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Speculation has grown about the potential future of the Crab Shack's Gorey site following confirmation that it will close next month.
The Crab Shack at Gorey will close on 15 October as operator JP Restaurants reaches the end of the lease for the site where it has traded since 2005.
Since the company confirmed the news earlier this week, several islanders have speculated on social media about whether the site – which boasts spectacular views over Gorey Castle – would be sold for redevelopment rather than continuing as a hospitality venue.
JP Restaurants currently leases the building from pub company Randalls, whose Managing Director Gavin Reid declined to comment on the site’s future.
Formerly the Castle Green pub, the restaurant was rebranded in 2013 and until recently was one of three Crab Shack venues, with others at St. Brelade's Bay and in Market Street, St. Helier.
The St. Helier site was sold earlier this summer, with the company saying that lower footfall in town had adversely affected trade.
We are sorry to go too but we will keep evolving as we have done over the last 75 years. The original @jerseycrabshack St Brelade's not going anywhere and hopefully some new @jprests places to eat, drink and have fun to come in the future.????
— Dominic Jones (@DominicCJones) September 22, 2023
Explaining the background to the Gorey closure, JP Restaurants Chief Executive Dominic Jones said: “The lease has come to an end, and the site would need investment, so we decided to focus elsewhere.
“We are constantly looking out for other opportunities – there are no concrete plans at present and the market is not the easiest, but we are adapting all the time and will continue to evolve.
“We will continue to invest in the island and adapt as we have done over 75 years serving customers in Jersey.”
Pictured: JP Restaurants CEO Dominic Jones said no job losses or redundancies would result from next month's closure.
The move will leave the family-owned company operating three restaurants – the Crab Shack and adjacent Oyster Box in St. Brelade, and Banjo in St. Helier – and six Café Ubé outlets.
In recent years the Ubé brand has expanded to include outlets at Elizabeth Terminal at Jersey Harbour and at Jersey Airport.
Mr Jones said no job losses or redundancies would result from next month's closure.
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