Jersey War Tunnels on the market for £5.5 million

Thursday, 20 June 2024 08:00

The owner of the Jersey War Tunnels is selling the historical site after 60 years.

The 29.5-acre underground hospital complex in St Lawrence - built during the German Occupation in World War II - is currently owned by Daisy Hill Real Estates Limited.

It has announced it is now trying to find a buyer to take the tunnels to the 'next level' as a world-class tourist attraction.

The real estate company has told the 30 staff at the museum of its intentions and that there will be no changes to day-to-day operations, with the War Tunnels expected to welcome thousands of visitors this summer.

Richard Barnes, company director, says Jersey cannot afford to lose another tourist attraction.

"We're very keen we sell it to a leading tourist attraction or someone who will run it as it is.

"The business is operating well. We got through Covid, Jersey's recovered, and tourism's recovering from the shock of Covid. I think we made this decision a couple of years ago and have been working towards it slowly.

"It's more of a case of acceptance that we've got to let something go, that's how we see it."

JWT has won awards for its re-telling of life in Jersey during the Second World War, when the island endured five years of German rule by occupying forces.

It welcomed 75,000 visitors through the 1,000 metre network of exhibition rooms in 2023.

Mr Barnes says there is potential for growth and diversification with experienced owners at the helm who can elevate it from a 'regional attraction' to a 'world-class' one.

The owners say they have no plans to close the attraction if a buyer is not found.