Lido Operators Ordered to Court After Eviction Notice Served

The operators of the Havre des Pas Lido have been summoned to court after being served with an eviction notice shortly before Christmas, as uncertainty continues over the future management of the site.

The Lido has been the focus of a protracted dispute following controversy surrounding the government’s tender process to appoint a new operator. That process was restarted last month after an independent review identified shortcomings in the original procedure.

Marcus Calvani, co-owner of the BeServed Group, which has run the venue for around ten years, said he was “extremely disappointed” to be required to attend court on Wednesday in connection with a request for formal eviction.

Last month, Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan told the States Assembly that the government intended to regain vacant possession of the site by 25 December. He said this was necessary to allow the revised tender process to be completed and a new lease awarded.

However, Mr Calvani said he had received conflicting information from Jersey Property Holdings (JPH), the States-owned landlord, particularly regarding the handover of the premises. He said he had left some fittings in place while the dispute remained unresolved.

According to Mr Calvani, the items were temporary fixtures that would ordinarily be removed before vacating, but he said both potential new operators had expressed interest in retaining them. He claimed JPH was aware of his intention to sell the furnishings and of his desire to leave the site.

The government is understood to interpret the licence differently and expects the premises to be returned immediately and completely empty.

Mr Calvani, who has previously described his time operating the Lido as “nine years of hell”, said he had hoped to draw a line under the matter before the end of last year.

“I really believed that December would mark the end of this chapter for us,” he said, adding that he had no wish to remain at the venue any longer.

The wider dispute centres on the government’s decision to award the contract to operate the Lido to commercial operator First Point. The contract covers management of the pools, access steps, sundeck, café and associated facilities.

Community group Love Our Lido had initially been named preferred bidder, but this status was withdrawn after negotiations with the government broke down. That decision sparked protests in the Royal Square and led Deputy David Warr to lodge a States proposition calling for the tender process to be halted.

If approved, the proposition would require ministers to offer Love Our Lido a lease and commit £170,000 a year towards maintaining the site. The proposal is due to be debated later this month, although its future may depend on the outcome of the restarted tender process, which is expected to conclude by the end of January.