The Lido operators said they were “disappointed” to be served court papers for a formal eviction after having “positive and constructive” conversations about the future of the Havre des Pas site.
The Lido Ltd, which handled the café and some of the facilities at the Havre des Pas bathing pool, paused trading in early December.
The business, which is part of Marcus and Ana Calvani’s BeServed Group, was told to vacate the premises after the government selected a new operator – First Point – to take over the lease.
However, the tender process has been restarted after an independent report it commissioned concluded that the second half of the process had been unfair.
A statement posted on social media yesterday said that The Lido Ltd had been served court papers on 29 December, which required court attendance on 7 January “in relation to a request for formal eviction”.
“This escalation was unexpected and, in light of the agreed position and ongoing dialogue, unnecessary,” the statement said.
The Lido Ltd said it had “no interest in continuing to trade at the site, nor in renewing any lease or licence”.
The statement added: “To be clear, the only reason our fit-out and inventory remain within the building is to protect the planning position and licences for whoever operates the site next.
“Removing these prematurely would risk leaving the building as an empty shell and make reopening significantly more difficult for the incoming tenant, as we have previously explained.”
The deadline for the restarted tender process is the end of January, with community group Love Our Lido starting as preferred bidder.
A private enterprise, First Point, is reserve bidder in case negotiations collapse for a second time.
In the social media statement, The Lido Ltd complained about “mixed messaging”, adding: “We support a smooth transition to the next tenant, an independent process, and the long-term future of this historic public site as a community-managed asset for all islanders and visitors.
“It is regrettable that, at a moment when collaboration and clarity were needed, the situation was escalated instead.”