Guernsey in 1974 – Part 8

Guernsey in 1974 – Part 8

This is an extract from Peter Haining’s guide book of 1974, which is as much interest today for the historian as to the tourist, as many of the places and industries described in his book have long vanished. Please do not take it as a current guide..

Inns and bars

The Savoy Hotel (The Channel Islands Hotel, St. Peter Port): A “must” for the visitor who likes finding an inn with a difference. The Tudor Bar has what must surely be the most unusual collection of off-beat bric-a-brac in the British Isles. The room itself is typically Tudor and around the massive fireplace there are horse brasses, kettles, plates and fur covered seats. The piece de resistance, however, is without doubt quite unique for a pub—a richly ornamented toilet which serves as an ash tray! If all this is not enough incentive to visit The Tudor Bar, the beer also happens to be very good.

This is a fantastic piece of mid-century Guernsey tourist nostalgia. While visitors looking for the Savoy Hotel today will find the 4-star boutique hotel located in Jersey, Guernsey historically had its own highly popular Savoy Hotel operating in St. Peter Port during the post-war tourism boom. Its Tudor Bar was a celebrated local fixture famed for its heavily stylized, eccentric décor. The highly unique centrepiece—a miniature, ornately decorated ceramic toilet bowl utilized specifically as a bar ashtray—was a famous novelty talking point heavily logged in 1960s and 1970s holiday brochures. The hotel has since closed and transitioned into private development. 

Longfrie Hotel (St. Peter-in-the-Wood): No difficulty in spotting the country tavern—there is a life-sized model of a witch complete with broomstick and pointed hat sitting on the roof. It was originally an old Guernsey farmhouse built in the 16th Century but all the old world atmosphere has been retained in the conversion. In the Old Guernsey Bar, hot meals (including grilled chicken) are served.

The Last Post (St. Andrew): A small, typically rural inn, The Last Post is ideal for the visitor who wants to get away from his fellow holidaymakers for an hour or two. The pub is much used by Guernsey farmers and in its quaint, cool public bar all the latest agricultural topics get an airing. It is also one of the friendliest inns on the island and proprietors cellar can alway be relied upon. The pub is situated alongside the Routes des St. Andrew.


Fisherman’s Bar (Manor Hotel, Petit Bot): If you’ve never seen a giant chancre crab—and can pluck up the courage to face one—the Fisherman’s Bar is the place to put down for a visit. The crabs, which have been dried out in ants’ nests are on show in the bar along with fishing nets and lobster pots. The whole atmosphere is one that conjures up thoughts of the sea and not surprisingly it is much frequented by local fishermen. In the evening they can be found in the bar playing darts, piquet or euchre, a card game peculiar to Guernsey. The view from the bar across Petit Bot Bay is quite outstanding and the whole setting makes one want to linger.

The Manor Hotel at Petit Bôt was a famous valley hotel with incredible bay views. However, the hotel closed its doors for good in the early 2000s and was subsequently demolished to make way for luxury private residential housing. The legendary Fisherman's Bar is gone.

The Albion (St. Peter Port): One of the oldest and most famous inns on Guernsey. The Albion overlooks the harbour and is always thronged with cheerful holidaymakers and local fishermen. Despite buildings surrounding it, the inn has retained its old world look and is covered with ivy. The Albion boasts, three bars, a good cellar and the beer is invariably good.

The Yacht (St. Peter Port): The Yacht is only a few yards away from the Albion on the Esplanade and is the meeting place for visiting yachtsmen and local sailors. Here in a setting of old lifebelts, ships’ lamps, anchors etc., they meet to discuss boats and tides over a pint of best bitter. It’s an ideal spot to go if you want to crew on a yacht or get a fisherman to take you out on a fishing trip.

English & Guernsey Arms (St. Sampsons): The big attraction here is the full size Skittles Alley which is the only one of its kind on the island. The alley is usually much in demand, but it can be booked in advance. On certain nights there are tournaments, and it is fun watching the locals pit their skill against each other. If you can’t get on the alley there are always the shove ha’penny boards in the public bar.

Known affectionately by generations of locals as the "E&G," the English and Guernsey Arms was located on the Southside of the Bridge in St. Sampson. For decades, it was a central hub for traditional pub league games, including full-size indoor skittles and shove ha'penny. However, the venue later operated briefly as Blind O'Reilly's before closing down completely. The site was sold by the Liberation Group, and island planning frameworks have designated the former pub footprint for residential housing development.

Welcome Inn (Wayside Cheer Hotel, Grandes Rocques): The hotel overlooks the beach and is easy to spot because of the black and yellow cats spitting at each other on the roof. The bar itself is a piece of history preserved: low beams, old lamps and highly polished brass. A popular spot for evening cocktails, The Welcome Inn lives up to its name in making visitors feel really at home.

The Wayside Cheer Hotel was a legendary fixture overlooking Grandes Rocques Bay, famous for its historic ballroom dances, live music nights, and its signature roof ornamentation featuring cats. The Welcome Inn bar area leaned heavily on old-world maritime charm. The hotel permanently closed its doors to public hospitality following a severe kitchen fire and later administrative shifts. The property transitioned away from tourism entirely and operates under a States contract providing Key Worker Housing, meaning the hotel, bar, and restaurant are strictly closed to the general public.

Houmet Tavern (Grand Havre): Only a stone’s throw from the beach, the Houmet Tavern is worth calling in at any time of the day. Particularly attractive is the Alpine Lounge which has been done out in Swiss style. The tavern does particularly delicious snacks in the evening including hamburgers and onions. The house speciality is a cocktail called “Avalanche” but this is not quite as explosive as it sounds!

The beachfront Houmet Tavern was highly popular for its mid-to-late 20th-century themed rooms (like the Alpine Lounge) and classic bar food. While the historic building still stands prominently on the edge of Grand Havre Bay, the venue was completely taken over, deeply refurbished, and permanently renamed by the Liberation Group. Today, it functions as the family-friendly Puffin & Oyster pub and restaurant, known for its open kitchen, seafood menu, and modern coastal aesthetic rather than retro Swiss lounges.

Tropicana Bar (Hotel Continental, Jerbourg): This is Guernsey’s most southerly hotel, and perched at the end of - the Jerbourg peninsula it has a magnificent view of the sea and coastline. The Tropicana Bar is a piece of inspiration on the part of the hotelier and has captured a Caribbean atmosphere with palm trees, basket chairs and all manner of bright fittings. The hotel is at the far end of the Route de Jerbourg in St. Martin’s and there is a bus service to the door. Three nights a week there is dancing in the El Sombrero room which adjoins the bar, and in the gardens is a 9-hole putting green.

This perfectly matches mid-century Guernsey tourist brochures from the 1960s and 1970s. The Hotel Continental at Jerbourg Point was famous for its heavily themed, exotic spaces like the Caribbean-style Tropicana Bar and the Spanish-themed El Sombrero dancing lounge. While it remains the island's most southerly hotel site with spectacular cliff views, the themed venues have vanished. Following an upscale transformation, the entire property has long been operating as the prestigious 4-star Hotel Jerbourg.

Hunter’s Lodge (Forest Hotel, St. Martin): The work of Guernsey stonemasons is justifiably famous and this bar provides an opportunity to see some samples in a most impressive setting. The hotel is very close to Guernsey Airport and is often the first inn visited by holidaymakers. The cellar here is exceptionally varied and visitors can be offered spirits, Continental liqueurs and locally brewed beers and stouts. The meals here are also highly praised. .

Due to its close proximity to the airport terminal, the Forest Hotel was a prime gateway watering hole for arriving tourists. Its Hunter's Lodge bar was renowned for its beautiful exposed Guernsey granite stonework. In later decades, the hotel was renamed St. Margaret’s Lodge (and subsequently the Forest Park Hotel). Sadly, the property has been closed permanently since 2016. It fell into a state of severe dereliction, becoming an island eyesore to the point that local planning authorities issued formal enforcement notices requiring cleanup and redevelopment.

St. Saviour’s Hotel (St. Saviour’s): The Lounge and Public Bars in this hotel are frequented by both local fishermen and growers, and consequently it is a good place to hear the patois spoken. The Lounge Bar contains a very fine collection of Safari prints, while the Public has bar billiards, a shove ha’penny board and one of the few remaining ring boards. The fact that the hotel is used by local people speaks highly of the quality of its beer and spirits.

A heartbreakingly accurate piece of Guernsey's social and linguistic history. Affectionately nicknamed "The Ritz" by its regulars, the St. Saviour's Hotel (and its public tavern) was a vital community hub for western parish farmers, tomato growers, and tradesmen. It was historically one of the best places to hear Guernésiais (the native Norman-French patois) spoken naturally over a pint. It also preserved old-school pub gaming traditions like the "ring board". The hotel closed for good in 2007. Despite fierce campaigns by parish locals to save and reopen it, permission was granted to completely demolish the structure in 2011 to make way for residential flats.

 
Lucifer’s Bar (Hotel Bella Luce, Moulin Huet Valley): One of Guernsey’s most unusual bars in an equally unusual setting. The Bella Luce (the name means Beautiful Light) is actually an old Norman residence which has been superbly modernised. Lucifer’s Bar isa dark and mysterious bar which specialises in dispensing over 100 different kinds of liqueurs. Its setting has to be seen to be believed. There is a spacious garden to sit in and croquet can be played on the lawn.

The historical architecture is correct; the property originates from a beautiful 12th-to-16th-century Norman manor longhouse. In the 1970s, its atmospheric cellar bar, Lucifer's Bar, was a legendary dark-lit lounge heavily celebrated for its massive selection of spirits and liqueurs. After functioning for decades as an award-winning boutique hotel and gin distillery, the site was sold to new developers in 2022. The historic front walls remain preserved under strict heritage rules, but the modern extensions were almost entirely demolished to pave the way for a brand-new, ultra-exclusive luxury boutique hotel and wellness centre.

Captain’s Hotel (St. Martin): A picturesque, flower bedecked hotel, The Captain’s is invariably recommended by local residents when asked about Guernsey’s inns and taverns. The ‘“‘Olde Worlde Lounge Bar”’ full of antiques is certainly one of the most striking bars on the island and specialises in wines, spirits and liqueurs. The Patois Bar is where the visitor can hear the charming Guernsey patois spoken and for the price of a pint get all the information he requires about life and customs on the island. Outside there is a spacious, shaded terrace for sitting during the heat of the day.

This is the happiest entry on the list. Now known simply as The Captains, this flower-decked establishment in St. Martin remains fully operational and is still highly recommended by locals. While its interiors have modernized over the decades to serve excellent pub food and accommodate travelers, it still proudly retains its character as an authentic island inn.

Coach Bar (Hotel Les Douvres, St. Martin): A pub in the very best traditions of the word: low beamed ceiling, cosy atmosphere and unusual stable-type seats. The hotel is the nearest licensed premise to busy Saints beach and provides a complete contrast with secluded lawns and huge trees. The building itself is a modernised 18th Century manor house and the Coach Bar is easily spotted by the coach wheel which hangs over the entrance.

Highly accurate and still standing. Built out from an elegant 18th-century country manor, Les Douvres Hotel remains one of the premier country-pub-hotels in St. Martin, situated right at the turnoff toward Saints Bay. The property is widely celebrated for its cozy atmosphere, low-beamed ceilings, and family-friendly dining.

Cavalier Cocktail and Old Vienna Bars (St. Martin’s Hotel, St. Martin): The setting for this bar can be guessed from its name, but what is not as obvious is that it belongs (as does all the hotel) to- singing star Ronnie Ronalde. In the time since he took over the premises, Ronnie has created a spot humming with life and laughter. His Palladium Lounge, for instance, has a band playing every evening, and he himself appears in cabaret in the Wedgewood Room once a week.

Ronnie Ronalde (1923–2015) was a massive international variety hall star, famous for his extraordinary whistling, yodelling, and bird imitations. Foreseeing the decline of music halls, he moved to Guernsey in the 1960s and purchased the St. Martin's Hotel, which locals universally called "Ronnie Ronalde's". Following his departure in the late 1980s, the hotel eventually closed in the 2000s and fell into severe disrepair, exacerbated by a major fire in 2016. Long-awaited demolition crews began clearing the site to pave the way for a brand-new residential development.

The Pony Inn (Les Capelles, St. Sampson): The Pony Inn is one of Guernsey’s newest public houses and has been furnished in the best taste for maximum comfort. Already commended by the local people for its friendliness and quick service, the inn is also finding favour with visitors. The cellar is extensive and provides holidymakers with a chance to sample the home brewed beers.


Bavarian Cocktail Bar (La Favorita Hotel, Fermain): A spacious, modern bar overlooking picturesque Fermain Bay which was actually built by the Germans during their Occupation of Guernsey. The present owners have enlarged it slightly but the original Bavarian atmosphere, complete with Beer Steins for drinking, has been retained.

T his is historically exact regarding the infrastructure. During the 1940–1945 Occupation, German forces constructed reinforced bunkers and military quarters on the wooded slopes overlooking Fermain Bay. Following liberation, the owners of La Favorita Hotel cleverly integrated one of these sturdy concrete German structures, styling it into a themed "Bavarian Bar" complete with authentic beer steins—a highly popular post-war tourist gimmick. The hotel operated under the La Favorita name for decades. However, in the early 2000s, the property was purchased, entirely refurbished, and merged with its neighbor to form the luxury 4-star Fermain Valley Hotel.