Herm Island

4.6/5 based on 1314 reviews
Latest Reviews
The locals drink here. Free Juke box. London pride ale although its served cold. Go there for the experience.
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Lovely stay with friends to celebrate my birthday, the first night stayed in the actual hotel and second night in The White House cottages 2 minutes walk away from the main hotel.
All rooms excellent, clean, fresh and even better NO televisions!
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Relaxed evening with good food and great service delivered by an enthusiastic team.

The team accommodated us in the bar as we had a dog with us and nothing was too much trouble.

It was nice to start the evening with cocktails.
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A little too quiet, the meal was nice, but would have had better value at the Mermaid Tavern and Restaurant I think
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Visited with friends and family. Had a lovely lunch sat in the court yard sat in the sunshine. Excellent service and food.

The staff were all very cheerful and friendly.

Food was excellent. Highly recommend the Burger or the Bream.
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if you like your historical attractions in small doses, you'll like this simple, small chapel - a flash back to the past to balance all the present natural beauty attractions around Herm.
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The scallops were cooked just right, the oysters were small but fully flavoured. And the presentation was equally appealing.
What a treat to dine in the outside courtyard on a sunny day.
I was on a healthy kick, but the chips and meat dishes I saw on their way to other tables looked very appetizing. And I didn’t notice any leftovers on the plates heading back to the kitchen.
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went to Herm for the beer festival but also to try the fish and chips which are reported to be excellent, I can confirm they are indeed excellent. well worth the trip. The rest of the food coming out of the kitchen all looked very appertizing as well !!
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It is some years since I last updated the review of The White House Hotel on Herm Island, the smallest of the publicly-accessed Channel Islands. But a change in the tenancy and in the management of the hotel justifies revisiting it.

You cannot look at the White House Hotel in isolation…it is part of a package and the package is the entire island. It is only 1.5 miles long by 0.75 miles wide but has such a diversity of topography that almost everything is there from the cliffs at the southern end of the island to the long, sandy beaches at the northern tip.

In between is a hill that was once crowned by a monastery and which today houses a farm, camp site, holiday cottages, a school for residents’ children (currently five on the roll) and a tiny chapel dating back to the 11the Century. The hotel is at the foot of the hill, alongside more holiday accommodation, a tiny harbor, quayside pub (The Mermaid), reputedly the world’s smallest prison and some shops.

Around 30 or so people live on the island all-year-round, all management and staff of the tenants (the island belongs to Guernsey, 2.5 miles away) but this number is swollen several-fold during the season, that this year began in May and continues until October (plans are there to open all-year-round).

The hotel has 40 bedrooms, 22 in the main building and the rest in annexes. They are all of a high standard of fixtures and fittings, but there are no TVs, no phones and indeed, the island has no cars – bliss. Instead the families have a wide choice of board games in the comfortable lounges, or can walk around the island in an hour or so (longer if you walk the three-sides of the island with beaches) or investigate what’s there when the tide goes out – and it does, for a long way with the Channel Islands’ massive variation of tidal fall.

The island is gorgeous, full of flora and fauna and the Trident shipping company’s 250-capacity catamaran makes four or five return trips each day (£13) with day-trippers from St Peter Port. The views are amazing, of Guernsey, of the neighbouring private Jethou island, of Sark in the distance, of Jersey and Alderney and the French coastline (all faintly); you can see puffins on the cliffs, dolphins in the sea…the variations are endless.

The hotel has a justified reputation for its cuisine and everyone by tacit and unspoken agreement, tends to ‘dress up’ for dinner in the Conservatory – might seem stuffy, but it somehow fits. There is the neighboring Ship restaurant for the more informal choices (you can transfer if on a B&B package). The Mermaid pub also serves meals but it gets hectic during the day with the trippers.

The new management? Competent and welcoming; the staff are as efficient and friendly as ever; the menu choices in the Conservatory are standard supplemented by daily specials which are adequate; little (correctly) has been done to change things structurally or procedural in the hotel; the kids’ menu is better standard food but some variety is needed for those staying a week as it becomes repetitive; the prices of wines remain moderate but the choice is hugely (negative here) French-dominated. We don’t all like French wines and although there are some NZ, Australia, South African etc., it is clear where the emphasis lies. Importantly, you can still buy a bottle of reasonable house wine for £15-ish.

The great thing for families is that many of the rooms contain an annex of bunks that works extremely well. There is a decent-sized swimming pool, erratic tennis court and wonderful short walks.

If the impression gained is that I am a ‘Hermite’ then I will admit to it without hesitation. We have been coming here since our eldest son was 18 months and he is now 33 with his own family.

The negatives? Really procedural and in the early days of a new management, they will probably be ironed out. The kids’ menu (mentioned above) needs attention; the staffing levels during our visit were clearly too low; the overall pricing is still relatively high but worth it – except if you have children under six. The younger ones are free, but for the older ones the value is dubious….£82 a night for an 11-year-old sharing with parents and that ‘afterthought’ for children’s catering, is iffy.

But we remain Hermites and the entire family is pledged to return often. At least one pair of our family representatives will go back every year. In short, Herm Island isn’t perfect, neither the island or the hotel, but they get very close to it.
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Belvoir is a nice small, sandy beach on Herm. It's quite peaceful sand secluded with a kiosk for snack, drinks and beach items. Ideal beach in summer but the water can get deep very quickly and it can be quite cold.
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Visited Herm for day trip. Had lunch at the Mermaid food was good. Question:
Why are you serving Barrimundi in Herm you are surrounded by the most amazing waters which are full of local fish. I want to eat your local food. Barramundi??? Don’t get it! Confused Aussie .
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I really like going to The Mermaid Tavern whenever I go over to Herm as the food is exceptional! There is a range of things to eat and the seating inside and outside is fantastic. Well worth a visit.
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I've visited Herm many times and stayed in the Hotel often too. You can stay in the main body of the hotel, in a cottage room on the lane ~ all equally fabby. Thete are log cabins, self catering cottages and a camping site.
The rooms are spacious and bright ~ the views spectacular. Service at breakfast is swift and dinners are tasty (I ate in The Ship). Jaivier is attentive and professional and the lady at breakfast (has 2 sons) keeps her eye on the ball.
My only criticism ~ sorry ~ not sure off duty staff should be hanging round the bar lounge area shouting "byeee" at single female guests. First time I've seen it in 2 years ~ didn't like.
I left some belongings in the shop overnight much to my distress as I was catching the early boat away but the staff rallied and they were returned directly to my room in time ~ thank you.
The whole island is paradise ~ I think made so by the fact there are no cars, the beaches, walks, views. Leaving is a wrench and I can't wait to return.
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When eating on Herm you have two main options, the Mermaid Tavern or White House Hotel. As a dog owner we are limited at the White Zhouse Hotel to the Ship Inn. Same menu as the main restaurant, just dog friendly.
Always a good meal, well presented and just enough. As it was early season and a very busy weekend there were one or two minor teething problems, nothing hat will not be ironed out quickly.
For us Herm is the hidden jewel in the Channel Islands crown. Little known by non-locals but an absolute gem.
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It is worth going down the path and steps to the beach as it is a pristine sandy cove with great views to the headlands. The path back along the cliffs also has good views of Sark.
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I was drawn to the chapel by the tolling of the bell one Sunday morning - it is a very beautiful spot with breathtaking views over the stone fences and fields to the surrounding water. Paths leave here for all over the island.
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This place has an all morning breakfast with good coffee and croissants. If you sit at a table just inside the door you have an excellent view out over the harbour back towards St Peter Port.
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Pretty L-shapped chapel, easily located near the manor. Worth a visit. Herd of cows nearby. Woodland walk too.
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Sat in the sunshine and enjoyed a lovely lunch, seeing as Herm is such a small island the food choice was very good, I would say only have the fish and chips if you are very hungry as the portions are large! Good choice of real ales again that was surprising, enjoyed the Wonkey Donkey, (yes really!), brewed in Guernsey, all in all a good visit and the warm sunny weather a bonus.
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Amazing food at a resonable price. as im a coeliac and struggle to find decent places to eat i went for the gluten free scampi which was by far the best gluten free meal i have had around guernsey, my wife had the mussels which was also exquisite.
The front of house were excellent very helpfull and all had a smile!! They could not of done more to make us welcome.
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We sat outside in glorious sun on a last minute visit to Herm and arrived just in time for lunch. A pizza, 2 large burgers and 3 fish and chips later we were all too full for pudding!!
Great atmosphere for families with children of all ages with lovely staff and good service.
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My wife and I stayed at this hotel over the bank holiday weekend in August. It was lovely. Our room was towards the back of the holiday as we had booked it fairly late but the hotel itself offers plenty to enjoy,. It gives you plenty of peace and quiet. There is also a tennis court if you are feeling energetic. Ideal base for staying over in Herm for a long weekend of relaxation and recreation. Great especially for families.
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Even if the island isn’t beautiful enough to want to visit, I would make a special trip just for the fish and chips served here. Brought back childhood memories of how fish and chips with mushy peas should be.
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Went over on first ferry of the day. Walked round island then called in at the mermaid. Nice fire burning, very good bacon sandwich and a pint of cider. An ideal breakfast.
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Nice small beach on herm. Very secluded with a small drinks kiosk. Would be ideal in summer. Great place for children to play.
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HERM ISLAND UNVEILS A NEW WEBSITE
02/05/2017

Tranquil tourist hideaway Herm Island recently unveiled their brand new website, with lots of fantastic new photos showing the island's beauty, plus special offers, online accommodation booking, and a... Read article
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