NO. 44 was a profitable business that should never have been closed, claims its shocked manager. The Indian restaurant, along with the Vazon Bay Hotel, closed suddenly last week when owner Alan Jackson told staff he was in too much debt to continue trading.
Jude Thomas, manager at No. 44, Le Pollet, St Peter Port, for more than three years, said staff could not believe Mr Jackson was closing the business without warning.
‘There was plenty of profit coming from this restaurant, so it came as a big shock to us all when Mr Jackson said he had no more money,’ he said.
‘When I asked him where all those profits had gone, he didn’t have an answer.
‘We are very angry and upset because everyone has now lost their job and not been paid. We don’t know what we can do now. We have to leave our staff accommodation in a few days.
‘We have two options - either we look for other jobs or the worst case scenario is that we will have to return to India, although that would be very difficult because none of us has the money to get there.’
The establishment was very popular and last year won an award for being the island’s best ethnic restaurant.
But Mr Thomas claimed the success of the restaurant had nothing to do with its owner.
‘Mr Jackson would very rarely come and see us and it has been very difficult to get in touch with him,’ he said.
‘We managed to do well without him and in August had our best ever month. That’s why we can’t believe such a successful business has had to be shut.’
A new chef had just arrived from India on the day Mr Jackson closed the restaurant and Mr Thomas said he was shattered by the news.
‘He comes from an established five-star hotel in Mumbai and we managed to persuade him to come here,’ he said.
Mr Thomas added that Mr Jackson had handled the situation appallingly. ‘It was nothing like it was when Mr Gover owned the businesses. He always paid the suppliers and looked after the staff.’
Tony Gover, who sold the businesses to Mr Jackson in March, said he was saddened by news of the closures. ‘It has not come as a big surprise, but it’s awful for the staff,’ he said.
‘Jude was with me for three years and what has happened there is very hurtful for all of them. These sorts of thing are terrible anyway but at this time of year it’s worse.
‘No. 44 was a very good business and they are wonderful people. It’s an absolute nightmare for them.’
Mr Gover said the Vazon Bay Hotel had had a quiet winter before he sold the businesses, but he insisted they were all sound.
‘I had those businesses for 10-and-a-half years,’ he said.
‘When Alan Jackson bought them he had the summer to come and the Vazon Bay has always been packed during the summer. They were all quite substantial businesses.’
He also criticised Mr Jackson’s handling of the closures.
‘He should have kept the staff more informed and should definitely have made sure he paid their wages,’ he said.
Commerce and Employment minister Stuart Falla said the news had not come as a big surprise to him.
‘I’m disappointed that anyone has been found to be trading poorly, but I think a lot of people in the industry knew that this type of thing was going to happen,’ he said.
‘I would hope that someone else would take on the businesses and trade successfully.’
Mr Thomas said he would stay on for a few days to see if any potential new owners come forward.
If anyone is interested in the business, Mr Thomas has asked that they contact him on 07781 438436.
Persistent attempts to contact Mr Jackson about the closures have been unsuccessful. His mobile is also switched off and he remains unavailable for comment.
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