The Sailors’ Rest on the New North Quay is to be flattened by Ports of Jersey, which owns the site, to make way for a new car park.
Ports said that prior to the demolition, work had been undertaken to disconnect the underfloor drainage and utility services from the building, and that protective hoarding had been erected around the site.
The demolition is expected to be finished by Friday.
A spokesman for Ports said: ‘The site forms part of a larger future potential commercial development project, which is featured in the Harbour Masterplan discussed with stakeholders.
‘However, in the interim period, the vacant site will be used as a temporary parking area for permit holders, allowing space for up to ten cars, which will enable redevelopment of other areas of the port estate.
‘This work will be carried out as phase two of the overall project and will start on Monday 7 January. It is likely to take up to five days to complete.’
Julie Evans, who owned the café for 16 years, said Ports had told her in April that they would not be renewing the lease after her appeals for an extension were rejected.
Ports said that the occupant of the café ‘had been kept well-informed of future intentions for the area as part of both the short and long-term port development’ and the decision to demolish the building would allow them to ‘move forward and adapt the area to the changing requirements of its Port users’.
The demolition work, which is being carried out on behalf of Ports by Jersey Demolition Contractors, is being funded entirely by Ports. The spokesman said that tenants and business partners in the area have been notified of the works programme and usual commercial activity is not expected to be disrupted as a result.
