Longueville Manor Diversify for Modern Tastes

Friday 17 July 2015

A shift in appetite has been noticed at Longueville Manor.

Consumers are moving away from alcoholic drinks towards a penchant for a healthier tipple.

The Relais & Châteaux AA 5 Red Star hotel has embarked on a mission to lead the way in Jersey for homemade cordials and non-alcoholic drinks.

The hotel credits the shift to people becoming more health conscious and the prolific rise in concept diets. Also, with an international client base, the hotel attracts visitors from all cultures and religions and alcohol is not always accepted in their diets.

Longueville’s findings are echoed by research conducted in the UK that shows that almost half of all UK adults are trying to moderate their alcohol consumption (The Grocer Alcohol Report 2014*). The Adult Drinking Habits in Great Britain Report** states that Britain is becoming a nation of teetotallers, with young adults and Londoners leading the way. Their figures show that more than one in five adults (21%) do not drink alcohol at all.

In response to growing market demand, Longueville’s Kitchen Gardener and Forager David Lewis, Managing Director Pedro Bento, Head Sommelier Cyril Azemard and Executive Head Chef Andrew Baird have come together to create a delectable array of non-alcoholic drinks and cordials. Importantly, the drinks have been designed to pair with dishes so that diners opting for a non-alcoholic option can enjoy a drink flight alongside a tasting menu just like their wine connoisseur friends. In addition, the cordials are a perfect recommendation for rehydrating after a spa treatment. 

The Manor’s Cottage Garden boutique spa opened last year and totally embodies the purity of the location. The new drinks menu now follows suit, taking inspiration from the grounds using fruit, vegetables and flowers from the Victorian Kitchen Garden and surrounding woodland. The handcrafted cordials are carefully infused from home grown seasonal ingredients such as elderflowers and rhubarb. Available flavours will change dependent on the harvest of the week, providing an array of different tastes throughout the year.

Inventions such as ‘Rhubarb & Ginger Splash’ and ‘Garden Passion’ will enable guests to savour the exceptional flavours of the kitchen garden and woodland. The Longueville Manor specialist ‘Virgin Mary’ includes tomato juice, garden basil, Tabasco, pepper, “fleur de sel” and is best enjoyed with red meat. ‘Double Apple’ combines fresh apple, apple juice, garden mint leaves, and lemon juice and is best served with pasta or white meat.

Pedro Bento, Director, Longueville Manor, said: "We always embrace change and we hope our guests enjoy the new alcohol free menu. The team has worked hard to create beverages to suit every palette and we look forward to welcoming the health conscious diner to trial all our pairings. Fresh fruit and herbs from our garden have been incorporated into the beverages and they create an exceptionally fresh and vibrant taste. We will continue to provide the most varied drinks selection in Jersey to ensure all diners’ tastes are catered for."

Cyril Azemard, Head Sommelier, Longueville Manor, said: "With our organic ethos, Longueville Manor will always be a haven for the health conscious individual. Additionally, the new selection caters to many cultures and is an ideal treat for our pregnant customers. We always relish the opportunity to create bespoke beverages for our guests and we are very proud of the new innovative menu designed with the modern customer in mind."