Following the sale of the businesses last month, the properties that are home to Red, Rosso, and Tinto, have also now been sold.
A family had owned the two buildings in the Pollet for the past century, as they last changed hands in the 1920s when William Walter bought them.
Walter Property Limited (WPL) has now sold them to Randalls, for an undisclosed sum, so that company now owns both the buildings and the businesses they are home to.
A descendant of Mr Walter said the time was right to sell the buildings, at numbers 59 and 61 Le Pollet, as their business focus has changed.
“These buildings were bought by my Great-Grandfather William Walter in the 1920s and have been owned by our family since that time,” said Catharine Walter, Chair of Walter Property.
“They have had a fascinating history over the last century and been home to many restaurants and the place where many happy memories were created.”
In recent years alone the buildings have been home to some of Guernsey’s most well-known restaurants.
Before Red, Rosso, and Tinto opened the buildings had previously been home to Home from Home, The Pam Pam Grill, Wimpy, Burger King, Riva, the Victor Hugo Boulangerie, and the Taj Mahal. The buildings were also leased by other businesses including Print Express and Melody Press.
Walter Property – a Guernsey property company founded in 1934 by William Walter – has changed its focus in recent years, and now works predominantly in property development said Mr Walter’s great, great granddaughter.
“In recent years, the company has moved from being purely a property owner and management company to a developer,” said CEO, Eleanor Saunders.
“In 2022, we completed Le Menage, a clos of 26 units in St Martin’s and are currently working on a development of 10 apartments in Valnord and 21 homes in La Gibauderie.”
Mrs Walter said the decision to sell to Randalls for an undisclosed sum was made easier because of the buyer’s local roots.
“Randalls is one of Guernsey’s longest-established hospitality businesses, with roots on the island dating back to 1868, and remains firmly locally owned,” she said.
“With a longstanding presence across brewing, hospitality and property, Randalls has a proven track record of investing for the long term, supporting local businesses and caring for significant properties within the Bailiwick. Its approach balances respect for heritage with a commitment to quality, sustainability and community, ensuring that both the businesses and buildings it acquires continue to thrive.
“We are confident that Randalls will be a responsible custodian of 59 and 61 Le Pollet, preserving their character while supporting their future success as part of Guernsey’s vibrant hospitality scene.”
Matt Polli, Managing Director of Randalls, said the purchase of the buildings and the businesses is an investment in Guernsey but little will change for customers.
“We have no plans to make any changes to what are three very successful restaurants, and we are delighted that the teams from Red, Rosso and Tinto are continuing to do what they do so well.
“Owning 59 and 61, Le Pollet will allow us to invest in the properties to ensure the continued success of Red, Rosso and Tinto,” he added.
The recent history of 59 and 61, Le Pollet
Walter Property shared details about the recent history of the buildings with Express.
Following William Walter’s purchase of the buildings in the 1920s and his creation of Walter Property Ltd in the 1930s the buildings were home to prosperity in the post war decades.
This prosperity continued during the business boom the islands felt during the tomato export era and the early years of the finance sector, and continues until the current day.
The late Franco Crispini ran several restaurants from numbers 59 and 61 Le Pollet from 1972, including Home from Home, The Pam Pam Grill and from 1981, the Wimpy franchise.
In 1999, Mr Crispini assigned his lease to the holders of the Burger King franchise.
While that didn’t last long, with Burger King closing in 2001, the building was not left empty.
Part of the property became home to a restaurant called Riva while various other businesses have also traded from the two properties. These have included Print Express, Melody Press, the Victor Hugo Boulangerie, and the Taj Mahal.
In 1990, planning permission had been granted for a conservatory to be built on the empty roof area on the North Esplanade side of 59 Le Pollet. In 2008 Riva used this space to open the Upper Deck, which was for a while a very successful cocktail bar.
Dave Matheson – well known locally as the owner of the former Laska cocktail bar at The Albany – opened Red in 2012, followed by Rosso in 2015. In 2016 Victor Hugo’s Boulangerie was taken over to create the tapas restaurant, Tinto.
Difficult times have also occurred within 59 and 61 Le Pollet, particularly during January 2020 when a fire in the buildings caused extensive damage to all three restaurants.
This was followed by the covid lockdowns forcing hospitality businesses to close. Renovation work continued when possible at 59 and 61 Le Pollet and the Red group businesses reopened.
Rosso reopened first as it had suffered the least damage. Tinto opened next and finally Red after a total renovation including converting an underused cellar into a private dining room.
Mr Matheson sold Red, Rosso, and Tinto to Big Red Group Ltd in 2022 and the businesses were then sold to Randalls in January 2026.