But for Janie and Francis Pinglaux there has been a silver lining to the Covid-19 lockdown – they have been able to plough even more time and energy into getting everything perfect at their new dream venture, The Palms Campsite in St Ouen.
And it will also mean that motorhome and caravan owners previously prevented from parking up at Le Port in St Ouen’s Bay will have another place to go.
Formerly Daisy Cottage and before that the Bleu Soleil, the campsite is due to open to guests for the first time on Friday, with the relaxation of restrictions meaning they can offer sites to self-sufficient camper vans and motorhomes.
They then hope to be able to open to tents later in the summer, if the restrictions are lifted further to allow them to open the toilet and shower facilities.
Long-time motorhome enthusiasts Mr and Mrs Pinglaux, who bought the site in December, have also been able to breathe new life into the site, ensuring it remains a campsite and opening a cafe and a swimming pool at the site for the first time in more than five years. Their son Ryan has pitched in too and Mr Pinglaux’s cousin Dave Quinn has also been involved, making it a true family affair.
‘We just thought we couldn’t lose yet another campsite in the Island,’ said Mrs Pinglaux of their decision to buy the site after learning that the leaseholders for Daisy Cottage were moving on last year.
‘We had just built a brand new house, we had only been in it for 13 months, but we approached the owners of the site and the rest, as they say, is history.’
The Oasis café at the site is being run by Danny and Jeanette White and is open to the public as well as guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. And the Natural Therapies Centre which has been run at the campsite for a number of years by Michelle and Les Stanton and their son Matthew is continuing.
Mr and Mrs Pinglaux are also part of the group that has been campaigning for the government to introduce a permit system to allow motorhomes to continue to use sites like Le Port.
According to the couple, the Covid-19 situation has forced work on that project by the government to be further delayed.
In the meantime, they are now hoping that local campers can enjoy the peace and tranquillity that The Palms offers as well as tourists if and when travel restrictions are lifted. Although the site welcomes children, there are no facilities for them.
‘We wanted to try to create a chilled out, relaxed vibe,’ said Mrs Pinglaux, who has a background in banking and is also a former PA to the Prison Governor. Her husband, meanwhile, spent 26 years working in infrastructure for the States before starting his own handyman business.
‘I honestly feel like we have moved to France and lockdown has not been an issue, we have just focused on getting it ready.’
She added: ‘We both feel like we are born to do this. It has all fallen into place and we absolutely adore it.’
The site’s website it is not yet up and running but bookings can be made by calling 481700 or by emailing info@thepalms.je or 07797792688 for the café.
