There are many houses and apartments that enjoy sea views. Popular places include St Brelade’s Bay; St Ouen’s Bay, with its unspoilt dunes; the quaint St Aubin’s harbour; and Gorey, with its castle backdrop. On the north coast, there are pretty coves such as Bouley Bay, Rozel, Bonne Nuit and Grève de Lecq, with views over the old fishing ports.
What kind of properties do you have?
Pink granite has been the building stone for hundreds of years for beautiful farmhouses in the countryside. A lot of these have been extended and are favoured by those who require privacy. There are also several large manor houses surrounded by acres of land. Then we have the “cod houses”, Georgian in style, with high ceilings. They were showpiece homes for merchants who made their fortune through the North Atlantic fishing trade. We also have converted barns, cottages and, of course, new-builds, which are perennially popular. Recent arrivals tend to like a turnkey property – maybe a new penthouse.
Which are the best places to eat?
Seafood is particularly popular – for obvious reasons – and there are beautiful beachside places to eat it. In St Helier, I love La Capannina, a traditional Italian, and Pêtchi, a wood-fired grill restaurant with Basque influences: its coal-roasted Asturian octopus with chilli crunch and cep velouté is delicious. The Michelin-starred Bohemia, under chef Callum Graham, uses seasonal, local ingredients and is great for a special occasion. And Longueville Manor is a wonderfully cosy venue for the colder months, with a roaring fire and a beautiful Christmas tree.
And the best bars?
The Kings Bar in St Helier is fabulous, with a dessert cocktail menu that’s great fun. Zephyr at the Royal Yacht hotel has a super vibe – it’s the place to go for an after-work drink. The Blind Pig is an intimate speakeasy in the heart of St Helier. And Les Fontaines Tavern in St John – known to the locals as the “Northern Office” – is a traditional pub with oak beams and views of France.
What do you do for fun?
There’s watersports and cycling all over the island, with lots of clubs and amazing events in the summer. The beach is a focal point for everyone – you’re never more than 10 minutes from the sea. St Helier has a big marina and the Jersey Boat Show, which takes place in May, has everything from wetbikes to superyachts on display. The Jersey International Air Display honours the Battle of Britain: the Red Arrows do a fly-past. And in August, a huge floral parade, the Battle of Flowers, happens once during the day and again by moonlight.
