TRAVEL Jersey Featuring The Club Hotel & Spa and Bohemia Restaurant

Jersey is said to be the sunniest spot in the British Isles, with more sunshine hours per day than anywhere else (342 hours more in 2021), although Jersey, in reality, is not actually part of the British Isles, but is in fact a Crown Dependency named The Ballwick of Jersey. Regardless of the legal niceties, Jersey has something for everyone, as it not only has some of the most stunning beaches, it is also rich in history, and is a taxfree shopping destination to boot.

Within Jersey’s 45 square miles, there are some of the most varied landscapes that you will find anywhere in the world, from the cliffs on the north coast, home to many birds including puffins, to the golden sandy beaches on the south coast, and not only does it have a diverse natural playground, it bursts with history. I will leave the shopping destinations to you, but there are a few other tourist spots I would recommend you visit.

War Tunnels

On 1st July, 1940, Jersey was occupied by the Germans under Hitler, after Churchill withdrew the UK troops as he believed the islands were of no strategic importance, and could not be defended properly. This occupation continued for nearly five years until the 9th May, 1945.

The Jersey War Tunnels enables visitors to find out what it was like to live in Jersey during WWII in a hands-on and highly innovative way. The tunnels were dug deep into the hillside by forced and slave labour taken from across occupied Europe, and was designed to protect the German’s from Allied air raids and bombardment in the event of an invasion (which never came!), and in 1943, it was converted to an emergency hospital.

The exhibition is interactive and really brings the Jersey peoples’ stories to life, from the impossible choice of whether to stay or go when the UK said they would not defend the island, through to the hardships of daily life, and whether to collaborate with or resist the German occupation. Every visitor is given papers of a real person, and as you progress through the exhibition you learn what happened to them (and you) and whether they/ you were a collaborator or resistance fighter. www.jerseywartunnels.com/the-tunnels

Jersey Sea Trips

On an island like Jersey there are many providers offering boat trips enabling visitors to view its dramatic coastline, varied wildlife and stunning beaches. Take a rib ride to try and spot bottle-nosed dolphins and grey seals, or even go across to France’s

Normandy coast for a typical Gallic lunch (only 30 minutes away), but my personal favourite trip is a ‘seafari’ to The Ecrehous.

These are a small group of islands situated six miles from Jersey, where at high tide the eerie sight of a few old fishermens’ huts perched on higher ground (seeming at the mercy of the sea), is all you can see, but as the tide goes out, more and more of the islands appear, providing sandbanks and rock pools for the visitor to explore and relax on, or enjoy a swim or picnic. Truly a unique experience.

Jersey Zoo

In 1958, this zoo was set up by Gerald Durrell (author of ‘My Family and Other Animals’, and famous conservationist), with the rationale to save species of animals that were dying out. Although it is a zoo, the emphasis here is conservation, and so the animals are well cared for. Enjoy experiencing the majesty of the gorillas, the playfulness of the howler monkeys, or the craziness of the lemurs, along with many special events designed to educate all of the family.

Military History

Jersey has been involved with military conflicts between the UK, France and Germany for thousands of years, and these military conflicts have left their mark on Jersey’s landscape, and as Jersey is so small in size, it is easy to explore many at your leisure. One of particular note, is the iconic Mont Orgueil Castle. The castle has over 4,000 years of history, as it was initially the site of a neolithic settlement and then converted to a medieval castle, and finally, a Tudor artillery fortress, which the French attempted to capture a number of times (all unsuccessfully), as it is in easy view from France. Even the Germans during their occupation added to the castle. See if you can spot these ‘camouflaged’ additions whilst there.

Beaches

It is impossible to recommend things to do in Jersey without mentioning the beaches. The beaches in Jersey have the power to take your breath away and leave you standing in awe. From mile after mile of sand, to cliffencircled coves and vast expanses of lunar landscapes, the beaches in Jersey are breathtaking and waiting to be discovered during your island break.

The Club Hotel & Spa

The Capital and largest town of Jersey is St Helier, and right in the heart of the town you will find The Club Hotel & Spa, which is perfectly situated for the shops and restaurants and near to many of the sights St Helier offers. A good sign of a hotel’s quality is that it is well frequented by those in three-piece suits, as well as those in bathing suits, as business travellers expect quality and top service, and what is clever is that this boutique hotel caters for everyone, and their different needs, effortlessly.

There is much to do in Jersey, but as the weather was poor when we visited, we decided to visit the subterranean spa for a little ‘R n R’ and were rewarded with a hidden gem. Although underground, the pool area has a warm feel, and the smart shallow pool is perfect for relaxing, with a Jacuzzi bench at one end. In addition, there is a steam ‘pod’ and a salt steam room and a rainforest shower, all of which we used extensively. The spa has a wide range of treatments for men and women, and I selected a full body massage allowing the skilled masseuse to manipulate and target all of my tired muscles, leaving me totally relaxed and tension free.

The hotel has a secluded outside terrace which boasts a small heated outside pool and loungers (perfect for the Jersey sunshine), and an ‘honesty bar’ where you let reception know what you have had and they add it to your bill (something unusual in this day and age!).

The Club Hotel & Spa is an exclusive boutique hotel with only 38 deluxe double rooms and 8 suites, and all are in keeping with the neutral colour palette. Plush carpets, crisp white Frette bedding, and chocolate and coffee-toned furnishingsincluding stylish touches such as chaise longues and mirrored sliding wardrobes - feature throughout. The rooms also benefit from natural light, which streams in from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Thoroughly modern comforts including LCD flat screen TVs, DVD players, portable telephones, en-suite bathrooms with luxury Elemis toiletries, and soft bathrobes and slippers, are staple features in all the rooms.

Apart from the décor and service, the other thing that makes The Club Hotel & Spa stand out is its outstanding in-house restaurant, Bohemia Bar & Restaurant. Situated on the ground floor of the hotel, with its own private entrance, the Bohemia Bar & Restaurant has been Jersey’s finest dining establishment since opening its doors in April, 2004. The restaurant has held a Michelin star for 20 years, and the Head Chef, Callum Graham, brings an eclectic mix of European influences from his time in Paris and Geneva, combined with the fantastic local Jersey produce available on the island and surrounding seas.

Diners can either select from the À La Carte menu, or choose one of the set menus including an innovative 5 course Surprise Menu (£109), where you don’t know what courses you are going to get!, (although you are able to explain what you can’t or don’t eat), or a 6 course Signature, Pescatarian or Vegetarian Tasting menu (£129).

Each tasting menu can be supplemented by various wine flights, but if that doesn’t appeal there are many choices from the extensive wine list by the glass, or bottle, all from £36. I selected the Signature Tasting Menu and my wife decided that as we were close to the sea she would choose the Pescatarian Menu, and we were both treated to a couple of hours of food bliss.

Our journey started with three delightful Amuse Bouches – I had a delightfully smooth chicken liver parfait with cep powder in a crisp shell, and my wife a fresh Jersey oyster, along with a cheesy puff with a light mousse and an apple tart - a tantalising start.

Our starter was a Celeriac Terrine, roasted consume, shallot Apple and Wiltshire truffle.

The layers of crunchy celeriac were topped with an icy cold and totally moreish truffle ice cream and bathed in a clear and flavoursome consommé. An expertly put together dish with every mouthful an explosion of flavour and texture. We thought this would be difficult to beat, but our second dish was even better. This dish used wonderfully fresh Jersey crab on a delicate Pernod mousse with a blood orange sorbet. I am not a fan of Pernod as its aniseed flavour is usually too strong for me, but here the flavour was so delicate it complemented the delicate crab flavour perfectly and the blood orange sorbet added the icing on the cake, a dish truly worthy of a Michelin star as it was that good.

My next dish was roasted Veal Sweetbread with onion and yeast chive with a Maderia jus, and my wife’s a cured and torched Seabream in a jalapeno & dill jus. Sweetbreads are shied away from by many, but if you do you are missing out on a real treat, as they are so rich in flavour, and here they were cooked to perfection, and the Maderia jus was almost sticky as it was so rich and full of flavour. In contrast, my wife’s seabream was light and fresh with the jalapeno and dill oil adding just enough spice to enhance the seabream, as well as being an eye-catching green colour! My next course was a succulent Jersey Beef with morels and a garlic flavoured beef jus, and my wife had a hunk of Halibut, both cooked exquisitely and just bursting with flavour. www.theclubjersey.com www.bohemiajersey.com

Our palate cleansing dish before our dessert was called Mojito Flavours, and was truly a Mojito on a plate, with a hint of rum, crunchy biscuit crumb and a real zing from the lime, cleansing the palate before our dessert.

We were proud to have made it to the final dish as each course is not only exceptionally created and tasty, they are also generously sized, so you can appreciate all of the flavour combinations. The final dish of the ‘Ivoire Vairhona Chocolate Bar’ with forced rhubarb had texture and flavour combinations of pistachio, white chocolate and sweet rhubarb which worked very well and concluded the meal perfectly.

Jersey, although not a large island, is packed with things to do with your family, and The Club Hotel & Spa is perfectly located as a base to see all that it has to offer. In addition, its restaurant, Bohemia, is a veritable gem, and it truly deserves all of the accolades it has received, as it continues to deliver special food accompanied by impeccable service in a relaxed atmosphere.