Margaret Whittaker: What Her Legacy Means for Son Amar and the Island

Margaret Whittaker: What Her Legacy Means for Son Amar and the Island

Key question: Who owns the cultural heritage when a private operator’s fortune determines the future of a local institution?

Earlier this year a well-known figure from Mallorca’s nightlife and events scene disappeared from public view: Margaret Whittaker, operator of the long-established event venue Son Amar, died after a battle with cancer. Shortly afterwards the venue closed, but the heirs did not let it fall into a Sleeping Beauty slumber — instead, individual events, weddings and corporate functions are once again taking place there. This development is accompanied by a number: her personal fortune is estimated in British reports at around £43 million (roughly €49.2 million). The value of her properties in Mallorca is said not to be included in that sum.

These are hard facts that raise questions. The first: how transparent is the handling of an estate that affects not only bank balances but also jobs, contracts with local suppliers and a highly visible cultural landmark? On the narrow road to Bunyola, where the Son Amar entrance sign stands, you can see delivery vans, trash containers and the usual workmen on a gray morning, working in places where spotlights once hummed. At the bar of the nearby village café, regulars sit and debate: some welcome the cautious reopening, others ask whether the original spirit is being lost.

Critical analysis: the current debate mainly reconstructs two narratives. One celebrates entrepreneurial success — Whittaker was co-founder of a well-known weight-loss programme and initiator of a charity, both parts of her biography. The second thread deals with asset values and the transfer of rights: who decides on future uses, how are employee contracts treated, and to what extent are local authorities involved in the conversion of a culturally significant event venue?

What has been missing so far in the public discussion is concrete: first, a comprehensible account of what share of the fortune the Mallorcan properties represent and whether these assets can be managed or sold separately. Second, a clear statement about the heirs’ intentions for Son Amar — permanent event centre, partial leasing, property development? Third, there is little discussion about how employees, freelancers and suppliers can be protected during transition phases.

A snapshot of everyday life: on a Saturday afternoon, when the sun lies low over the Tramuntana hills, a few workmen park in front of the gate, a bridal couple is photographed on the driveway, and a small van delivers tables. The scene shows that Son Amar is not just a stage set but a network of workplaces — caterers, florists, sound technicians, drivers — which economically depends on reliability.

Concrete solutions can be formulated without falling into legal speculation: 1) More transparency: the heirs or the managing entity should publicly explain whether and how property values are included in the estate plan. A simple information page with frequently asked questions would be a first step. 2) Protection of employment relationships: transitional agreements with existing service providers and employees, ideally moderated by a neutral mediation body in the Balearics, would prevent ruptures. 3) Monument and cultural asset review: local authorities could examine whether parts of the estate should be granted special protection to secure cultural use long-term. 4) Involvement of the community: a roundtable of residents, employees, heirs and the town hall could prioritise usage plans and calendars before long-term contractual decisions are made.

Such proposals are practicable: a publicly accessible overview of ownership structures and intended uses costs little and builds trust. Transitional agreements could secure simple minimum standards: payment of outstanding fees, offers of continued employment for newly contracted events and clear notice periods. A local inventory of the historical value of the estate would create a legal foundation should protection status be considered.

Pointed conclusion: the money — the £43 million — makes headlines. For the people around Son Amar, other things matter: reliable jobs, respect for a venue that has linked culture and tourism for years, and clear rules so that not only property but also community is not lost. Those who take Mallorca’s cultural heritage seriously should not only note the numbers but demand steps that create transparency and protect local interests.

On the road to Bunyola, when the last lights go out and only the murmur of a satisfied wedding party can be heard, it becomes clear that Son Amar is not just about property values. It is about places where people work, celebrate and make memories. That is precisely what needs answers now — and they must be comprehensible.