Cheers! How drinking in Jersey has changed

Saturday 06 January 2018

If you’ve ever wanted to find out more about drinks and drinking in Jersey - from the age of the Dolmens to downing pints in a pub - help is now at hand.

Local author Alasdair Crosby has just published a 222-page paperback book on the subject: 'Cheers! Drinks and drinking in Jersey through the ages'.

As the name suggests, it takes a chronological look at all aspects linked to drinking in the island from the time of the dolmen builders, through the middle ages, and up to the present day.

Whilst the early chapters make for interesting reading, it’s perhaps the latter part of the book that most readers will find most fascinating: ‘the pub in Jersey 19^th and 20^th Centuries.' Here, Mr Crosby collates various titbits about the island’s many hostelries – past and present – and has some wonderful black and white photographs of times gone by.

Pictured: The Cock and Bottle's cheeky name may not have gone down so well in Victorian times, according to the book. (Adam Bruderer)

The Cock and Bottle in the Royal Square was first mentioned in the 19^th century, but according to Mr Crosby, "...the name may have been too suggestive for Victorian susceptibilities, and was changed to the Central Hotel. It then became known as the Cosy Corner, before reverting to its original name.”

The Exeter – now the Up and Down Bar – in Queen Street is one of the island’s oldest taverns. “In 1849, it was managed by Mr Clark, who made the place so comfortable the Yarborough Masonic Lodge preferred to meet there than at the newly constructed Masonic Temple.”

And writing about the Prince of Wales Tavern in Hilgrove Street, he says: “Mrs Peter Drelaud served in the tavern for 80 years, starting when she was 11. She was a very little woman and a stool was made for her so that she could see over the bar. Interviewed by the Morning Advertiser in October 1948, she remembered the days when beer was 2d a pint and brandy and gin 1d a glass, on which the duty was only 2/6d per gallon, and all the public houses opened from 6am to 11pm.”

Pictured: 'Cheers!' provides an insight into islanders drinking habits - and the history behind drinking houses - both past and present.

The book also contains a great deal of tongue-in-cheek humour - including quoting from a letter published in the Jersey Leader on 12 November, 1937, from a W Morris: “Dear Sir, I have looked up the figures and find that 521,532 bottles of spirits were drunk, 3,621,224 bottles of wine, in addition to the 9,386,096 bottles of beer that you mention… Taking the island’s population as 40,000 adults and 90,000 visitors, the consumption per head works out as follows:

1 ½ pints of beer a week

1 small glass of whisky each 10 days

1 glass of wine every month.

"No one could get drunk, or keep drunk on that modest amount. In fact, I know many who drink as much and consider they are almost teetotal.”