Visiting Jersey #1 – The Atlantic Hotel, Reviewed
Renowned for its world-class seafood, an eclectic mix of luxury hotels, stunning beaches and an abundance of high-end shopping outlets, Jersey is a real must for any travellers who are looking to indulge in the finer things of life. Just a hop, skip and a jump away from the south coast, this Channel Islands retreat is a Lussorian favourite.
This November, we will be exploring some of the islands must-visit attractions and providing an honest insight into our visit. A big thanks goes to Visit Jersey, who made this entire trip possible.
The Atlantic Hotel
Our mini series starts with the opulent and refined Atlantic Hotel.
The tagline of this hotel is “Where Luxury Meets The Ocean” and we have to say this is most certainly the case. The Atlantic Hotel nestles neatly into the hillsides of St Brelades and overlooks an expansive five miles of golden sand, which comprises St Ouen’s Bay. This wonderful setting is supplemented by the highly manicured hotel grounds, which adjoin the championship golf course, La Moye. The glorious setting is idyllic and an absolutely perfect reflection of the island’s outstanding natural beauty.
Since May 1970 this 4 star hotel has been lovingly refined and redesigned by the Burke family. As soon as we entered the hotel we felt the warmth and care which only comes with such a well run, family hotel. For us it was quite unique to find such a high level of care, amicability and friendliness in such a high-end establishment. An open plan lobby with light wood floors, wonderful art-work and an open indoor pond with Koi carp made for a gorgeous and welcoming space.
In addition to this, The Atlantic Hotel is home to the prestigious Ocean Restaurant. Led by Mark Jordan, the restaurant has managed to retain its 1 Michelin Stars for an impressive 10 years in a row, as well as being awarded four Rosettes in the AA Restaurant Guide 2015
Sleeping
Our room was a splendid Ocean view room overlooking the hotel’s grounds, swimming pool and ultimately the sea. The view was beautiful as the sun went down and even more wonderful as the sun came up.
We were lucky enough to stay in one of the newly decorated Ocean rooms. The colour scheme was understated, classy and with very subtle hints of the ocean setting. Light oak and chrome made for a fresh feel. We also loved the deep marble en-suite bath and Molton Brown goodies, always a nice surprise. In short, the view and the room were a perfect match and made for a truly luxurious stay.
Eating
Going down to the Ocean restaurant we were in high expectations and we really hoped the dining experience would carry on the hotel’s high level of luxury we had experienced to this point. We were not disappointed.
“Ocean’s design is influenced by its coastal setting. Blues, whites and beiges create a modern classic look, while delightful hand-crafted furniture and specially commissioned artwork emphasise the feeling of luxury. White American shutters frame stunning views over the gardens to the ocean beyond.”
Mark Jordan has managed to create a menu which showcases the best of modern British cooking, the highest end techniques and fresh Jersey produce. Sophisticated, refined and elegant throughout.
For me the menu bought the Ocean straight onto the plate and did so with aplomb. The Lobster A La Carte started with a fabulous display of skill. The dish combined a light salad of St Ouen’s lobster, mango and basil, lobster tempura and Ebene Caviar. The light tempura gave a fantastic crispness and was cut through with the sweet mango. This was expertly matched by the restaurant Sommelier to a Beaujolais blanc–chardonnary, which gave a slight oaky taste to the dish. My partner went for the pesto velouté made with Jersey cream and this was also rich, full of flavour and delicious.
Main’s carried on this trend of sea to plate. A particular highlight was the seabass, with a Jersey crab and sweetcorn linguine, topped with a champagne foam. The balance of the sweetcorn and the seabass was just right here and each element shone. Take a look below.
Feeling in the mood for utter indulgence, I went for the cheese board and selected a fantastic Stilton, French Brie and cheddar’s from across Europe. Our Sommelier suggested a plum saki to cut through the Stilton and this worked wonderfully. The attention to detail from the staff and their knowledge of the menu made each drinks match on point. Dining at the Ocean restaurant is an absolute treat and a must for all.
Relaxing
The elegant and sophisticated Palm Club at The Atlantic Hotel is designed to offer guests and local residents a relaxing and inspiring environment in which to unwind or work out. The club comprises a deck level indoor swimming pool, spa pool, mini gymnasium and saunas.
Guests are also invited to use the tennis court in the grounds of The Atlantic Hotel – court times can be reserved in advance with the Palm Club.
A Golf View room at the The Atlantic Hotel starts from £150.00 per room per night on a bed and breakfast basis. For more information and to book visit: http://www.theatlantichotel.com/or call (0)1534 744101
Thank you to Flybe – Our trip to Jersey was assisted by Flybe and we found our journey with them from Southampton to Jersey to go without at hitch. Flybe operates up to 5 flights daily between Jersey and Southampton with one way fares from £29.99 including taxes and charges. Available for booking at www.flybe.com.
