rendezvous Bay is the perfect place to kick back and enjoy a meal as the ocean laps at the shore. Or why not pop in and try their signature drink ‘Duneshine’, a liquor made from fermented ginger?

Turquoise waters and white sand beach overlooking Rendezvous Bay near Bankie Banx's Dune Preserve in Anguilla.

Just about every night of the week you can enjoy live music from local acts, sometimes even from the king of Anguilla’s music scene Bankie Banx himself. The beach bar has also played permanent host to the annual Moonsplash festival since 1995, held during the full moon in either late February or early March. The Caribbean’s best music festival is connected to the cultural core of Anguilla, and woven into the national identity so tightly it’s nearly impossible to separate one from the other.

RELATED ⟶ WHAT ANGUILLA’S MOONSPLASH FESTIVAL IS REALLY LIKE

Colourful entrance to Bankie Banx's Dune Preserve music venue in Anguilla decorated with surfboards and Caribbean artwork.

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