En Voyage_Issue#14_Flickbook

Food
THE KILN
When Oatlands’ new owners stated that as part of the site’s redevelopment they were
going to refurbish the restaurant into one of the island’s top eateries, their comments
were met with a certain amount of disbelief from islanders. How could they possibly hope
to transform what was known as a bit of a dated brasserie into a ‘top eatery’? Well the
doubters are going to have to admit they were wrong as two years down the line, The Kiln
restaurant and café is indeed a fantastic place and one of Guernsey’s top-rated eateries.
The Kiln is at the heart of
Oatlands Village, which contains
an array of beautifully restored
traditional buildings including
historic brick kilns and thatched
roof buildings. Oatlands Village
itself is beautifully landscaped and
in a peaceful area in the north of
the island. A great setting for a
relaxing and laid-back restaurant
like The Kiln, which also features
a beautiful and spacious outdoor
area. Oh, and did we mention
there is loads of free parking on
site? So, none of the battling
for parking spaces that you get
in St Peter Port, and no parking
time limits for those looking for
a lengthy and leisurely meal.
As soon as you step foot in The
Kiln the homely atmosphere and
décor welcomes you in and puts
you at ease. It’s light and airy,
spacious and totally unpretentious.
Neutral tones, rough stone walls,
solid wooden furniture, homely
lamps, candles, wooden crates
and a healthy smattering of indoor
plants make this feel like you’ve
just walked into a friend’s dining
room as opposed to a restaurant
(albeit a friend with an impeccable
flair for interior design).
The owners of The Kiln know
their stuff as they have created
a menu that is a match made
in heaven with the restaurant’s
ambience. The food is reassuringly
traditional and hearty, with the
occasional modern twist to
maintain your interest. Their daily
specials are fresh and different and
keep you wanting to come back
for more. The restaurant is owned
and run by Jenny Meeks (The Kiln
is the latest addition to her already
impressive track record in the
Guernsey restaurant industry), with
the support of her team, including
manager Greg Szezpanski and
chef Aidan Le Poidevin.
The Kiln is open 9am-5pm
daily, and offers breakfast (9-
11:30am), lunch (12-3pm) and
serves coffee and cake all day.
The breakfast menu has won the
hearts of Guernsey locals, to the
extent that making a reservation
is advisable. The options range
from a traditional ‘Full English’
through to the slightly fancier
‘Seared Asparagus, Broccoli,
56 En Voyage | Aurigny’s Magazine