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The restaurant facility at Le Grand Courtil has reopened under new management following a tender process earlier this year, with the new offerings proving popular among residents and guests.
Paula and Bridget Gilbert recently took over the premises, which had been known as the Magnolia Tree café. Now it is Gilberts Community Café and is being run by their family offering cooked meals to those who live at the facility as well as to others stopping in.
The extra-care development in St Martin is run by the Guernsey Housing Association which has in the terms of the lease that the café should be open to all members of the public, with a range of hot and cold food, freshly made on the premises and available for a dine-in experience or takeaway. The Gilberts are meeting all of those requirements and the GHA is very pleased with the service so far.
Co-owner, Bridget Gilbert said; “Since we opened it’s been wonderful to get to know the regular diners and meet new people.
“Paula and I are excited to explore what we can do with the café for the residents and surrounding community to bring people together.”
Steve Williams, Chief Executive Officer of the GHA, said the organisation had been briefly concerned about the future of the café before meeting the Gilberts and agreeing the terms of the new lease with them.
“When we went out to tender earlier this year we weren’t sure whether we would be able to keep the café.
“We’re thrilled that Paula and Bridget have taken the helm and not only do they provide fresh food daily but they have a great way with people which makes for the perfect environment members of the public can enjoy.”
As a not-for-profit company, the GHA is run independently but in partnership with the States to deliver social housing as part of the Corporate Housing Programme. It manages two extra care facilities in St Martin and the Vale along with other homes for rent, partial ownership and key worker housing.
Pictured: Bridget Gilbert with her great-niece, and Paula's granddaughter, Ella.
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