‘Mr Pikes’: Life Of Tony Pike, The “Hugh Hefner Of Ibiza”, Set For Feature Adaption From ‘Trainspotting’ Scribe Irvine Welsh

EXCLUSIVE: Scottish author Irvine Welsh, best known for writing the original 1993 Trainspotting novel, has teamed with screenwriter Dean Cavanagh to write a biopic based on the life of notorious Ibiza hotelier Tony Pike.

Pike, who died of Cancer in 2019, earned notoriety in the early 1980s after establishing the Pikes Hotel in Ibiza. The hotel, which occupied a former rural farmhouse, quickly became a hedonistic haven for celebrities and musicians. Frequent visitors included Freddie Mercury, Princess Margaret, and George Michael, who shot the music video for Wham!’s “Club Tropicana” at the hotel. Pike also has a cameo in the video. Pike’s appetite for the party life once famously led Boy George to dub him the “Hugh Hefner of Ibiza”, which the hotelier often tried to play down.

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“There’s a big difference between Hugh Hefner and me in that he has used women to make money,” Pike told local outlet Ibiza Spotlight in 2017. “I have always loved and respected women, and treated them really well and never done anything wrong to them.”

The producers told us the film will delve into Pike’s journey on the island, his unapologetic hedonism, and the indelible mark he left on the world of music and nightlife.

“Tony Pike was larger than life,” Welsh said. “His story isn’t just about building one of the most iconic hotels in the world—it’s about the hedonism, heartbreak, and unrelenting passion that defined an entire era. Dean and I have poured everything into making this screenplay a fitting tribute to the man and the legend.”

Ian Jefferies (Choose Irvine Welsh), Bill Chamberlain (Tell Me I Love You), and Zach Rothwell (The Angel of Auschwitz) will serve as producers. Casting is ongoing and a director has yet to be set. The project is currently in pre-production.

Rothwell added: “Mr Pikes will epitomize the raw, unfiltered glamour of Ibiza, that made the island, so legendary. We’re assembling a team of world-class talent to ensure we honor Tony’s legacy while delivering an unforgettable cinematic experience.”

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