As the legendary O Beach Ibiza celebrates its 10th Anniversary, NATIV checks in with Wayne and Duane Lineker, the father and son team who help make dreams come true for thousands every summer…
“My summer holidays were certainly different to those of other kids I knew. Mine consisted of sitting at the end of my dad’s bar every night watching people getting pissed, it was quite the education.”
Meet Duane Lineker, son of Wayne, and one of the three owners of O Beach, one of the most famous day clubs on the planet. There he, his dad and co-owner Tony Truman bring you the greatest show on earth every single day. “We call it the millionaires’ day out,” smiles dad Wayne as we sit by the club’s famous pool. “Everything you could wish for is here at O Beach; from gracious service to great food, music and entertainment – it’s totally unique to Ibiza.”
Life, though, could have been oh-so-different for Duane. Today the Lineker and Truman empire has over 20 businesses here and in Dubai, including hotels, restaurants, bars and security companies, with plans for an O Beach luxury hotel chain just around the corner. But once upon a time Duane was concentrating more on bunkers and backspins than the tourism business as he pursued a career as a professional golfer in the US. “My game was down to scratch but deep down I knew I was probably never going to improve that extra one per cent, so I left my dream of playing the PGA Tour behind and joined the family firm.”
As father-and-son relationships go, it’s fair to say Duane and Wayne have something of a role reversal vibe going on. And neither are afraid to admit it.
“I like to think I have calmed down a little over the years,” laughs Wayne, the self-confessed party lover of the team. “But yes, there have been some interesting situations I have got myself into where Duane has had to take me into the office to give me a bollocking. I couldn’t be prouder of him, though: he has a strong, intelligent head on his shoulders and it is an absolute privilege to work alongside him.”
After watching him work his apprenticeship at the family’s Lineker bars in Ayia Napa, Fuengirola and Tenerife, by 2008 Wayne had seen enough of his son’s ability to offer him a share in the Ibiza bar that Duane immediately grasped and he has never looked back.
This year has seen two new openings for the team: a brand new Skinny Kitchen, and Chi Kee Wun – perhaps the finest Chinese fusion restaurant on the island – in San Antonio. They have come a long way since the morning Tony Truman stumbled on what was then a disused car park in San Antonio. “We immediately saw not only the potential, but also a massive gap in the market. Day clubs had started to take off in Miami and Vegas, but there was nothing here that offered the boutique service we had in mind,” says Duane.
And while we are used to seeing O Beach splashed in the newspapers when famous footballers and celebrities drop by, the team are proud of the fact that everyone is treated like a superstar when they walk through the door. “Celebrities know they have complete anonymity here and can blend in with the crowd,” says Wayne. “Everyone is treated the same here and the interaction between the beds is amazing to see. We see groups of four walking in that become 40 when they leave. It’s a place where lifelong friendships begin.”
