THE business running Havre des Pas Lido has been given three months to leave the site after being hit with a 380% rent increase by government landlords.
Negotiations over a new lease between Jersey Property Holdings and the BeServed Group have floundered, with the current operator learning from a States question that it would be necessary to take part in a tender process to run the Lido beyond October.
Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan has hit back, saying BeServed “rejected” proposals for a new lease and that the government was now trying to achieve an “orderly close” to the operations at the site.
The location includes the Havre des Pas bathing pool, which was named as one of the top 14 tidal pools in the British Isles by a national newspaper this week.
Marcus Calvani, of BeServed, which has operated the Lido business since 2015, said the venue had widespread support from residents in the area and organisations such as Jersey Business and Visit Jersey.
“The minister has said he sees the Lido as a liability, but to us it is an iconic asset which is used all the time for the benefit of the Island,” Mr Calvani said.
“The value it has brought via visitors from outside has been calculated by Visit Jersey at £15 million and we are committed to the building for the long-term, having already developed the business since taking it over.
“Of course it’s going to need investment, it’s a 200-year-old building in the middle of the sea that’s free to use, but there’s a much bigger picture.”
Mr Calvani, who is also co-chief executive of the Jersey Hospitality Association, said the government had failed to fulfil its commitments to the Lido as outlined in a 2022 proposition brought by St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft.
He added that the most recent figure proposed for rent was 380% above what they had paid previously, and that a three-month notice period had been imposed last Friday.
In a statement, Mr Jehan described the Lido as “a unique and valuable part of the Island’s heritage that must be preserved and enjoyed by as many people as possible”, adding that this was why the government had spent more than £300,000 on the property in the past three years.
He added that the government intended to spend a further £500,000 or so over the coming 12 months.
“Jersey Property Holdings has a duty to make sure facilities in public ownership are safe to use and generate an income for the public.
“Notice was given to the then tenant of the Havre des Pas Lido in February 2021 of JPH’s [Jersey Property Holdings] intention to break the lease over unpaid rent.
Since then, there have been a number of unsuccessful attempts to agree the terms of a new lease, particularly in terms of the rent to be paid.
“On 2 July, the operator rejected JPH’s proposals for a new lease and made a counter-offer that was considerably less than the independently assessed proposed value.
“JPH has offered a final three-month notice period despite the fact no lease is currently held to enable the operator to fulfil bookings for this year rather than impact innocent third parties, and bring the operation to an orderly close.”
The rent increase was described as “outrageous and not commercially viable” by Deputy David Warr during the most recent sitting of the States Assembly.
“Such cynical and unethical behaviour is something, I believe, you would only find in a school playground or a soap opera,” he said. “Sadly, the reality is this has real-world consequences for people’s livelihoods and their health.”
Responding to Deputy Warr, Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham said he “had confidence in the current team at Infrastructure to bring about the right solution for the Lido”.
