Pub talk not ruled out by Sandpiper boss

SANDPIPER CEO Tony O'Neill will not rule out selling the group's pubs and restaurants. The company announced on Wednesday that it was selling both the St Pierre Park and La Trelade hotels to focus on its core activities.

Rumours are rife that its pubs and restaurants - which include the White Hart, the Harbour Lights and the Albion, among others - will be the next to go.

Mr O'Neill said he would not comment on gossip, but added he was not ruling it out for the future either.

'We have strategic reviews continuing across the business and it just so happened that hotels was the first one to be concluded and that resulted in the decision to sell,' he said.

'I'm not speculating on what might or might not happen, because it defeats the whole objective of doing a strategic review in the first place.

'What we are doing is what you would expect from any new ownership. Naturally we want to look into all aspects of the business and assess it from there.'

Mr O'Neill also reassured islanders with bookings for wedding parties at St Pierre Park that their functions would not be cancelled.

'It's absolutely business as normal,' he said. 'We are approaching a busy time of year, but we are selling the business as a going concern.

'We are not closing down and will continue to honour existing bookings and indeed are taking new bookings.'

Mr O'Neill added that he had not considered whether the casino licence, which was granted to St Pierre Park in 2003, would be included in the sale of the hotel.

'If a licence is still in force, then so be it. Clearly, it is something for the new owner to decide upon,' he said.