Islanders and tourists to enjoy novel view of St Helier from horse and carriage

  • Islander is approved to hold horse and carriage rides in St Helier
  • Renouf family will offer rides with Jimmy, the Irish cob horse, from Parade Gardens
  • Should more areas of St Helier be pedestrianised? Take our poll below

ISLANDERS are used to seeing the roads of St Helier lined with cars, motorcyles and bicycles…

But now a new friendly face will be seen on the busy streets of town, after a St Clement family introduced horse and carriage rides to St Helier.

The carriage rides, which start from Parade Gardens, are led by seven-year-old Jimmy, the Irish Cob horse, and Phil and Jenny Renouf, along with their their 19-year-old daughter Phoebe.

‘It has been great so far. People have been marvellous and the reaction has been terrific,’ said Mr Renouf.

The view from the carriageA passer-by stops to take a picture of the horse and carriage

Mr Renouf left his full-time managerial job in a garden centre to pursue the carriage ride business, which he has been working on for the last two years. The idea came to him more than 20 years ago after seeing carriage rides operating all round the world.

The excursions will take place from 10 am to 4 pm on Monday to Saturday, starting from Parade Gardens and will do a full circuit of the streets of St Helier, lasting between 20 and 25 minutes.

Initially the family asked for the trips to start from the Royal Square – which Mr Renouf said he knew he would not be able to get – but can also see a future for the carriage rides at the Waterfront.

‘We have to watch how the horse works, but it has been lovely. We have not had many customers so far but the feedback has been extraordinary. ‘People stop and just want to know about the horse,’ said Mr Renouf.

The family have a total of four horses at their home in St Clement, one of which they hope to introduce to carriage riding in the near future, alongside Jimmy.

Jimmy the cob horse drawing the carriage in St Helier

‘We were hoping to have two horses ready but we are just seeing how people react to it. Jersey adopted the motorcar and left horses behind because the land is so valuable here and it is hard to keep a horse just to use in the summer.

‘Everyone has been really supportive. ‘St Helier Constable] Simon Crowcroft held meetings and he has always been so enthusiastic. We could not have got this far this quickly without him.’

The introductory price is £30 for a total of up to five people, with tickets due to increase to £40 later in the year.

Mr Renouf is urging Islanders to go and ‘take a look’ at the latest attraction.

‘The sensation of being in a carriage is surprising. It is not what you expect and if people can experience the sensation it is worth a smile on their face.’

Beata Szostaka with her son Olivier (22 months) with groom Phoebe Renouf (20) Phil Renouf and his wife Jenny (driving)A cricket team from The Lord's Taverners set off from West Park to play a Jersey select in a charity match in 1969Children enjoy Sunday School outings by horse and carriage in 1972Mr C Le Breton and his barouche drawn by a pair of chestnut horses in celebration of Mr E F Le Masurier's successful candidacy in the election for Centenier in 1965

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