Having travelled extensively in my profession as an author, journalist and travel writer, I am frequently asked which is my favourite ‘go to’ place, when I am off duty, where I can kick off my shoes, forget the notebook and pencil and totally relax.

Surprisingly enough my list is very short as over the decades I have found that places change and so does my quest for finding my ultimate destination.

However, one place constantly tops my short list: it’s the award-winning Longueville Manor on the island of Jersey. One of the oldest manor houses, it is the only one on the island to be awarded the prestigious AA5 Red Stars.

Longueville Manor can trace its history back centuries, and the first mention of a house on the present site was in 1332 when itinerant justices visited the island and on at least one occasion sat at the manor.

Over the centuries Longueville has had many different guises before it was bought by Edith and Sidney Lewis, grandparents of Malcom, the present Lewis-in-Residence, shortly after the Second World War and became a 12-bedroom motel in 1949.

The Lewis dynasty has owned Longueville since 1949. Neal and Barbara Lewis, Malcom’s parents, took over the hotel in 1965, and it became the first hotel in Jersey to have all en-suite bathrooms and a swimming pool.

1987 saw Malcolm take over the reins of management. Since then there have been more awards and accolades, including the prestigious Relais & Châteaux Welcome Trophy (Hotel of the Year) – one of the highest accolades in the hospitality world – and the coveted Michelin Key, which have firmly placed it in the top 100 hotels in Britain.

From the minute you drive through the manor’s archway – the oldest and most ornamental round arch on the island – the magic that is Longueville Manor casts its spell.

There’s an air of peace, calm and tranquillity, and it’s easy to understand why Longueville Manor is known as the jewel in the island’s hotel crown.

A short drive from the airport, and we arrive, parking our hire car in the aesthetically arranged car parking spaces around the large fountain, but before we can even open the boot, a smartly attired, smiling member of staff arrives, greets us, whisks away our luggage and introduces himself.

“My name is Benson,” he says in a friendly and welcoming way and walks us into the cool and comfortable foyer lounge, where we sit and have one of the most seamless check-ins I have had for a long time.

Making our way to The Pascale Junior Suite, Benson tells us a little about the history of the house and about the different areas of the hotel and offers us a tour of the grounds, which I decide to take after unpacking.

The Pascale Suite on the second floor of the West Wing is to be our home from home for our stay and is just one of the 29 individually designed bedrooms and suites.

The décor is sophisticated and relaxed and furnished with an eclectic mix of antique and contemporary furniture. The suite is spacious and has a sinkable large sofa, a large and wonderfully comfortable bed, plenty of drawer and hanging space and a round table in front of the window laden with a bowl of fresh fruit, sweet treats and other goodies, and the room has all the latest technology. There are also fluffy towels, robes and slippers and my all-time hotel favourite: his and hers washbasins!

The Pascale Suite overlooks the pool and lawns and has a blissful view at any time of the day, whether you're having early morning tea or a late nightcap.

After unpacking and a quick change, I am ready to take advantage of the tour of the grounds whilst I leave my partner relaxing under a large sun umbrella with a cool beer.

This is not my first visit to Longueville Manor; my last was in 2009 when I was researching my book ‘Wonderful Wedding Destinations from Around the World’’, which featured the island and Longueville in it.

The hotel is set in 18 acres of estate at the foot of its own private wooded valley, complete with an enchanting lake with ducks and, at certain times of the year, swans.

Though many things have been reimagined and well-planned new additions sensitively added, Longueville Manor is still the quintessential example of a luxury small hotel with unsurpassed high standards of service delivered to its guests.

The full-length swimming pool and sundeck with its loungers and tables are great places. Here guests can sip cocktails and indulge themselves in an afternoon tea, a light lunch or a tantalising titbit from the alfresco menu.

The pool is open from May to October, and there's no need to worry about it being cold; the water is kept at a constant heated temperature.

Walking round the kitchen garden, I was fascinated to think that the Jersey Royals and other ingredients such as berries, onions, herbs and beetroot that I would be served at dinner were grown here.

At Longueville there is so much to do, with woodland and jogging trails to explore, tennis on the pristine courts or a more relaxed game of croquet on the pool lawn.

But if you want to unwind, de-stress and be pampered, then the intimate surroundings of The Cottage Garden Health and Beauty Spa are for you.

In the confines of a quiet and gorgeous private garden with an outdoor spa pool heated to a constant 36°C, The Spa offers top-class beauty therapy services in a cottage garden ambience and has its own mini gym.

Before I left I just had to have a pampering facial here, and it was sheer bliss.

I chose the Thua Sha Facial, which was stimulating and relaxing and left my skin bright, revitalised and feeling totally relaxed after spending 60 minutes with a top-class therapist.

In the evening it was just perfect dining in the airy garden room with its natural light and pleasing décor.

But for those who want a romantic meal, the intimate oak dining room dating back to the 14th century with its intricately carved wood panelling and large mediaeval fireplace is idyllic.

Longueville is known as a real dining mecca by both locals and visitors alike. Executive Chef Andrew Baird has been at the helm for 36 years and knows more than a thing or two about food, and his culinary expertise is known throughout the island.

He uses fresh, interesting ingredients and local products to create his mouth-watering dishes and will even scuba dive for the freshest scallops off the Jersey coast. Pictured is one of Andrew's scallop dishes.

Over the years Andrew has carved his own path and established his own style with every dish he creates, as it's thought through with care, passion and understanding to give classic, simple results with a little twist here and there that keeps things exciting.

There are five menu choices for à la carte starters, mains and desserts, with vegetarian and vegan combined menus, each with five choices.

Choosing our food was difficult, so we mixed and matched between the vegetarian/vegan and à la carte menus.

From the vegetarian and vegan menu starters, our favourite was the roast garden vegetables. It was full of flavour. The vegetables were crisp, and the addition of chickpeas, toasted pine nuts and grilled tofu gave it an added flavour, and the basil dressing was a tasty addition.

Andrew told us that his vegetable wellington had been “well received even by people who are not vegetarian or vegan”, and after trying the dish, I fully agree.

The presentation was so amazing with the different colours of the vegetables, a great feature of its appearance. The vegetables were slow-cooked, so it meant that they all had the same texture and were bursting with flavour. The puff pastry was crisp yet melted in the mouth – just how did he manage to make this without any butter? That’s one of Andrew’s secrets!

For dessert, it had to be the Garden Apple Crumble with bay leaf custard and salted almond ice cream. Just like Gran used to make – but with a vegan twist.

The à la carte menus offered a range of starters, but our favourite was the warm goat’s cheese fondant. The goat cheese mousse was smooth and full of flavour and had the perfect complement of blood orange sorbet, a crisp tuile and Heritage beetroot.

The wild halibut was a real winner with me. It’s my favourite fish, but it can sometimes be hard to find on a menu. This was succulent and moist and cooked to perfection and served with shellfish tortellino, baby fennel, tender leeks, plum tomato confit and lobster sauce and, of course, homegrown Jersey Royals.

Our unanimous choice from the A La Carte’s dessert menu was the Traditional Farmhouse Cheeses, which also are on the vegan and vegetarian menus. The choice is so large it literally weighs the trolley down.Served with artisan biscuits, rhubarb compote, quince, prunes and caramelised pecans

After dinner at Longueville Manor is just so relaxing and a time to be savoured. You can choose to sit in the small intimate sitting room or bar with its mix of floral displays, fine antiques and comfortable furnishings, where you are sure to be pampered by the attentive staff.

Or you may like to sit outside in the garden with a glass of chilled wine in the moonlight on one of the many patios, as we did. As it got darker, a member of staff came out with another candle lantern for our table – what customer service! We didn’t even have to ask. It could only happen at Longueville.

Longueville Manor, St Saviour, Jersey, Channel Islands JE27WF
Website: www.longuevillemanor.com
email: info@longuevillemanor.com

For general information about what to see and do in Jersey visit www.jersey.com