The Real Housewives of Jersey

2021 marks 30 years since beloved TV detective Bergerac left our screens, and since then Jersey has had few opportunities to shine in front of a wider audience.

That all changed on 28th December 2020 with the launch of the Real Housewives of Jersey on ITVBe. The newest addition to the popular Real Housewives franchise follows 7 glamourous ‘ladies who lunch’ over one long and glorious summer in Jersey, and is as packed with diamonds, designer gowns and drama as it is with spectacular scenery and sparkling seascapes.

While each of the Housewives has their own larger-than-life personality and style, the real star of the show is the Island itself. Each episode showcases the dramatic landscape from sprawling beaches in the south to towering cliffs in the north, and a number of beloved Island hot-spots make a cameo appearance.

We’ve picked out some of our favourite scenes in order to give you a little more detail about the locations featured.

Ouaisne Bay  – Episode 1

The premier episode of the season documents a party at the home of ‘Real Housewife’ Margaret Thompson. Margaret is a leading estate agent in Jersey, so it’s no surprise at all that her own home is a stunning coastal property situated right on the beach in Ouaisne Bay. Linked to the fabulous yellow sands of neighbouring St. Brelades Bay, Ouaisne is a quieter option on the south coast, sheltered from southerly winds by a towering headland, Ouaisne provides a true afternoon sun trap for beach-goers and the perfect place for Margaret to walk her dogs, Coco & Bella. Bring a picnic dinner to Ouaisne on a warm summer’s evening and watch the sun dip below the horizon, as a flotilla of yachts and sailing boats bob gently in the bay.

Ouaisne

The Anchor Club – Episode 1

Also in episode 1, Housewives Kate & Margaret enjoy lunch at The Anchor Club restaurant, a local favourite on the waterside in St. Aubin which affords diners fantastic views across the adjacent harbour. The stylish interior of polished wood, sparkling steel and dark blue leather invokes the feeling that you’re dining on the deck of a superyacht, and the tempting menu reflects this with an emphasis on locally caught seafood and luxurious flavours. Delicious uniquely designed cocktails such as ‘In Decent Sea’ and ‘Pier Pressure’ complete the nautical feel while the superior service and atmosphere make this restaurant a must-visit for any local or visitor. A popular choice with the Housewives, the Anchor Club is also the setting of Tessa & Mia’s feisty showdown in episode 9 and a cosy lunch between Jane and Andy in episode 8.

Anchor Club

Shopping in St. Helier – Episode 4

A fixture in all of the Real Housewives series are long days of designer shopping, punctuated by refreshing glasses of champagne, and the Jersey series is no exception with the high street appearing in several episodes. While small but perfectly formed St. Helier may not be home to some of the big-name brands found in Beverley Hills, what we lack in designer labels we make up for with individual boutiques stocking a mixture of well-known and small sole-trader brands, where shopping is an experience rather than a chore. From sequinned dresses to strings of pearls and from handbags to high-heels, the high street in St. Helier is the perfect place to shop until you drop like Hedi, Kate and Jane and find a unique outfit for a special occasion.

St. Helier shopping

Grouville Oyster Beds – Episode 6

During the Housewives ‘staycation’ in episode 6, Tessa arranges a host of exciting island excursions for her guests, including a visit to the Grouville Bay Oyster beds for Hedi, Margaret, Ashley and Kate. Accessible by a fascinating walk across the seabed at low tide, the biggest oyster beds in the British Isles are home to over 15 million developing oysters at any one time, most to be exported around the world but many are enjoyed right here in Jersey’s many restaurants, reducing food miles to the absolute minimum. Jersey Walk Adventures offer regular Oyster Trail guided walks, introducing you safely to this RAMSAR protected seabed kingdom, and offering the opportunity to sample the very freshest oysters along with a glass of Housewives-worthy bubbles.

Oyster Beds

Mont Orgueil Castle – Episode 7

Episode 7 sees Jane and fiancé Andy pay a visit to spectacular Mont Orgueil Castle in Gorey as they discuss their forthcoming wedding. A popular and breathtakingly romantic location for locals and visitors to the tie the knot, the castle is one of the most impressive and recognisable structures in Jersey, dominating the skyline in the east of the island and standing proud above the pretty harbour village of Gorey. Owned by Jersey Heritage the 800-year-old castle is open to visitors almost year-round and is filled with surprises, special exhibitions, and hidden corners to explore. Children particularly love to borrow a knight or princess costume at the entrance and run wild within the ramparts.

Gorey Castle