Staff at the Horseshoe Bay Beach café prepared for the facility’s opening this week while the Government has yet to answer questions about the tenancy at the site.

It is understood that a leaseholder agreement announced in November 2020 was scheduled to run until the end of March, although it was said at the time that there would be an option to renew.

An announcement on social media, purportedly from the business group operating the facility, confirmed April 1 as the opening date, with 25 staff. The statement could not be officially verified.

The Royal Gazette asked the Government, through its communications team, last Thursday for an update but none was received by the time of publication.

A team of Bermudian entrepreneurs that together formed Horseshoe Bay Live were unveiled in 2020 as the winning bidders to take over the facility from April 1, 2021.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, when he was the public works minister, said then that a $3.8 million redevelopment project funded by the leaseholders would start the following November to revamp the facility in time for the 2022 tourist season.

A media conference heard at the time that the five-year lease came with a tenant option to renew for five or ten years, subject to agreement.

Colonel Burch described the Horseshoe Bay Live team — then comprising Delton Ebbin, Devon Simons and Carl Vincent — as “experienced young Bermudians of the highest calibre in the hospitality industry”.

He added: “I am confident they are all up to the task of shouldering the enormous responsibility of offering world-class facilities and services at the most popular and iconic beach in Bermuda.”

Mr Vincent later told the Gazette that he was no longer involved in the project.

Plans submitted in September 2021 for the proposed redevelopment — a three-storey mixed use commercial building — were turned down in December of that year, with a missed deadline and an incomplete file cited among the reasons.

It appeared by then that Mr Simons had also bowed out of the operation.

Jaché Adams, the Minister of Public Works and Environment, said last September that talks continued with HBL to develop a restaurant and bar at the popular beauty spot, where sun loungers and umbrellas are offered for rental by beachgoers.

Mr Adams insisted then that he was in no position to comment on renewal of the lease but said the ministry continued to have talks with the group.

The minister added that work was taking place on coming up with a new facility at Horseshoe Bay Beach.

He said: “We’re in a space now where we’re beginning to prepare drawings.

“It’s a long process — that’s the reality, it’s not just a quick renovation.

“We’re working with the concessionaire, so they’re aware of our intentions.”

Mr Adams said it could be “roughly two years” before anything new appeared.

Questions from the Gazette to the Government last week included whether HBL sought to renew its lease beyond March 31 and, if so, whether an extension was granted.

A request was also made for further information about plans to redevelop the beach site.

Staff at the facility were unloading stock on Monday and it is understood that the café is scheduled to open for the season imminently.

No one in a position to provide detailed information was available for comment.

Attempts to contact Horseshoe Bay Live by phone and e-mail were unsuccessful.