Pub chain ‘steaks’ claim to Wildfire as owners head to Oz

Monday 18 July 2022

A popular restaurant and cocktail bar in St. Helier is being taken over by a local pub chain after the owner of more than 25 years announced plans to start a new chapter ‘down under’.

Steve Besant launched the All Sports (Sports Bar) at the venue in Mulcaster Street in 1996, and a decade later embarked on a major refurbishment to establish the steak restaurant and cocktail bar, Wildfire.

Now, after two and half decades, Steve and his Australian wife Trudy are ‘embarking on their dream’ to return to her homeland with their family and start a new chapter ‘down under’. 

Pictured: Owners Steve and Trudy say they are delighted that Randalls is set to acquire the business. 

Reflecting on the initial opening, Steve told Express: “When we launched the sports bar our vision was to have a restaurant and bar downstairs, and screens and a cocktail bar upstairs, but also serving food. 

“It became such a crazy drinking venue upstairs that we decided it was far too busy to do food. So in the end we separated the venue in two – upstairs was the drinking establishment and downstairs was the eating venue.”

In the few years prior to relaunching as Wildfire, Steve recalls how new businesses were opening on the other side of town, resulting in the Weighbridge area being quieter. 

Pictured: Wildfire is known for its steaks, tapas and cocktails. 

“Then the Royal Yacht did their refurb, and people started coming back to the Weighbridge. 

“That’s when we decided to step it up and launch into a food-led venue because what we had noticed was that there was less of a drinking culture and more an eating culture.” 

Following a research trip to London, Steve decided that Jersey could do with a ‘nice steakhouse’, and Wildfire was born. 

“We feel like we landed on our feet with both of those concepts for the sports bar and Wildfire,” he says. 

“We’re still in that food-led era but I do believe now that trends are changing again slightly, we’re seeing a lot of drinking venues opening up.”

Pictured: Steve says that Wildfire regulars can rest assured that Randalls will continue to operate and enhance the restaurant and bar.

Steve says the acquisition is now ‘in the hands of the competition authorities’ but is hoping they will give Randalls the ‘green light’, with the deal finalised by the end of this summer. 

“It has been a privilege to operate both businesses, provided excellent food and service to create fabulous memories, romantic, family and social dinners, and a ‘great party venue’ so we are confident to be leaving Wildfire and our team there in very good hands with Randalls.”

Randalls Group has been part of island life since the 1800s and Steve and Trudy say they are delighted that the group is set to acquire Wildfire, which will fit well into their portfolio. 

They also thank their “wonderful team and the loyal clients who have all contributed to making the business such as success”.