GIBRALTAR’S Bistro Point restaurant, perched at Europa Point with commanding views across the Straits to Africa, is set to be demolished to make way for university classrooms.
The revelation has sparked outrage amongst locals who describe the clifftop venue as a ‘national asset’ with some of the world’s most spectacular views.
Restaurateur Bryan Zammit, who runs the Zammit Group, has confirmed he had agreed a price with the Hunter Brothers to purchase the lease but the University of Gibraltar blocked the sale.
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The university instead plans to demolish the building to create additional classroom space.
“I negotiated and agreed a price with the Hunter Brothers to buy the lease, and the University decided not to allow the sale to go through, as they wanted to demolish it to create classrooms,” Zammit said.
The businessman revealed he had planned to relocate his upmarket Paparazzi restaurant to the prime location and operate it as a proper upscale venue with shuttle services for clients.
Zammit said he raised concerns with both the university and government minister about losing the iconic venue, pointing out that the restaurant had cost taxpayers over £1 million – a figure recorded in Parliamentary Hansard.
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However, he was told the minister could not intervene in the university’s decision about the premises.
“Be it me or anyone else that would have run that restaurant, it’s an absolute shame to lose such an iconic venue for Gibraltar,” Zammit added.
The news has prompted calls for government intervention to preserve what locals consider a vital tourism asset.
The restaurant’s position at Europa Point offers unrivalled panoramic views across the Mediterranean to the North African coast.
This is not the first time Zammit has been frustrated by government decisions over prime hospitality locations.
He revealed he had also approached the same minister about another iconic site that would have appealed to both locals and tourists, only to see it converted into a bookshop instead.
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Save Bistro Point – Gibraltar’s Gateway to the World
Perched on the very edge of Europa Point, with commanding views across the Straits of Gibraltar to the coast of North Africa, Bistro Point is not simply a restaurant. It is a cultural landmark, a gathering place, and a national asset that showcases Gibraltar at its very best. For visitors arriving from across the globe, and for locals who cherish this iconic site, Bistro Point represents the perfect combination of heritage, hospitality, and breathtaking scenery.
Yet, this unique venue now faces demolition to make way for additional university classrooms — a plan that has sparked outrage amongst the community, restaurateurs, and tourism advocates alike.
An Iconic Venue with Proven Value
Bistro Point is situated in a location that few cities in the world can rival. From its clifftop terrace, diners and visitors can gaze across the Mediterranean, past the Pillars of Hercules, and over to the African continent. This is a vantage point that cannot be replicated elsewhere — a panoramic setting that naturally attracts both Gibraltarians and tourists in equal measure.
The restaurant was not a small undertaking. It is recorded in Parliamentary Hansard that the facility cost taxpayers over £1 million to develop. That public investment was made to create a sustainable tourism and hospitality asset that could strengthen Gibraltar’s appeal as a destination. To now see it earmarked for demolition is, as local businessman Bryan Zammit has rightly said, “an absolute shame to lose such an iconic venue for Gibraltar.”
Tourism vs. Demolition
Tourism is one of Gibraltar’s most important industries. Visitors come not only for its history and shopping, but also for its natural environment, food culture, and leisure experiences. Sites like Bistro Point are essential to this offering. They provide reasons for cruise passengers to disembark, for travellers to extend their stays, and for conferences to choose Gibraltar as their host city.
Converting such a venue into additional classroom space may meet the short-term needs of the university, but it risks doing long-term damage to Gibraltar’s international image. There are many places suitable for academic expansion — but there is only one Europa Point.
A Missed Opportunity for Upscale Dining & Visitor Services
Mr Zammit had planned to relocate his successful Paparazzi restaurant to Bistro Point, transforming it into a truly upscale venue, complete with shuttle services for clients. His vision was to create a showcase for Gibraltar’s modern hospitality sector, a venue that would appeal to both locals and high-value visitors.
Such an offering would have strengthened Gibraltar’s evening economy, created employment, and amplified the city’s reputation for high-quality dining. Instead, his plans were blocked when the University of Gibraltar intervened to prevent the sale of the lease, insisting that the site be reserved for demolition and academic use.
The Role of Government and Public Accountability
The decision raises broader questions about governance and accountability. If taxpayer funds of over £1 million were invested into this facility, then the public has a legitimate interest in how the site is used. Handing a nationally significant hospitality venue over to demolition without transparent consultation undermines confidence in how such assets are managed.
Calls are growing for the government to intervene. Even if the University has the technical authority to block the sale, the wider implications for Gibraltar’s tourism economy and public value cannot be ignored. A ministerial hands-off approach does not serve the public interest.
Protecting Gibraltar’s National Assets
The loss of Bistro Point would set a worrying precedent. This is not the first time prime locations with obvious appeal to visitors have been diverted away from hospitality and leisure. Mr Zammit himself has pointed out that another iconic site he approached was instead converted into a bookshop — a decision that again left the tourism and leisure sector frustrated at the lack of foresight.
The pattern is clear: opportunities that could elevate Gibraltar’s profile as a first-class visitor destination are being squandered.
A Vision for the Future
Rather than demolish Bistro Point, Gibraltar has an opportunity to protect and reimagine the site:
As a signature restaurant offering world-class cuisine with unrivalled views.
As a tourist information and visitor centre, welcoming international guests at one of Europe’s most dramatic coastal points.
As a multi-use venue for conferences, events, and cultural performances, supporting Gibraltar’s broader business and hospitality ecosystem.
This is not simply about saving one restaurant. It is about recognising and defending Gibraltar’s unique selling points on the world stage.
Conclusion
Europa Point is more than geography — it is a symbol of Gibraltar’s place in the world. To demolish Bistro Point for additional classrooms is not progress, it is a step backwards. With over £1 million of public money already invested, with proven local business interest, and with tourism demand continuing to grow, it makes no sense to erase such a valuable asset.
Gibraltar deserves better. Bistro Point should be preserved, protected, and enhanced — for the benefit of the community, the economy, and the generations to come.
Save Bistro Point. Save a part of Gibraltar’s identity.