Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CHANNEL INNER CALM
The Club Hotel & Spa, St Helier, Jersey
THE VIBE
This relaxed yet luxurious boutique hotel, a short walk from St Helier seafront, boasts a Michelin-starred restaurant and an excellent spa.
THE STYLE
Like a lavish home from home. There are 38 rooms and eight suites at the stylish AA Red Star hotel, all of which are flooded with light from the floor-to-ceiling windows.
We stayed in one of the Deluxe Suites and the superking bed dressed in wonderfully soft Frette linen was a treat. There was a separate sitting room with flatscreen TV, desk and well-stocked mini bar and the large marble bathroom had a shower for two as well as a separate tub.
Lush Elemis toiletries were provided, as well as fluffy white robes and slippers.
The suite was decorated in neutral shades that were lifted by pops of colour and opulent textures, such as velvet chairs.
That theme continued throughout the hotel, which is big on bold artwork, wood panelling and feature wallpaper in the lobby.
THE FOOD
Restaurant Bohemia has put Jersey on the gastronomic map and should be on any foodie’s hitlist.
It has held a Michelin Star since 2005 and was recently voted one of the top 1,000 restaurants in the world by La Liste 2022. The exciting seven-course tasting menus designed by Head Chef Callum Graham are a thing of beauty, with just the right amount of showmanship to boot. There’s a big emphasis on local produce and seafood from nearby France, and all the small but perfectly formed dishes have a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’.
When we were there, Brittany turbot and Jersey crab were on the menu and we loved the melt-in-the-mouth Jersey Royal potato mille-feuille. Vegetarians and pescatarians don’t have to miss out on the experience either as they have their own tasting menus, with wine pairings available.
THE SPA
The Club Spa has five treatment rooms and a Rasul mud room. My de-stress muscle massage was so relaxing, I actually nodded off.
After your treatment, you can chill out in the Relaxation Sanctuary, which has reclining beds with integrated headphones playing calming music, plus magazines and herbal teas. There is also a thermal suite with salt cabin, herbal steam room and experience shower, and a lovely outdoor pool – although be aware it’s not heated.
But the indoor saltwater pool is, and there’s a huge feature wall at one end showcasing the white sand beaches of Jersey’s Minquiers islands. I could have floated around looking at it all day. At first I thought it was a photo of the Caribbean.
THE ACTION
The Club is not a party hotel, rather a quiet place to relax while you enjoy fine food and drink. There’s a Gin Honesty Bar, where you can leaf through extensive tasting notes before mixing your own tipple. Alternatively, head to The Club Bar. This is a popular spot for afternoon tea and cocktail masterclasses and many of the herbs used in the drinks are grown in the hotel’s Roof Terrace Garden.
If you like your entertainment to be a little less boozy, however, there’s an extensive selection of DVDS and board games to borrow.
THE SIGHTS
Take a trip around Jersey with Tantivy Blue Coach Tours. They offer both half and full-day jaunts around the island that take in all the main sights, such as St Brelade’s Bay and the imposing Mont Orgueil Castle. Visit the Jersey War Tunnels to learn more about the Nazi occupation of the island in the Second World War.
And if you’re keen to take to the water, head out on a Jersey Seafari. We joined a RIB tour to Les Ecrehous – a small group of islands and rocks just eight miles from France.
Here, you’ll find a handful of isolated fishermen’s cottages and at low tide, when the water drops a whopping 40ft, beautiful beaches and rock pools are exposed.
If you’re lucky, you might even spot some dolphins.
Keep your eyes peeled for a Jersey Wonder, too. These traditional sweet treats have been baked on the island for many years and are similar to a doughnut. Jersey Wonderer Collette Labey has an honesty box outside her home in Grouville and supplies several stockists across Jersey.
My de-stress muscle massage was so relaxing I actually nodded off