Jersey Pottery to open fourth restaurant Banjo in former Gentlemen's Club

Jersey's family-run restaurant and catering business Jersey Pottery has confirmed plans to open its fourth restaurant on the island this year following the £4m conversion of a former Gentlemen's Club in St Helier. 

The new 380-cover restaurant, called Banjo, will open its doors in December as a European-style grand brasserie and will include two restaurants, a bar, three private dining and conference rooms plus four letting bedrooms.

The 10,000 sq ft space will be Jersey Pottery's largest venue to date and was the result of a long search for a flagship venue for the company, which also runs three cafes, operates another two restaurants, supplies catering for nine schools and runs an outside event catering company alongside producing ceramics. 

Jersey Pottery director Robert Jones said: “We have been searching for a site in St Helier for several years, and we have found a location which is both iconic and exactly what we have been looking for to complement our other busy coastal restaurants the Oyster Box, Crab Shack and Castle Green."

Unique venue

Banjo, which is also built on a site of scientific interest, plans to offer a modern British menu using quality produce sourced from Jersey. It will aim to appeal to a range of customers and cater for different occasions, Jones said. 

“As we do elsewhere within our business, we pride ourselves on creating a sense of occasion and an element of theatre in our service," said Jones. "Whether you are looking for a get together with family and friends or business contacts, a romantic dinner, an afternoon tea or cocktail in the bar/cafe or a venue to hold a private event or for friends to stay, Banjo will be a unique venue in the historic part of St Helier.”

Jersey Pottery was bought by Clive and Jessie Jones in 1954. The business is now run by their grandsons Dominic, Robert, Jonathan and Matthew Jones.