THE ATLANTIC BOUTIQUE HOTEL LUXURY

Nothing can prepare even the most seasoned traveller for the magnificent view that suddenly appears before your very eyes as you drive through the stone gated pillars of The Atlantic Hotel.
Set in six acres of private fragrant gardens and manicured lawns its uninterrupted views of the Atlantic Ocean will simply blow you away. The Atlantic Hotel is simply a wonderful hideaway hotel on the island of Jersey and the perfection location for a short break.
Jersey is just over an hour’s flight from Doncaster, Leeds and Bradford or Manchester and the hotel only a short 10 minute drive from the airport.
A family run boutique retreat, the aptly named Atlantic Hotel is a haven of peace, luxury and tranquillity nestling in a dramatic setting on the wild and wonderful west side of the island.
It’s type of hotel that you never want to leave and there’s no need to everything is here. Relax by the pool in the sunshine, enjoy afternoon tea on the terrace, indulge in exclusive spa treatments, play tennis or golf, chill out on a sunbed in the peaceful gardens where the only noise is the lapping of the waves below.
When the weather becomes cooler there’s a great indoor pool, sauna and jacuzzi with a gym for those who want some gentle exercise and you can still enjoy the ocean views from the comfort of the spacious lounges or terrace.
The Atlantic is one of the most relaxing locations you can imagine. The 1930’s exterior has a nautical retro look but inside and it has the feel of a Caribbean plantation house. Skilfully designed highly polished woodwork, oak boarded floors with middle eastern rugs blend with an eclectic mix of luxurious furnishings, fountains, lush foliage and floor to ceiling French doors that all lead onto the large terrace.
My room was an Ocean View Room and I was impressed how light and spacious it was but even more impressive were the floor to ceiling windows that flooded my room with natural light and opened onto to a step on balcony. The view from my room was amazing of the ocean by day and the floodlit gardens and pool by night.
The furnishing were contemporary oak and contrasted beautifully with the comfy chairs and the chaise lounge and there were plenty of tables, a huge chest of drawers alongside a flat screen T.V. and some very sophisticated lighting.
The bathroom was perfection with great well lit mirrors, bath and shower and a fluffy bathrobe and slippers.
But the sparkling jewel in this hotel’s crown is its restaurant with its great cuisine that’s a popular choice with locals.
It’s a spacious light and airy place with old style service and the only restaurant where you can see the sunset from your table – an amazing sight.
Executive Chef, Will Holland has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants since he was 18 and incorporates local produce in his menus whilst adding a taste of Yorkshire is Sous Chef, Adam Braithwaite from Hull.
The restaurant prides itself on its old style service – and top class it is. It’s also friendly and takes into account guests needs. Being on my own, Maître D Marta always made sure I had a nice table near the window and seized the opportunity, when she could, to indulge in some friendly girly chatter with me. She was also a mine of information informing guests of good places to visit and even the destinations and numbers of the buses that pass the hotel.
The restaurant staff were well informed about the dishes and like the rest of the hotel’s staff nothing was ever too much trouble and they made you feel really special.
The hotel offers a choice of a three course Market Menu, which is changed daily, an a la carte and tasting menu.
Dinner always started with a trio of chef’s appetizers. My particular favourites were the salmon mille feuille, beetroot macaroons and tiny jersey potatoes with a goats cheese filling with the hot sour dough bread with Jersey butter always too good to resist
There were mouth-watering starters like a Monterey Jack Cheese Ravioli with buttered and barbequed baby leaks and a Smoked Salmon Mousse with gingerbread, pickled cucumber and wasabi yoghurt that really tickled the taste buds and celebrated a fusion of flavours.
Main courses were perfection. The Roast Tenderloin and Braised Pork Cheek just melted in the mouth and the crushed Jersey potatoes, apple chutney and stem broccoli were the perfect accompaniments.
At dinner the following evening I just mentioned I would love the Jersey Beef Fillet Wellington but I supposed it came pink and I need my meat well cooked. As if by magic Marta arranged that for me and a well cooked Beef Wellington emerged from the kitchen. Inside the crispy pastry was a forest mushroom fricassee which complimented the flavour of the meat along with a red wine sauce and roast baby carrots.
I must admit dinner always took me a long time as I needed rests between courses as portions are more than ample.
The sweets left me in a whirl, my favourite heaven on a plate being the Stem Ginger and Jersey Yoghurt Parfait absolutely wonderful as was the Dark Chocolate Delice with pure chocolate and an orange zest and blood orange a sheer treat for a chocoholic like me .
After dinner I got used to retiring to the terrace and indulging in a must for everyone the coffee and home made petit fours that are five star plus. It was a great place to sit overlooking the floodlit gardens and watching the sun go down.
Breakfast was another fantastic meal which you can savour on the terrace or in the dining room. And if like me you want to relax for a few hours around the pool there’s attentive service for drinks all day with snacks and lunch being served on the terrace.
The Atlantic Hotel is set on the quiet west side of the island. St Ouens Bay is well away from the hustle and bustle of St Helier and a surfers paradise. Sandy beaches back on to sand dunes and its only a few minutes to La Pulente beach, always seemingly deserted except for a few sea birds.
As the island is only nine miles by five miles and well signposted its easy to get anywhere quickly.
If you can tear yourself away from the hotel take the Five Mile Road along the length of St Ouen’s Bay. Car hire is a real boon but if you walk to the end of the drive and you can catch a bus to most places.
Soak up some of the island’s history at Elizabeth Castle by foot at low tide or ferry at high ride or Mount Orgueil Castle with views over to France. Take a guided walk round La Corbiere Lighthouse or explore the War Tunnels, Jersey Zoo or enjoy some tax free retail therapy in St Helier.
There’s so much to see and do – you can’t really do it all in one visit. It needs several – well at least that’s my story and I am sticking to it.
To book:
The Atlantic Hotel Le Mont de la Pulente, St Brelade, Jersey JE3 8HE Tel: 01534 744101. The hotel has a number of special short and longer break packages all through the year visit www.theatlantichotel.com for full details. For general information about the island visit Jersey Tourism on https://www.jersey.com.
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