The Relais & Chateaux property Longueville Manor sits on an 18-acre estate of sprawling woodland and gardens, providing a decadent place to stay amid Jersey’s valleys. A stay at this restored manor, which in part dates back as far as the 14th century, elevates the experience of a trip to the isolated island. Here you can take a dip in the heated open-air pool, retreat to the hotel’s spa and dine at the gastronomic restaurant serving cuisine by the award-winning chef Andrew Baird. Now the hotel has announced the imminent opening of its state-of-the-art wine cellar, promising a more extensive wine tasting experience here than ever before.
Despite its remote setting, the island attracts a steady stream of visitors year-round for its empty beaches, cliff-side walking trails, inland valleys and historic castles, with a storied past that gives insight into its distinct British-French identity. With pristine shores and fertile farmland, Jersey takes particular pride in the quality and abundance of its local produce, from its famously rich Jersey cream to the fresh seafood that’s brought in each day by local fishermen.
During a stay here guests can seek out the island’s prosperous farmers’ markets and renowned local purveyors such as the Fresh Fish Company, try out waterside restaurants such as Sumas in St Martin, and set out on foraging tours of Jersey’s coastline with Wild Adventures Jersey to stumble upon rock samphire, oysters and even lobster. On any trip to the island be sure to tuck into Jersey’s freshly caught lobster, try oysters prepared in a variety of ways and savor the especially sweet crab meat.
STAY All of Longueville Manor’s suites are individually designed in a different style, combining classic design and sumptuous fabrics with eclectic details such as the Longueville Junior Suite’s freestanding leopard bathtub and the Tower Suite’s more contemporary furnishings. The most covetable place to stay is the Cottage Suite; this cozy 500-year-old cottage sits alongside the manor, featuring two double bedrooms and an open-plan lounge and dining area, with original features such as oak beams and a granite fireplace seen throughout each luxuriously furnished room.
DINE It’s not just Jersey’s food scene that’s given Longueville Manor its reputation for gastronomy; the hotel is celebrated for its own culinary offering too, from hearty breakfasts and casual dining to decadent afternoon teas and the fine dining experience the restaurant provides as chef Andrew Baird cooks up accomplished plates using the local and home-grown produce. Expect hearty dishes such as roast free-range quail with glazed grapes, fig, ginger, orange and quail egg, alongside seafood plates such as local deep water crab with sweet pickled cucumber, melon, avocado and warm crab bon bon, and butter poached lobster with shumai and Asian broth. Opt for the chef’s Discovery Menu for the most comprehensive experience but leave room for the array of French, British and local artisan cheeses on the restaurant’s cheese trolley, which was designed by master carpenter Remi Couriard and crafted from 180-year-old French oak.
RELAX Named after its adjoining Victorian walled garden, the Cottage Garden acts as the hotel’s spa sanctuary where many of the treatments are fittingly herb and fruit based. With highly trained therapists on hand, treatments are tailored to each guest’s needs using Ren, Manomara and de Mamiel products; signature treatments include the Manomara Cottage Garden Massages, which are designed to either relax or uplift through the essential oils used. Private yoga sessions are arranged on request and you’re free to make use of the open-air heated pool, hot tubs, gym and outdoor tennis courts.
EXPLORE Before venturing to other parts of the island, get to know the manor’s estate and surrounding woodland trails, then take the chance to venture offshore by chartering the manor’s Princess 42 yacht, Fizz Too. Sip champagne as you set out on a full- or half-day excursion to one of the neighboring islands while looking out for dolphins and seals.
While the focus of a trip to Jersey can inevitably fall on the island’s gastronomy, a stay at Longueville Manor can be anything you want it to be, whether that’s a winter break of blustery coastal walks, soaking in the outdoor hot tub and fireside afternoon teas, or a summer escape of sun-soaked days spent on the island’s sandy coastline.
The Tower Suite is priced at $970 per night and the Cottage Suite is priced at $1,170 per night. Find out more by going over to longuevillemanor.com.
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