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Jersey - 7th-10th September 2007

Jersey & Tipsy Toad Brewery
19th Jersey Beer & Cider Festival
Impressions of a New Member
Photo Gallery

For the second year running we arranged a visit to the island of Jersey to coincide with the annual Beer Festival.

This year a party of 24 members, wives & friends gathered in the early morning sun at Coventry Airport for the flight to Jersey.
Accommodation for most of the group was again at the Pomme D'Or Hotel right in the centre of St. Helier. Once again, the Lamplighter pub (GBG08) was chosen as 'tour HQ' as it is just at the side of the hotel.

Jersey & Tipsy Toad Brewery

I was amongst the members who, on arrival, immediately went to visit the Jersey & Tipsy Toad Brewery where Paul Hurley, the head brewer, gave us an interesting talk on the brewery & its history. As a reward for listening we were treated to some of the now famous Tipsy toad hospitality where Jersey Special (4.5%ABV) & Jimmy's Bitter (4.2%) was liberally dispensed. All 4 employees on site joined us at the end of their working day. Paul even organised a lift back to our hotel for us, which was very good of him or perhaps he just thought it was the only way he would get rid of us!

Weighing the hops		Paul's tour		Tipsy Toad vessels		Tipsy Toad Staff		The happy throng

Alan Cooke

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19th Jersey Beer & Cider Festival

Held in marquees on the People's Park, St. Helier.

Six H&B members volunteered to work behind the festival bar on the Saturday afternoon, just for the free T-Shirt you understand, nothing at all to do with the free beer! Unfortunately this must have been the festival's quietest time and we were left feeling somewhat under utilised.

The 'workers'		The marquees		It did get busy on Friday		Paul Hurley & the H&B bar staff & customers

Alan Cooke

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Impressions of a New Member

Friday

Being new members of CAMRA Hinckley & Bosworth Sub Branch, we joined our new fellow members to attend the festival.  After a hearty breakfast we all departed from Coventry Airport early on Friday morning and after just a short hop (40 minutes) our Boeing 737 landed at Jersey Airport.  Luggage collected, we caught the airport bus to St Helier for our 3 night stay at the 4* Pomme d’Or Hotel adjacent to the bus terminus.  Our early arrival meant that our rooms weren’t ready so, luggage free and the pubs still closed, we headed to the Royal Square and enjoyed morning coffee at Le Petit Greek in the glorious morning sunshine.  Refreshed, we took the opportunity to get our bearings and explore St Helier’s indoor market. 

After checking in the beautiful hotel at midday we decided to catch the ‘Road Train’ to St Aubin and sample some beers at the Boathouse directly overlooking the harbour….Bliss!!  That evening we ate at King’s Restaurant, the beer and wine flowed and a great evening was enjoyed by all.

Saturday

Being quite adventurous we decided to hire a scooter and went around the entire island in an anti-clockwise direction.  Jersey’s beaches and coves are absolutely stunning, so much so it’s hard to choose a favourite place.  Morning coffee was taken at The Hungry Man Café at Rozel Bay. Lunch and Wells Bombadier was taken at the Moulin De Lecq – a 12^th century inn.

We arrived back at St Helier just before 4pm and made our way to the beer festival at People’s Park, being beer festival virgins we joined our fellow members for a couple of swift tasters and a few more beers of various colours, tastes and strengths. Titanic Iceberg hitting the right spot !  All too soon it was time to leave to dine at Bella Italia.

Sunday

Four wheels hired this time, the morning was spent visiting and exploring the Jersey War Tunnels before making our way to Ouaisne Bay and The Smugglers Inn (a Jersey CAMRA pub of the year) for a superb Sunday lunch with our fellow members. Watered and fed, a quick beach paddle was followed by a visit to Portelet Bay and The Portelet Inn.  Following another beer we drove to Corbiere Lighthouse, St Ouens Bay and onto Greve De Lecq and once again the Moulin De Lecq for refreshments.

A 30mph dash back to St Helier, cars parked, it was time for some more beer at the Lamplighter just around the corner from the hotel, where quite a few Waggledance and Youngs were sampled.

Monday

After a leisurely breakfast, followed by a walk around St Helier, it was time to collect our luggage and make our way back to the airport for our afternoon flight home.

Jersey is an absolutely beautiful island and we are already looking forward to next year’s visit.

Many thanks must go to our fellow members of CAMRA (Hinckley & Bosworth Sub Branch) who made us so welcome.  We now have a new group of friends and would highly recommend any non members reading this to join.

Barry & Mandy Aldred
 

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Photo Gallery

St Helier from the Castle		Portelet Inn		Old Court House, St. Brelade (GBG08)		The Secretary's new shades!		War tunnels

Photos by:
Chris Davies
Barry Aldred
Phill Wholton
Richard Lewen

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