Massages have many well-known health benefits – easing muscle tension, improving circulation, helping with stress – but they’re probably not the first thing you’d think of when you’re trying to re-learn how to walk. In August last year, Sam Sahai suffered a riding accident that fractured her spine – leaving her a paraplegic within moments. She was airlifted to Southampton, where surgeons carried out a complex spinal operation, fusing five vertebrae with metal rods and plates.
Just a week later, Sam was back in Jersey and beginning the painstaking process of learning to walk again. She slowly graduated from a zimmer frame to crutches, and by October was strong enough to begin hydrotherapy – a water-based rehab that rebuilds muscle and teaches balance without putting pressure on the spine.
However, even with the hospital’s treatment programme, parts of her recovery remained untouched. Large patches of skin on her hips and legs were still numb, leaving parts of her body feeling foreign. Friends suggested massage treatments, but every therapist turned her away, citing concerns about the metalwork in her spine.
Tables turned when she met Les at Natural Therapies – a complementary therapy clinic who respect clinical practice and work alongside medical professionals. Their mission is to support people during clinical intervention where appropriate, referring to clinicians when therapy is insufficient in itself as a course of action. As a retired paramedic with a reputation for taking on complicated cases, Les wasn’t fazed by surgical scars or spinal implants. At their first session, he studied Sam’s X-rays, reviewed her medication, and examined the deep scar that ran along her back.
Les’ approach was far from a spa-style massage. His treatment focused on fascia release – a targeted technique designed to free trapped tissue, stimulate blood flow and reawaken nerves dulled by trauma. Within a couple of sessions, Sam regained around 95% of sensation in her legs. By the fifth, full feeling had returned – something that she had never imagined possible.
Outside of regular treatments, Les suggested other supportive therapies: aqua classes where lifeguards kept an eye on her, regular sauna visits to ease muscle tension, and handmade scar oils blended by his wife Michelle – a Clinical Aromatherapist – to keep the healing skin pliable. Between appointments, Les remembered everything: which exercises she was supposed to be doing, upcoming hospital check ups and how her body was responding to coming off pain medication. “He has a lovely way of communicating,” she said. “If I had been busy and hadn’t done my exercises, he’d just support me with that. He had a genuine interest in how I was getting on, backed up by really good knowledge.”
The effect of Les’ treatments became even more obvious when he went on holiday. She missed two sessions, and could feel the difference. “When he left, I was in a very good place – I was back riding, doing light gardening and exercising again,” she said. “But without his sessions, I started to notice how much tension and stiffness returned.” It showed that Les’ treatments were at the centre of her recovery, allowing her to heal more quickly and completely than she would have otherwise.
Six months after the accident, Sam was able to get back in the saddle. Whilst the first rides were nothing glamorous – slow walks up and down her own driveway, supported either side by her husband and daughter – they allowed her to regain an element of her life that after the accident had felt lost. Her short rides, taken on a trusted pony, grew slowly in distance. Often, she would walk beside him, using him to steady her. “I’m convinced he understood what was going on,” she said. “This pony usually loves to run. But when I was with him, he’s careful. He knows how to take care of me.”
Ten months on, Sam still sees Les regularly. She plans to continue until she reaches the one-year mark – by then, she hopes scans will show her spine has healed enough to begin working with a personal trainer and properly rebuild the muscle she lost. At that point, Les’ role will shift from essential treatment to occasional maintenance – a safety net she knows she’ll always be grateful for.
Turns out, sweating with strangers was exactly what I needed.
I realised recently that my solo gym sessions had gotten soft: half-hearted reps, long pauses, too much self preservation and really just not a lot of effort. I decided it was time to try something different and completely out my comfort zone.
I signed up for some classes over at Funktion Gym, first up was the Strength class. I was met with Damon, who ran us through five-minute stations, each focused on a different set of movements. By the end of the class, my legs were trembling, sweat was dripping into my eyes and I was already thinking about when I could come back. Now, I thought I was in fairly good shape but my god, I was humbled. The beauty of the class is you are in competition with yourself. It is as hard as you want to make it.
Then came the Dance Class, led by Steph. I’ve always told myself I had two left feet and avoided anything choreographed. Feeling inspired by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, I decided to channel my inner Kellie and give it a go.
Walking in, I was greeted by a group of women who immediately reassured me they were just as rhythmically challenged. The music started, Steph had us pumping our arms and shaking our hips. I was consistently about three seconds behind everyone else, bumping into people and turning the wrong way, but I was dancing. And laughing. And sweating. It was unserious in the best way, and the kind of cardio that sneaks up on you.
Both classes couldn’t have been more different, but they shared the same underlying theme, movement without judgment. Exercise doesn’t need to be intimidating. Gyms don’t have to feel exclusive or performative. At Funktion, the focus is simple: show up and do what you can. It’s a space that quietly proves what fitness should be – not punishment or ego, but instead community and just feeling strong in your own skin.
Funktion Fitness, 9 Castle St, St Helier, Jersey, JE2 3BT
This month, I had the pleasure of interviewing Bonnie McAteer from Medicine Woman Movement. I was welcomed into her home; it was a technicolour dreamscape of peace, visions, and wonder. Plants gathered at every window, sacred artefacts from her travels adorned every surface, and I was in awe of the pocket of stillness she had so carefully cultivated.
It was an unusual start to an interview: seated on the floor, sipping Mother Cacao, breathing deeply into our bellies. We meditated together in silence, whispering intentions into the space. Bonnie’s passion lies in helping women come home to themselves and their bodies, and in this conversation, we dive deep into just that. We spoke of birth, life, death, and everything in between. It was a joy to witness and be part of. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did experiencing it.
Can you explain what your current work is?
The Medicine Woman Movement is a body of work that I have birthed after many years, travelling vast inner and outer realms. This includes a thirteen year deep shamanic apprenticeship with the founders of movement medicine, which is a powerful conscious dance practice. After the birth of my second child, Luca, I began weaving together my own path. It’s an embodied journey of transformation that draws from ancient lineages, such as the Q’ero tradition. For many people in the West, there’s a disconnect, we’re often invited to “pray to the mountain” or give thanks to the land, but we don’t really know what that means in our bones.
This work helps women come back into an embodied sense of connection – to the land, their body, the cosmos, their spirit, and their own inner cycles. We use highly curated shamanic journeys, somatic practice, and sacred dance ritual practices. There’s something profound about ritual in community; humanity has engaged in this since the dawn of creation – being witnessed, grieving what has been lost, and rediscovering joy. It’s not just personal – the grief and the remembering are ancestral. And it’s powerful. Through embodiment, we remember that we’re not separate from this Earth. The work is deep, rooted, and transformative. These sacred dance ceremonies hold the power of alchemy helping people come home to their indigenous soul & life’s purpose.
I think for a lot of people, if they don’t have religion as a route into the spiritual, they feel a bit lost. This seems like a way to move energy and find meaning again.
Absolutely. We are spirit trying to be human, not the other way around. In earth-based traditions, everything is animate. The winds, trees, oceans, they all carry spirit. But dogmatic religion has tried to name, label, and control that connection. It severed us from something vital. What I love about the deeper shamanic work is its simplicity. It’s not new, it’s original. These are the ways of all our ancestors. Somewhere in our bones, blood, and hearts, we remember them. This work is about rooting us back into the great web of life. Not plugging in artificially, but actually rooting. That’s where the shift begins. A central part is also working with Cacao which is a powerful, heart-opening plant medicine. It gently brings us into our heart space, softens resistance, and allows us to connect more deeply with ourselves and one another.
What do you believe women are yearning for most today?
To be in rhythm with their true rhythm. When the doors of ceremony open, often the women are in tears within moments. They’re stepping into slowness, into presence. And it’s such a contrast to the chaos of everyday life. Many women have children, partners, jobs and they’re pulled in so many directions, often at a speed that’s unnatural for the body and the womb. It severs us from our intuition, peace, sense of ground and power. This is where womb work comes in. It’s about reconnecting with our cyclical nature. Resting during bleeding, recognising our inner seasons and listening to our body. Even if a woman is past menopause, pregnant, or on contraceptives, she can still attune to the moon. But it’s more than just cycle awareness. It’s slowing down. It’s allowing the grief for all the things we’ve lost connection to. And it’s about sisterhood. In the year-long journey I run, there are 21 women. Over the course of the year, they come into deep connection, rooted in embodied presence saying yes to who they truly are. It’s about deep presence, deep witnessing and from that space, creativity naturally blooms. Gifts emerge. Women remember why they’re here and what really matters to them.
So many people don’t know anything about the menstrual cycle beyond “you bleed once a month” Can you expand on what you are teaching within this space?
There’s so much grief, especially for women who are realising the power of their cycles only later in life. It’s a deep loss but it can also be felt, honoured, and transformed. When we align with our cycles, we come into attunement with life. Our inner winter (bleeding) is a time to rest and dream. Inner spring is a time of gentle emergence and creative dreaming. Inner summer, around ovulation is when we shine and share. But the world wants us in summer mode all the time, which is totally unsustainable. Then there’s inner autumn, the premenstrual time, often demonised. But it’s powerful. It’s when truth comes through. It might be raw, but it’s real. We need to know where we are in our cycle to meet ourselves with compassion. When we understand our patterns, we can make space, slow down, and take care of ourselves. It’s incredibly empowering. Just knowing “I’m in my autumn” shifts everything.
I’ve started tracking my cycle in the last few months and it’s changed how I relate to myself completely.
It’s that sense of reclaiming. And many women tell me: this work feels
completely new, but I also know it. It’s a remembering of what we would have learned from our mothers and grandmothers. In many cultures, there were red tents where women would gather to bleed together, rest, tell stories. We’ve lost that.
What made you get into this work in the first place?
Honestly, I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t on this path. I was always
a bit of a wild rebel. I started meditating at 16, went to North India at 17, and that opened something huge in me. I needed something deeper than what I was being shown in the West. In my early twenties I spent years in South America, many months living in the jungle, working with shaman and plant medicines, dancing around fires at epic rainbow gatherings. It was a massive awakening. I spent most of the next 10 years travelling – always when I returned, I felt a real severing. The modern world didn’t make sense; it was void of life, magic and spirit. That’s when I found movement medicine.
I apprenticed for 13 years, travelling the world teaching embodiment work. It helped me integrate everything I’d experienced. Because it’s one thing to have powerful spiritual experiences. It’s another to bring them home to the body. Embodiment is the key. It’s what makes it real. There have been many other threads too: womb work, menstrual cycle education, I feel deeply blessed to be initiated into an ancient lineage of the Q’ero. And in ongoing work with them, grateful to have learned from indigenous elders from the Andes and the Amazon and the plant teachers. Yet really, I’ve always been on this path. Even as a child, I’d spend hours in the woods wondering at the moon and the stars. The world I was told about never quite matched what I felt to be true.
Can you tell me more about your Initiation Ground in Portugal?
I’m so excited for this one. It’s a 10-day deep dive into this body of work: a strong, embodied, ceremonial journey held in the wild lands of Portugal. There’ll be dance, ritual, sweat lodges, prayer, and work with the womb. We’ll be by rivers and waterfalls, completely offline, really dropping into presence. We’ll also be doing embodied soul retrieval work, ancestral work, and exploring creative cycles through menstrual and moon-based awareness. The sweat lodge, or Temazcal, is an ancient rebirthing ceremony, like returning to the womb of the Earth. We’ll be held by both feminine and masculine energy, and there’ll also be an evening of Sufi whirling. It’s going to be beautiful.
And for people wanting something more long term?
That’s the year-long journey. It runs over 12 months and allows deep
integration with ceremonies, recorded journeys, sacred tasks, and monthly themes based around the Celtic wheel of the year. We walk through the heart-womb connection, the Earth and sky, grief, ritual, menstrual awareness, and so much dance. Transformation is inevitable. Every woman changes.
Will you offer more of these in Jersey?
Jersey is my homeland, and it feels right to offer this work here. There’s a real thirst for it. I might do the occasional one-off ceremony, but my heart is in the deep dives. That’s where real transformation happens. The next year-long will begin in September 2026. I also have plans for further pathways, ways for people to stay connected, to apprentice and train in the work and share it with others in time. There’s a whole community growing around this. There’s something powerful about that commitment too, saying yes to something for a year. That energy of commitment initiates the process before the work even begins. As soon as women say yes, things start to shift. That’s the magic of it.
Two decades ago, Kat De Chavannes hosted her first yoga session down at St Brelades Bay. It was a small group – bare foot on the beach – and felt like the most natural thing in the world. “I didn’t want to teach in a gym,” she explained. “Yoga’s about nature – getting back to basics. If you’ve got a beach, why wouldn’t you use it?”
Having taught yoga for over two decades, her practice has evolved to encompass a philosophy rooted in accessibility, adaptability and resilience. It’s been shaped by her training, but more importantly, by motherhood, personal challenges and a desire to make wellness generally inclusive.
After years of teaching in France and Jersey, she’s noticed a shift in how yoga is marketed: “It’s become a trend – and with that, expensive.” But to her, it should be something anyone can do. “Not everyone has an hour and a half to set aside,” she said. “If you’ve only got five minutes while the kids are playing, just stretch, breathe – do something. That’s the real practice.”
This ethos of “wherever, whenever” runs through her work. From bilingual classes and beach sessions to impromptu stretches at home with her children, yoga is less about the setting and more about the mindset. “You don’t have to be flexible or spiritual,” she said. “You just need to be willing.”
With a background in Thai kickboxing, she’s always been interested in the mental side of training. “It was holistic before I even knew what that meant,” she laughed. Today, she complements her yoga with reflexology, using pressure points on the feet to support wellbeing – particularly for people recovering from illness or managing stress. “Someone might say, ‘oh, my head hurts’ – and I’ll be working on the area linked to the brain,” Kat said. “And then suddenly, they open up. It becomes about more than just the pain.”
Earlier this year, she launched her first women’s retreat at the White House on St Ouens Bay. The idea for the wellness week began during a stressful time juggling work, family life and caring responsibilities. “I couldn’t go on a retreat,” she recalled. “So I made one.”
The week centred on themes of roots and resilience, marking her 20th year of teaching beach yoga in Jersey. It was designed specifically for women – to create a space where conversations could flow freely. “Sometimes you just want to talk about kids, or hormones, or exhaustion, without worrying if it’s awkward,” she said. “Everyone needs a space to talk.” More retreat sessions are in the pipeline, including meditation sessions at the White Hut and a collaboration with Joy Yurts later this year. She’s also passionate about opening up opportunities for carers and those with disabilities, including a session for the Jersey Carers Association: “Carers need care too,” she said.
This passion came from her own life experiences. Her middle daughter, Soleil, was born in New Zealand and lives with complex neurological and physical needs. She learned to walk at 13, after years of determination, support, and what her mother calls “neuroplastic magic.” “She just clicked one day,” she said. “Her brain started to fire up and she wanted independence. It was like watching her unlock herself.” Much of Kat’s teaching now draws from these experiences: “When someone says ‘I can’t,’ I get it. But I also know what’s possible when you don’t give up.”
Soleil now rides horses at a local stables and practices gentle yoga and reflexology with her mum. “She can’t do sun salutations,” she said, “but she can move in her own way. That’s what yoga is – it’s your own goal, achieved.”
Outside her classes, she’s a vocal advocate for environmental protection, affordable care, and accessible community spaces. She’s worked with the National Trust, raised money for ocean charities, and spoken out about the lack of adequate support for families like hers. “Kids need room to run. Adults need space to breathe. If we build flats on every field, where do people go?” she asked. “This isn’t just about yoga. It’s about how we live, how we support each other, and how we raise the next generation.”
Casa Mia has reopened after a revamp, following the restaurant passing hands to Rochelle Brady and Cosmin Stroe. The latter took on the challenge after running and managing one of the top restaurants in Jersey – going solo after eight years to fulfil a lifelong dream. His partner Rochelle is a born and bred Jersey girl bringing her own creative spin to Casa Mia. With a great love of food and top-notch dining experiences, they hoped to create a place where customers can come to eat amazing dishes and share stories over wine, all whilst feeling well looked after. We asked them about the ups and downs of taking over the business, how they turned things around and what the new Casa Mia brings to the island.
“When the previous owner retired, we had the opportunity to take on something of an institution, whilst putting a fresh spin on it. It was too good a chance to not take on – we wanted to add to the brilliance of the hospitality sector in Jersey, and influence the direction it was going in.
The restaurant has kept its name, but changed its style. At the new Casa we wanted to retain much of the old charm – we know so many people have such fond memories there. Our course of action was to freshen up the menu and give the old girl some new style. She’s still as warm as ever – just better looking, with a new menu. We’re so excited to introduce people who have never been to Casa Mia to the restaurant, so they get a chance to experience it now.
The restaurant itself has great bones, and it was important to us to retain that cosy charm – all whilst giving it somewhat of a more curated style and some good old fashioned Italian allure. The artwork was all sourced to reflect the story of Italian culture – much of the photography is shot in Italy between the 60s and 70s. You’ll find a few Italian icons on the walls, including Charles ‘lucky’ Luciano, a Sicilian mafia boss who watches over our wine rack!
Our new menu is refined to represent the classic elegance of Italian menus and restaurants, serving honest, beautifully presented, tasty dishes. The pollo all’arrabiatta is quickly becoming a firm favourite, as well as the Tartufi Pizza.
The process of taking over Casa Mia wasn’t always easy. We did the majority of the refurb ourselves, and I’m pretty pregnant, which came with its own set of challenges! Old buildings tend to have old problems, and we came across our fair share of these. But there is a point where the vision starts to come together, and that feels really magical. We can’t wait to show the restaurant to our newest member of the family when they arrive!
I think the most exciting part of reopening the restaurant is watching people come together over meals, in a space that we have shaped and a menu we have put together – be that anything from girl’s night, a wedding anniversary, or a special birthday. We know so many people have such fond memories of occasions celebrated at Casa Mia in the past, and that is something we really hope to honour going forward. To be the backdrop to someone’s milestones and celebrations is really special.”Casa Mia has reopened after a revamp, following the restaurant passing hands to Rochelle Brady and Cosmin Stroe. The latter took on the challenge after running and managing one of the top restaurants in Jersey – going solo after eight years to fulfil a lifelong dream. His partner Rochelle is a born and bred Jersey girl bringing her own creative spin to Casa Mia. With a great love of food and top-notch dining experiences, they hoped to create a place where customers can come to eat amazing dishes and share stories over wine, all whilst feeling well looked after. We asked them about the ups and downs of taking over the business, how they turned things around and what the new Casa Mia brings to the island.
This summer, St Helier is set to become a playground of light, colour and whimsy, thanks to a mesmerising new public art installation that’s sure to lift spirits and delight all ages. From 28 August to 14 September 2025, the heart of Jersey’s capital will be transformed by Bubbletecture, an immersive public art experience that combines architecture, sound, light and a whole lot of fun.
Part of the Butterfield Public Arts Series, Bubbletecture is the latest offering from ArtHouse Jersey, delivered in partnership with Jersey Development Company and generously sponsored by Butterfield. Located at the yet-to-be-developed IFC2 site just minutes from Liberation Station, the installation will become a cultural destination in its own right.
The centrepiece? A spellbinding display of eight-metre-high iridescent spheres designed by internationally acclaimed Sydney-based art duo Atelier Sisu. Titled Evanescent, these dreamlike ‘bubbles’ react to sunlight throughout the day, casting rainbow reflections across the ground and transforming the urban space into an otherworldly landscape. As the sun sets, bespoke lighting and an ambient soundtrack kick in, creating a magical atmosphere that lingers until 9:30pm.
But Bubbletecture isn’t just for looking. Each weekend during its two-week run, the installation will host a variety of free cultural and wellness events. Picture yourself doing yoga among the glowing spheres, being serenaded by opera under the open sky, or watching Ballet d’Jerri dancers perform choreography by world-renowned Jamaal Burkmar. Weekends will also offer the chance to listen to local DJs and the ever-popular Hola Friday! Sessions. Families are especially welcome. Children can enjoy giant bubble play with Kydd de la Mare, and take part in creative craft activities.
“Bubbletecture is about wonder, joy and togetherness,” says Tom Dingle, Director of ArtHouse Jersey. “It’s a piece that anyone and everyone can enjoy, no explanations needed. We’ve chosen it for its accessible nature, its sense of fun, and its power to brighten our shared spaces.”
That inclusive spirit is echoed by the sponsors and partners behind the project. Michelle Le Blond, Branch Manager for Butterfield in Jersey, shares, “At Butterfield, we believe in enriching the lives of the communities we serve. Supporting public art like Bubbletecture allows us to encourage exploration, creativity and connection — values we truly believe in.”
Lee Henry, CEO of Jersey Development Company, adds: “Bubbletecture brings creative energy into the heart of town. It invites islanders to re-engage with a familiar space in a completely new and imaginative way, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to thoughtful placemaking.”
Bubbletecture is free, fully accessible, open 24/7, and staffed to ensure safety and a welcoming environment. Whether you’re looking to unwind, entertain the kids, or snap the perfect Instagram photo, this installation invites you to pop by and stay awhile. At its heart, Bubbletecture is about the simple joy of shared experiences. It’s about looking up in awe, stepping into the unexpected, and seeing your capital parish, and maybe even yourself, in a new light. So mark your calendars, grab your cameras, and get ready to pop into a world of wonder.
www.arthousejersey.je for full programme details and follow #BubbletectureJersey to join the magic.
Local artist Rosemary Blackmore brings her serene new collection Quiet Light to a solo exhibition at the Atlantic Hotel from 16–19 October. Featuring dreamy seascapes, landscapes, and still life in oil and cold wax, her work captures Jersey’s shifting light and mood. Expect calm, quiet beauty with a sense of memory and place. A portion of all sales supports Jersey Hospice Care, and the show is generously sponsored by LGT Wealth Management.
It was another great summer of art at CCA International as their summer show celebrated all things local and artistic. As ever, there were a huge variety of different works.
The winner of both the Summer Prize and the RBC Emerging Artist Award at the 2025 Jersey Summer Exhibition is Alice Leng, recognised for her striking portraits La Camicia Bianca and Il Viandante (above). Currently training at the Charles Cecil Studios in Florence, Leng’s work impressed both visitors and judges with its classical technique and emotional depth. She received £1,000 and a future solo exhibition at the gallery. Leng also received the Visitor’s Choice Award, as voted for by the public during the first month of the show. Thanks go to guest judges Adam Dant and Wayne Hemingway for their expertise, and to RBC for their generous sponsorship of the Summer Exhibition and Emerging Artist Award.
The RURAL Landscape Award, which honours work inspired by Jersey’s countryside, was awarded to Janine Graham for Sentinel (1st prize), Rachel Ara for Silent Field (2nd prize), and Caroline Hall for Climping. Storm Ciáran (3rd prize). BCR Law sponsored the first and third prizes (£600 and £300), while Jersey Heritage supported the second prize with a holiday let.
In our Gallery Magazine Design and Illustration Awards, Martin McDowell won the Illustration Prize for Eggsports (above), and Will Bertram received the Graphic Arts Prize for FRUITS. Look out for a feature on these guys in the next edition!
The new Madhatter Inspired by the Sea Award, sponsored by Madhatter Surf Shop, was awarded to Benjamin Misson for HMS NHS (1st prize, £250 voucher) and Shelby Parker for Head in the Clouds (2nd prize, £100 voucher), a piece that reminded the judges of the road to St Ouen’s Bay.
The gallery will close for August and reopen on 2nd September for a new season of exhibitions and events.
We’ve adored seeing all the beautiful blooms brightening up town this month. As part of the St Helier Battle of Flowers Town Take Over, the eye-catching arches at Rivoli and STORY will be on display from Monday 14th July to Friday 12th September. These vibrant installations are part of a wider celebration, with arches throughout town creatively themed to match the floats featured in this year’s iconic Battle of Flowers parade.
Funded by the Government of Jersey and supported by the Parish of St Helier, each display brings a unique touch to King Street and the surrounding streets. At Rivoli, visitors will find a charming Dutch-inspired scene complete with tulips and miniature houses, created by Clare Evans at Eden Flowers to link up with the Friends of Galaad’s float, Tulips from Amsterdam. Meanwhile, STORY by Rivoli features a playful Barbie-themed display, think pink blooms, pearls, and oversized ice creams, reflecting its pairing with the St Lawrence Parish float. You can vote for your favourite at
sthelier.je/event/town-takeover
Jersey Pearl – Local legends for 40 years
Jersey Pearl marked its 40th anniversary this June, celebrating four decades of craftsmanship, family heritage, and memorable island experiences. To mark the occassion, they called in our office and gave us cupcakes and pearl bracelets. The attention to detail of the promotional material around the anniversary was maximum effort. Even the cakes were branded!
The business opened its doors in 1985 at the height of Jersey’s tourism heyday. The locally rooted, family-run business has welcomed over 30 million visitors to its iconic St Ouen showroom, becoming a beloved destination for jewellery, dining, and discovery. Whilst it’s a hit for our tourists, there aren’t many familes that don’t have some Jersey Pearl goodies in the jewellery box. Founded by Fred Scragg, Jersey Pearl made waves by opening a bold, out-of-town, pearl-only showroom. What started as a daring idea has grown into an internationally recognised brand, with locations now across the UK and Spain. Today, the business is led by Fred’s grandchildren, with even the fourth generation lending a hand during holidays.
From its famous Pick-a-Pearl experience to launching eco-friendly collections and working with world-class designers, Jersey Pearl has remained at the forefront of innovation in jewellery. Highlights from its journey include celebrity visits during Bergerac’s heyday, creating the Jersey Ormer collection, and collaborating with the Queen’s own pearl stringer. To commemorate the milestone, Jersey Pearl is going full ‘80s – with retro displays across its St Ouen, King Street, and Gorey stores. The celebration also features new tassel bracelets in bold, nostalgic colours and a themed menu at the Pearl Café offering vintage favourites like prawn cocktail and banana split. You’re all invited to join the anniversary fun and ‘toast to the next sparkling chapter in Jersey Pearl’s story!’
The Gooseberry Bush is an absolute gem. Tucked away behind Rondels in Trinity, like a secret you’re thrilled to share, this gorgeous little boutique is bursting with charm.
Think dreamy interiors, effortlessly stylish clothing, and gifts that are SO perfect. The vibe? Warm, welcoming, and very wonderful, like stepping into your most stylish friend’s home. Whether you’re after a thoughtful pressie or a little treat (because why not?), The Gooseberry Bush nails it every time. Once you visit, you’re hooked!
The lovely team there are always on hand to give styling advice and help get you looking gorgeous – they’re seriously talented at it – and play a big part in why this small store has been such a huge success for so many years. Full to the brim with unique, flattering pieces, it’s an absolute treasure trove, you have to do a few loops to take it all in and seek out that perfect piece for you.
What’s Hot?
“We’ve recently got in some fantastic swimwear from Haven, an Australian brand that radiates relaxed, coastal-cool, through its effortlessly stylish eco swimwear and breathable linen summer wear. Known for vibrant prints, comfortable cuts, and versatile pieces, Haven celebrates a carefree, bohemian lifestyle. Their swimwear is flattering and functional, perfect for sun-soaked days by the sea or pool.“
