The announcement was made to staff on Friday by UK chain Heartstone Inns, whose chairman, Andrew Haining, owns the restaurant.
‘We’ve received news that we are in consultation for closing,’ said Auberge general manager Daniel Mihalache
This will come to a head on 2 January, when a decision will be made about whether or not the company will continue running the restaurant.
None of the staff are local, said Mr Mihalache.
Some staff have related accommodation agreements which could be affected by the closure
‘It’s been a rollercoaster since the takeover,’ he said, and the situation was not helped by the departure of the head chef.
Mr Mihalache hopes he will be able to persuade Heartstone to keep business open. ‘There’s a lot of potential here,’ he said.
‘I’ve made a business plan to present on 2 January and hopefully it’s not going to be closed.
‘We don’t want to lose our jobs.’
The restaurant was previously owned by The Liberation Group, which acquired it in 2013 and sold it to local businessman Mr Haining in September.
As well as being chairman of Heartstone, he holds similar positions at Aurigny, Swoffers and Praxis IFM.
Mr Haining said he did not run the restaurant.
‘I’m the freeholder of Auberge,’ he said. ‘From what I’ve been told it’s going through a series of discussions into the new year.’
He said this process was not unusual.
‘They’re going through the normal consultation process when a company wants to look at the way a unit is operating.
He added that the restaurant had fallen on difficult times in recent years.
‘I think it’s fair to say the unit was incredibly successful about seven years ago. It was once a very good restaurant.’
Its subsequent decline was due, he felt, partly due to a lack of investment and also to it facing competition from others in the sector.
But no matter what the result of the consultations, he said his position as owner of The Auberge will not change.
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