Former Quayside site attracts French interest

Wednesday 30 August 2023

A French retailer has shown “serious interest” in the former Quayside site on the Bridge, an industry report says.

In giving an upbeat assessment of the sector in its latest occupancy report, the Guernsey Retail Group gives a short update on Northside on the Bridge.

It says that a sale has been agreed for Bridge End House (pictured below), where the chip shop is located and will stay, which was on the market for £1.7m.

“Serious interest is being shown in the previous Quayside site by a French retailer,” the report says.

Quayside closed in 2014 and has since been demolished, with just the surrounding walls remaining.

The Bridge retail vacancy rate is 7.14% in the second quarter of 2023, down from 9.4% in the first three months of the year.

The rate stands a 6.95% in St Peter Port, down from 9.07%.

By comparison, vacancy rates at UK high streets has remained flat at 13.8% and in St Helier it is 9.4%.

Pictured: St Helier.

There are nine pop-up shops across St Peter Port.

No. 13 Pollet, the former Paperchase building, is under offer from a UK chain.

The report says there is a buyer interested in the former Post Office building in Smith Street.

Korinne Le Page, Head of Retail Development, said the sector was considerably healthier than the UK.

“Much of this success can be attributed to the Retail Pathway scheme which sees landlords and businesses work collaboratively to provide short to medium-term rental opportunities for new and established retailers,” she said.

“We strongly believe that Guernsey’s community needs and deserves a healthy and varied retail sector, so the GRG continues to encourage and support such positive developments for the benefit of all local consumers.”

Pictured top: The former Quayside building.