Town cafe owners granted Fermain kiosk contract

The new leaseholder said it plans to introduce online ordering for people on the beach and a new sun lounger area

The owner of two popular cafes in St Peter Port has been granted the contract to run the kiosk at Fermain.

Pearl Oyster Ltd, which runs Coco next to the town's bus terminus and Lola in Market Square, beat three other companies in a competitive tender process, the States said.

The company said it planned to introduce new offerings for customers, including online ordering, a sun lounger area and longer summer opening times.

A spokesperson for Pearl Oyster said: "Fermain is a picturesque location loved by many islanders and visitors alike, and represents an exciting opportunity for us to deliver a fantastic service to the community."

Lease expiring

The States Property Unit (SPU) said Pearl Oyster also planned "substantial investment plans".

The SPU said it chose to go out to tender as the "current lease is due to expire at the end of October" and it had an "independent representative" from a property consultancy on the decision-making panel.

Mark Ogier, director of estates for SPU, said Pearl Oyster was "a well-established and successful operator, with an excellent reputation and significant following at their other outlets".

He said: "While we are looking forward to seeing the new leaseholder’s plan come to fruition, I would also like to acknowledge the time and effort the incumbent tenant has put into the beach cafe."