Agreement reached on legal costs with Fermain Café tenants

• Policy & Resources has settled on legal costs with the Fermain Beach Café tenants.
• Financial details have not been released - it follows the tenants winning their court case to be allowed more time before they are evicted.
• The tenants will continue café operations until 31st October 2028.
• Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez commented on the pragmatic closure of legal proceedings.

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A settlement on costs has been finalised between the Policy & Resources Committee and the tenants of Fermain Beach Café. 

In September the court ruled in favour of the sitting tenants Belmiro de Freitas and Manuela Walter in granting them a stay of eviction for three seasons as the States attempted to remove them in favour of another bidder.

How did it come to this? Extended coverage as the Guernsey Royal Court grants Fermain cafe tenants three more seasons before eviction

Over two decades Belmiro de Freitas and Manuela Walter had built The Beach Cafe at Fermain into a popular and successful business. This is the story of how they had to fight the States to keep their livlihood.

The Quarry - Independent news from GuernseyNick Mann

A further court hearing to determine any costs is now not needed.

The specific terms will remain confidential, P&R has said. 

The tenants of Fermain Café can continue operating until 31st October 2028.

Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, President of the Policy & Resources Committee, said: “This agreement brings the remaining legal proceedings to a close in a way that is pragmatic in the circumstances. 

“Avoiding any further costs associated with another court hearing is clearly in everyone’s best interests and allows the tenants to focus on the continued operation of the café until 2028. 

“While the terms are understandably confidential, we are pleased to have this amicable resolution with Belmiro and Manuela and wish them well over the coming seasons.”