Jersey – It may be the shortest flight I’ve ever taken but it certainly made a massive impact. At just 60 minutes in the air and easy breezy passport free transfers through London Luton and St. Helier, we had a great start to this 24 hour trip.

Staying at the Club Hotel & Spa was the purpose for this visit and to sample the delights of their showcase restaurant, Bohemia.

This luxury boutique hotel is perfectly situated in close locale to the beach, bars and shops and has everything you could need for your visit. The spa is fullly equipped to cater for all your relaxation requirements from the outdoor and indoor pools to the extensive treatment menu.

If anyone local asks you where you are staying, the response of ‘The Club’ is met with immediate murmurs of ‘Ahhhhh, Bohemia’ – such is the renown of this gastronomic experience.

Over it’s 18 year Michelin star reign, this place has firmly established itself as one of the top 1000 restaurants in the globe and this immaculate reputation rests fittingly on the shoulders of Masterchef Professionals finalist, head chef Callum Graham.

The timings of this fine dining experience are key, from the moment we were seated at the immaculately starched finest table linen to the precision with which the wine pairings arrived at the perfect time to compliment the arrival of each new offering.

We feasted on the tasting menu which brought delight and decadence with every exquisitely crafted morsel.

Kicking off the drinks with perfectly chilled Lanique rose petal, served creatively with an inverted lime and scattered with petals.

Our first of many courses set the scene: Aged Jersey Angus Sirloin of Beef Tartare, Madeira & Sherry Vinegar accompanied by Walnut, Brillat Savarin Choux, Grape & Vers Jus, signalled that we were in for an unforgettable dining encounter.

Each soupçon individually impeccable and visually impactful.

Somelier Nicolas Marais is the jewel in Bohemia’s crown with his perennial knowledge and charisma. We enjoyed the education on his chosen wines he eloquently imparted as we feasted and sipped.

Potato Mille-Feuille, 2018 Comté, Sorrel followed by Jersey White Crab Meat, Brown Crab Pannacotta with inspired Almond & Granny Smith Apple Textures each sensation just kept surpassing the one before.

Showstopping signatures like Foie Gras Parfait, “Gariguette Strawberry” & Pistachio, Duck Salad, Duck Fat Brioche then BBQ & Roasted Saddle Of lamb, Braised Lamb Stuffed, Courgette flower, Red Pepper & Harrisa, Courgette & Basil, “Ratatouille” Lamb Jus continued to take our breath away.

The artistry of the presentation of each dish was matched only by the flavour packed punch of each bite.

The theatre of the palette cleansing ice cream parlour brought a fitting close to our extensive edibles, prompting plenty of photos of the innovation.

Following that feast we were almost finished off but with only 24 hours in a new place, we couldn’t just head to bed. Our delightful host Nicolas was kind enough to show us around some of Jersey’s chicest nightspots.

Seamless fast travel to the hot place in town is my new go to, definitely a destination I will be revisiting time after time.

Book your break at the Club Hotel & Spa here

The George Inn Barford

The answer is yes….what’s the question?

This mantra sums up our stay at the George Inn, Cotswolds. Nothing was too much trouble for the charismatic team there who gave this charming little bolthole the five star feel.

Nestled in a sleepy residential area, enveloped by sprawling splendid countryside, we navigated the scenic soaked roads with ease to our destination.

I highly recommend a pit stop at the nearby world renowned bustling Bicester Village if you can possibly factor it in to your journey. A fashion mecca, this place has everything and with amazing savings to be made, it’s a great way to spend the day before holing up in The George for the night.

After being shown to our spacious and inviting room, we started unpacking and as we went to put our personals in the bathroom, were greeted by an inviting sight.

The George has invested in Instagram dream bathrooms to give that wow factor. Beautiful Burlington suites set the scene for the ultimate in relaxation.

It was difficult to tear ourselves away from the draw of the room, as we were exhausted and ready to rejuvenate. Good thing we did though, as we had an amazing experience in the cosy luxury of the restaurant thanks to a Head chef who knew exactly how to please his clientele.

For starters, we wanted to choose a small plate from the garden menu and go a la carte for mains. We asked if this was possible and the answer was yes, no problem. This set the tone for the whole stay.

Kicking off with a South African sparkling wine – the George Inn owners’ choice as it’s their homeland – was a delicious, crisp way to start off our delectation. With mains we moved on to a wonderful 2021 French choice, Soleil Des Alpes.

I opted for sweet chicken thigh with soy, chilli & spring onion. Let me assure you, I am chicken obsessed and a tough nut to crack. This was the most tender, succulent and tasty white meat dish with tang I’ve ever had and I would have happily paid head chef Val for the recipe.

My guest Zoe opted for grilled goats cheese truffle with oatcakes and was not disappointed in the indulgent rich tasting offering.

For mains I couldn’t ignore the steak, which the chef benevolently seared well done for this carnivorous charlatan. Zoe delighted in the panko coated pork schnitzel – chips swapped out for a creamy comfort mash infused with caramelised onion – another yes moment – and declared it delectable.

Now, when you have an amazing meal, but feel full and tired, is there anything more appealing than resting for a bit then having dessert delivered to your room to enjoy in bed? That question was rhetorical – no, there is not! These guys cater for every whim and fancy.

Cue two splendidly presented deserts materialising once we had time to change into pj’s and select our movie of choice for the night.

Apple and plum crumble with custard – the epitome of comfort food for me as the rain lashed down outside, I could not have been more happy in that moment.

My partner in crime went leftfield and chose the dark chocolate sponge with Aero chocolate, honeycomb & mousse. What a fusion, aesthetically pleasing and utterly delicious.

We rolled into a state of comfortable satisfaction as we perused Freeview & Netflix before settling on something low brow before a night of deep satisfied slumber.

We had pre-selected our breakfast of choice which could be enjoyed in bed or in the restaurant. We opted for in bed because why not? When else can you enjoy this level of indulgence and not have to deal with the crumbs?

by Amanda Fulton

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Hï Ibiza may indeed be the multi award winning world’s number one Superclub but, cards on the table, I’d never heard of it before we perused David Guetta’s summer 2022 programme and saw he had a residency there.

Not that I was previously more supper club than super club, I just hadn’t been somewhere that vast on my multiple trips to the White Isle before.

More of a chilled vibe day club kinda girl usually, the anticipation was monumental leading up to our group visit to Hï Ibiza to watch the legend at work.

Guetta did not dissapoint. Spinning his biggest hits fused with seamless mixes of crowd pleasing EDM and dance pop classics, the Frenchman was en pointe.

My personal highlight was ‘Titanium’ his 2011 smash featuring Sia. Here’s a clip from his You Tube of that very moment, what an electric atmosphere.

Ibiza attracts residencies from world class DJ’s such as the most sought after DJ ever to come out of Arica, Black Coffee. For great background on Black Coffee, his life & work, check out Stephen Bartlett’s recent podcast, Diary of a CEO, with the man himself. He talks about his shows across the globe and namechecks HÏ Ibiza repeatedly.

Fans of HÏ Ibiza who use their euros for tickets to see Black Coffee there could even find themselves watching one of his famous mates joining him on occasion, just like those who turned up on July 16 this year to find Drake swagger on to join him on set! Ibiza – where you just never know what’s going to happen!

Housed in the Playa d’em Bossa area of Ibiza, this evolutionary space has every possible warm up venue in the surrounding locale, setting the scene for the night of your life.

Not for the faint hearted nor the claustrophobic – this vast expanse is shoulder to shoulder standing room only, unless you splash out on the VIP seated areas. Formed of the two main spaces, often you will find none other than Idris Elba commanding the clubroom and global superstar DJ’s owning the theatre.

HÏ Ibiza closes their 2022 season this Saturday, 8th October and it’s advisable to keep your eyes peeled and your email signed up for alerts on the 2023 schedule announcements to bag gold dust tickets to a night you will never forget.

www.hiibiza.com

A powerful placement in the heart of Soho, Bill’s has become far more than a welcoming pit stop to refuel in the heart of town.

An old kid on the block with a fresh facade, since namesake Bill himself sold to the Caprice Holdings team – the guys behind London stalwarts including The Ivy, J Sheeky & Sexy Fish to name but a few – he has retained a firm hand on the brand identity he has long held so dear.

Our visit was a breath of fresh air, I arrived expecting standard but satisfactory chain fayre based on historical Bill’s experience and left extolling the unexpected joys of our culinary experience.

This brand has undergone an multi venue refurb at a cost of around £16 million and still rising but the turnaround has been significant, breathing new life into Bill”s & putting it firmly back on the dining map of Great Britain.

Historically, Bill’s transcended the generations, with an expansive but lazy menu in a ‘one size fits all’ blueprint but fast forward to today, inclusively catering for the demanding British day to evening crowd whilst not stifling their signature breakfast & brunch offering in the process, is a tough nut to crack.

It’s a juxtaposition that is paying off though, as the fleet now goes from strength to strength and is building a new gen returning clientele.

Let’s turn our attention to the food offerings which have undoubtedly been elevated from mediocre to noteworthy and Bill’s signature style shines through.

I excitedly received my pulled duck starter which was presented imaginatively but unpretentiously. The unexpected accompaniment of watermelon and coriander worked surprisingly well with the sticky barbeque sauce.

Burrata drizzled in chargrilled red pepper, white truffle oil & baby basil for my dining partner was heavenly and a great accompaniment to the bustling atmosphere with excited chatter, buzzy waiting staff and a fresh, opulent aesthetic.

For mains, it’s a bit of a moral dilemma to bypass a Bill’s burger, a menu fundamental after all. So we opted for the classic signature beef dish and a multi layered brunch sandwich which consisted of succulent grilled chicken, smashed avocado, lettuce and tomato slathered with a piquant roasted garlic and basil aioli with a side of rosemary salted fries.

I only chose this because we saw it being delivered to a nearby table and my food envy kicked straight in. Filling and flavoursome, our dishes did not disappoint.

Personally, the undeniable jewel in the crown was dessert though. Bill’s flowerpot was exactly that – an edible miniature flowerpot which looked so pretty and tasted delicious. Strawberry cheesecake with chocolate soil, fresh strawberries and an edible flower as garnish. A true homage to the founder’s humble greengrocer beginnings where he showcased his seasonal produce in such an innovative and galvanised manner, it founded his empire.

We also had the less striking but no less tasty apple pie sundae – a fabulous fusion of cubed apple pieces, caramel sauce, cinnamon and shortbread biscuit wedges, quite the hearty ending to a truly enjoyable dining experience.