No warning before Extra Care facility's on-site restaurant closed

Friday 27 April 2018

The restaurant at La Nouvelle Maritaine suddenly closed this week, with no notice given to the facility's managers, staff or residents.

Cafe Amiti was run as a private business by Quinn Hamon who held the lease for the restaurant.

La Nouvelle Maritaine is an extra care housing facility which was built by the States of Guernsey to replace the previous Maison Maritaine. The States describe extra care housing as designed to help people live "as independently as possible with the confidence of being in a safe environment with a flexible, tailored package of care and support offered by trained staff."

There are three such facilities in Guernsey; La Nouvelle Maritaine, Le Grand Courtil and Rosaire Court. La Nouvelle Maritaine and Le Grand Courtil are managed by the Guernsey Housing Association. Rosaire Court is managed by Housing 21, with the care & support is provided by HSC.

The GHA told Express the closure of Cafe Amiti was "unexpected" and that staff were only made aware when the facility was closed.

Residents have also told Express that the closure was sudden with very little warning. Mrs Beryl Le Feuvre said they received letters advising them of a meeting where residents were told that Cafe Amiti had shut. She said she and some other residents read their letters too late to attend the meeting so they only found out about the closure after it had happened.

Mrs Le Feuvre said she is lucky that she is able to cook for herself and goes out but other residents do rely on it. "I don't go very often but some people in wheelchairs do because they don't find it as easy to go out and that was a handy place to go" she said. "I have eaten there before but not as often as some of the others and I do feel sorry for them."

She said staff helped those residents who rely on the kitchen when it closed without notice on Tuesday 24 April by going out to buy fish and chips at lunchtime and dinner time for those who wanted it.

Another resident who wished to remain anonymous was more concerned about the closure, saying she had eaten there quite often. "I'm not sure when it is going to reopen but I hope it is soon. I eat there a few times a week as it saves me cooking for myself and I can't go out food shopping like I used to do."

The Guernsey Housing Association, which manages La Nouvelle Maritaine said it was made aware of the situation on Tuesday when the closure was announced, but it was also taken by surprise by the news. Steve Williams, the GHA Chief Executive said a tender process is now underway to find a new leaseholder so the restaurant can reopen as soon as possible: 

"We have had this existing cafe operator for over 17 months but it has not worked out for both parties so we will be looking for a new cafe business. We will want someone with a track record in running a cafe successfully and if interested they can contact me, or Peter Van de Velde at Rock Commercial agents."

Mr Williams said most residents will be able to cope by themselves without the restaurant facility being open, and those who do need help are receiving it from staff on site. "Every flat has its own kitchen so residents or family or friends can prepare meals themselves, so they are not dependent on the cafe. Around six residents do need help short term in provision of meals and the HSC care and support staff are rallying round to help along with families and friends, which is excellent."

The closure of Cafe Amiti is not believed to have caused any problems so far and Mr Williams said planned social events at La Nouvelle Maritaine are continuing with plans for the future ahead of a new leaseholder being appointed: "The residents have been very understanding. Bingo is going ahead this Friday evening but you need to bring your own refreshments and details of the evening can be supplied by Yvonne Le Pelley contactable on 07781 113583.

"We have an arrangement with another cafe to supply meals from next week, once the Cafe Amiti kitchen is vacated."