The Revere
A subtle ambience, an exotic yet dreamlike something in the atmosphere, making an evening to recall later with nostalgia; this is what all young lovers, lovers who are young in heart, incurable romantics, and those whose everyday life is encompassed by dull routine, long for when searching for the perfect place for dining out.
Marshall Doran and his wife Joyce evidently understood this all too well when fifteen years ago they created The Revere in Kensington Place Transforming the original tumble-down building into one of Jersey‘s smartest hotel-restaurants was a long job.
A subtle ambience, an exotic yet dreamlike something in the atmosphere, making an evening to recall later with nostalgia; this is what all young lovers, lovers who are young in heart, incurable romantics, and those whose everyday life is encompassed by dull routine, long for when searching for the perfect place for dining out.
Marshall Doran and his wife Joyce evidently understood this all too well when fifteen years ago they created The Revere in Kensington Place Transforming the original tumble-down building into one of Jersey‘s smartest hotel-restaurants was a long job.
Fortunately Mr. Doran was just the right man for the task, for like many sailors. he is one of the handiest people that ever breathed. In his youth (he is still only on the threshold of middle age), he was at sea for many years as a ship‘s deck officer. He served in the United States Navy during the war, but always nursed a longing to return to Jersey. an island he knew well from his boyhood days.
First task was to make the exterior look attractive, sited as it was in this rather dull little side street off St. Helier's beaten track. Today the hotel looks very much as it did when he finished it at that time, rather like a recherche French auberge with its well pointed granite porch, white jalousies and gay flower boxes. In the charming lounge, the French decor and huge granite fireplaces provide a symbol of gracious living, particularly in the winter when the log fires glow!
First task was to make the exterior look attractive, sited as it was in this rather dull little side street off St. Helier's beaten track. Today the hotel looks very much as it did when he finished it at that time, rather like a recherche French auberge with its well pointed granite porch, white jalousies and gay flower boxes. In the charming lounge, the French decor and huge granite fireplaces provide a symbol of gracious living, particularly in the winter when the log fires glow!
A Panelled Bar
The building of the bar was quite an achievement. It is made entirely of mediaeval hand-carved oak panels, acquired in one way or another from many parts of the world. There is also an alcove in the grill room displaying twenty-eight exquisitely carved panels from Langley Castle in Derbyshire. How they got from there to the Revere is quite a story, but unfortunately lack of space precludes the telling. The grill room itself is a symphony of wrought-iron, silver candelabra and rich furnishings. All the old oak dining tables are of Mr. Doran's own making, likewise the beautifully upholstered dining chairs.
Husband and Wife team
This two-year operation was not a one-man affair, Mrs. Doran, a keen collector of antiques and a woman of great imagination, worked with her husband all the hours there were, and she still paints the artistic ‘King Salmon‘ menus by hand, showing the rosy monarch with a crown on his head and a cigar in his fishy mouth.
Born in Cumberland, her family at one time owned Blenkinsop Castle on the borders, where she lived. Castles must be in her destiny, for now she and her husband own another, this time in Eire, in the form of a stone-built Gothic castle at Ballina on the River Moy, now to be transformed into a seventy-bedroom hotel with the accent on ‘the Good Life‘.
'We want to break away and start this' says Mr. Doran, ‘and the two places will complement each other‘.
Husband and Wife team
This two-year operation was not a one-man affair, Mrs. Doran, a keen collector of antiques and a woman of great imagination, worked with her husband all the hours there were, and she still paints the artistic ‘King Salmon‘ menus by hand, showing the rosy monarch with a crown on his head and a cigar in his fishy mouth.
Born in Cumberland, her family at one time owned Blenkinsop Castle on the borders, where she lived. Castles must be in her destiny, for now she and her husband own another, this time in Eire, in the form of a stone-built Gothic castle at Ballina on the River Moy, now to be transformed into a seventy-bedroom hotel with the accent on ‘the Good Life‘.
'We want to break away and start this' says Mr. Doran, ‘and the two places will complement each other‘.
New Management
For this reason, a new manager with complete responsibility has been appointed to The Revere. Mr. Peter Weaver was previously manager of the East Arms Hotel at Hurley near Maidenhead and has been in the hotel business all his life, as assistant manager, then manager, having trained in every department. A man of great charm and ability, Mr. Weaver is delighted with the Revere and Jersey. He feels there is excellent potential for a first-class restaurant here, with the finest French cuisine and the very best of service.
He is already becoming quite well known among Jersey's more discerning diners out. He feels that it is a very important part of his business to welcome each and every guest, to get to know his clientele and to ensure that they are really well looked after. In fact he is to be found in some part of the hotel at almost any hour of the day, from 7 am. until the small hours.
The granite wine cellar which Mr. Doran excavated and made by hand in those early days and its splendid collection of vintage wines particularly please him. On the residential side he has accommodation for ninety guests and intends to keep one floor open during the winter.
A Loyal Staff
No one realises better than Mr. Weaver that he is extremely fortunate in his staff. Lucien, the French chef who is certainly one of, and perhaps the best chef on the Island and who has spent nine years in Jersey, has formerly been to Bermuda or Jamaica each winter as chef to one of the luxury hotels. Rudi the barman, an Italian, was previously at the White Hart at Sonning-on—Thames and will stay on for the winter season. Peter. the quiet and courteous head waiter, is an Austrian and has filled this post for three years, while Manuel the wine waiter is from Portugal.
Mr. Weaver has already thought up some bright ideas and put them into operation. He has a doorman on duty parking cars for the restaurant and has introduced a 25x- dinner dance on Saturday nights. It is hard to think of anything pleasanter than dining in those beautiful surroundings while the candles, in silver candelabra or perhaps an old Bristol bottle, flicker gently, and elegant silver, glass, mirrors and objet d’art catch the reflection from shelves or alcoves all around the walls.
On the dance floor the Mary Carlyle Trio play soft dinner music and Mary may be heard singing in her own quiet, sophisticated manner. Then, with bass and drums she swings to a lively tune and the diners glide onto the floor. The escargots, the coquilles Saint-Jacques or the Homard Thermidor is abandoned for the moment, the wine sparkles in the goblets, soft music, golden candlelight, beautiful gowns—yes, that subtle and so elusive ambience is found at The Revere.
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