You’ll want to be a member of this club
MARCU HUGHES stays in a hotel that captures perfectly the tranquil, leisurely atmosphere of the Channel Islands
TUCKED up behind the harbour of Jersey’s breathtaking seaside capital of St Helier, The Club Hotel and Spa is one which invites you to set your concerns aside and indulge.
Stepping through its glass-fronted doors and sophisticated lobby draped with modern art, you find yourself standing a little taller.
Away from the noise of the traffic but just a five-minute walk from the picturesque harbour’s wide range of bars, restaurants and clubs, the hotel boasts a truly unrivalled location.
Guests at the four-star townhouse hotel are offered access to a roof terrace champagne bar, a heated outdoor swimming pool, the luxurious Club Spa and, not least, the one Michelin-starred Bohemia Restaurant.
The Club achieves a classy boutique-styled interior with unique sculptures and striking primary-coloured rugs throughout.
Upstairs the sophistication carries through into The Club’s 38 deluxe double rooms. Although in keeping with the neutral colour palette, chocolate and coffeetoned furnishings allow the rooms to feel a little separate.
Floor-to-ceiling windows bathe the rooms in natural light, and a sliding door invites you to get a whiff of the crisp sea air after a few too many glasses at the honesty bar.
As my partner got ready for our visit to the celebrated Bohemia restaurant, I lounged on the bed watching movies from the hotel’s extensive DVD collection.
Eventually I managed to rouse myself from what was inarguably a very tempting king-sized feather bed, and had a quick shower in the generously marbled bathroom.
Feeling every bit as glamorous as our surroundings, we slinked off downstairs for our reservation at the Bohemia. The Bohemia has a solid reputation for first-rate cuisine and has been firmly placed on Jersey’s gastronomic map. Chef Steve Smith has held a Michelin star since the age of just 24, and has headed Bohemia’s kitchen team since 2013.
In that time, he’s taken the dining experience to new heights. In September this year, the Bohemia became the first restaurant in Jersey to receive five AA rosettes, the highest a restaurant can achieve.
Favouring the full theatrical experience, we both opted for the eight-course vegetarian taster menu, which came complete with recommendations on the wine list from our very attentive host.
First on the menu was potato, quail egg and cep, which sat in a beautifully sweet sauce.
Next came celeriac and celery soup, complete with a slow cooked bantam egg and garnished with a grated truffle. A large piece of truffle broke off into my soup as the waitress grated it and I shot a triumphant grin at my partner. Our two main courses consisted of roscoff onion, with chanterelles and broad beans. This was my favourite, arriving bathed in a beautiful tasty gravy. The colourfully presented heritage carrot and sea vegetables were visually pleasing but I found it a slightly sickly combination with the saltiness of the vegetables.
My partner was struggling by this point, so we decided to forego the cheese course and get straight onto the desserts, which we read were named sixth best in the UK in the Sunday Times top 100. They didn’t disappoint. We started with a sharp, palate cleansing mango rice with vanilla and lime.
This was followed by a small guanaja chocolate cake, served with raspberry and almond.
We finished with a coffee each and were presented with a selection of gorgeous hand-made chocolates that we couldn’t quite refuse.
Feeling defeated, and with our glamour fading, we decided to sneak back up to the room to sleep it off. As if we weren’t pampered enough, the next morning we visited another highlight on offer at The Club – the spa.
Located just off the open-plan reception, the luxurious spa boasts four treatment rooms. We opted for two hour-long aromatic full body massages, making us eligible for the couples treatment room.
Having donned the prescribed black paper pants, I lay on the bench between two towels while I was gently, then rather roughly, slathered in aromatic oils. It was a soothing experience, but to both mine, and probably the masseur’s, annoyance several prolonged giggling fits escaped my control throughout the hour.
She was patient and persistent though, and I left feeling like liquid with a skeleton.
With a few hours to kill before our afternoon tea, we crept downstairs to the deserted indoor saltwater pool, where we lounged and dipped for a happy three hours.
In all, if you’re looking for a relaxing base for your adventures around St Helier and the island of Jersey, you should certainly consider putting The Club on your list.
Its friendly and attentive staff are all too happy to assist with your every whim to make you feel welcome in their quiet corner haven.