This Is Guernsey

By Tom Edwards

COMMERCE AND EMPLOYMENT minister Stuart Falla has welcomed the news that Sandpiper is selling St Pierre Park and La Trelade Hotel. Deputy Falla offered the department’s assistance in the sales, on condition that the premises remained hotels.

‘I hope the board at Sandpiper finds a safe pair of hands to take the hotels on because they are an important part of Guernsey’s tourism industry and, for that matter, for local people’s enjoyment,’ he said.

Deputy Falla added that he was not worried that staff would lose their jobs and gave assurances that the properties would continue to function as hotels.

‘It is very, very unlikely that they would be given permission to change the use of the premises. If anyone was contemplating doing that, they would not get any support from the department,’ he said.

‘Many hotel staff are on short-term housing licences anyway, but I know they have won customer service awards so I am sure any buyer would want to keep the existing teams on, so their futures should be secure.’

A specialist commercial estate agent has estimated the combined value of the two properties at more than £10m.

But Martel Maides director of commercial property Nick Renny said the expense of much-needed refurbishment at St Pierre Park would lower the price. ‘It’s difficult to say without knowing about profitability, but on a good day with the wind behind it La Trelade should be worth about £2.5m. to £3m.,’ he said.

‘St Pierre Park is a little more tricky because the property needs extensive refurbishment and any price must reflect that.

‘On the face of it, with the golf course and everything, we have to be talking about £8m.

‘However, to redo the rooms would cost nearly £1m. alone and there are also the communal areas to consider on top of that.

‘Rumour has it that it needs between £1m. and £2m. spending on it, so we might be talking something more like £6m. But I am sure Sandpiper won’t want to sell it for that.’