Guernsey Holidays – Shopping and Dining

Shopping

Traditional market on Thurs afternoons in summer with costumes, dancing and local goods, Touristy but fun. Many fine jewellery and shoe shops with names like Beghin’s and Machon’s,

plus all the English chain stores. The High St and its continuation The Pollet are charming small lanes where you can buy fairly inexpensive Continental goods. Buttons Booksellers, Smith St, is best for local books and maps.

Shop for food at Market Halls, Market St, like a stately home – all stained glass, turrets and towers. The oldest is the French Halles, originally a meat market, later turned over to the sale of eggs, butter and produce from Brittany – hence the name. Present meat markets date from 1822. All around are fresh fish, especially the giant crab called a chancre, a Guernsey specialty, which can be steamed right in front of you ready for a picnic. To one side of the market is the States of Guernsey Dairy – thick cream and the best milk shakes ever.

Eating and Drinking

With wine so inexpensive almost any meal can be a treat. Whistlers Bistro, 3 Lower Hauteville, serves steak, seafood and fresh vegetables from the Market across the road. And a lovely sweet of chocolate and Guernsey cream called ‘nearly mousse’. Drinking on Guernsey is basically confined to hotel bars or pubs near the water, popular with sailors and yachtsmen. The Harbour Lights, opposite St Peter Port Manne serves real ale, and the Wellingon Boot, set in the grounds of the Hotel de Havelet in Havelet, has good vie of Castle Cornet, floodlit at night.