The ‘half moon’ site at La Vallette has been sold for £1, 18 months after a fire destroyed the restaurant Octopus which had been there.
The land was formerly owned by Deputy Yvonne Burford, but she has today confirmed that she has sold it to the owners of the former Octopus restaurant.
The sale – for just £1 – was completed last month, with contracts changing hands in court on 31 July.
Before that, the site had sold for £200,000 in June 2021, and for £1 in February 2020.
Deputy Burford has issued a statement today explaining why she has sold the site – and hinting that she is disappointed with the outcome.
— Yvonne Burford (@YvonneBurford) August 13, 2025
Writing on X, Deputy Burford explained that after the “total destruction” of the Octopus Bar and Restaurant in February 2024, there were months of negotiations with insurance companies and that, along with “lease limitations and obligations and costings” had all “played a significant role in determining a way forward”.
“This has ultimately resulted in the transfer of the site to the tenants at no cost,” she confirmed.
“While this is not at all the outcome I would have wanted, it has been a complex and difficult 18 months and I am now free to focus fully on my responsibilities as a people’s deputy.”
As President of the Development and Planning Authority, Deputy Burford would usually oversee any major development applications.
However, she has said she will recuse herself from any involving the site which she used to own.
The new owners, Delphine and Mike Pesrin are expected to file plans to rebuild their restaurant, having previously said they would be looking to rebuild and reopen at La Vallette.
The ‘half moon’ site at La Vallette had housed the Octopus Beach Bar and Cafe since 2016.
Before that it was home to the Half Moon Cafe.
The site was sold for £350,000 in 1996, and for £1 in 1999.
It was later sold for £1 in 2020, £200,000 in 2021, and then again for just £1 in July 2025.