Your Bristol & Somerset Wedding - April/May 2020 (Issue 76)

Beyond the beach Breakfast at Mosaic at CuisinArt certainly didn’t disappoint, with the banana bread, coconut muffins and reviving smoothies so delicious I just had to order seconds. The restaurant features an open kitchen and wrap-around bar and is also open for dinner. After a swim in the ocean and enjoying the soft sand between my toes, it was time to be transported to the jaw-droppingly beautiful Shoal Bay East. (The easiest way to travel around the island is with Premier Taxi and Tours). This stunning stretch of sand is home to the Zemi Beach House Hotel & Spa boasting infinity pools and picturesque vistas. To say I ate well here was an understatement, with mahi- mahi tacos and hand-crafted coconut mocktails on the menu at the Zemi Beach Club. This was followed by a therapeutic massage at the zen-like Zemi Thai House Spa before enjoying the spectacular sunset that this island is well known for. That evening, I headed for dinner at Café Celeste inside the colonial-style Malliouhana resort simply oozing with glamour and Caribbean charm, perched on the stunning Meads Bay. Highlights on the menu include red snapper, conch curry served with coconut dumplings and yummy plantain fritters. Another day in paradise Fully immersed in island life, I enjoyed an early morning yoga and meditation session followed by a refreshing dip in the healing waters pool in the Spa by CuisinArt. This tranquil spot is home to 16 treatment rooms, including a couple’s suite featuring an outdoor Jacuzzi, where a heated bamboo massage and aqua massage are on the menu. The Scrub Blend Bar experience isn’t to be missed, giving guests the option to make their own spa product to take home with them, and other more adventurous activities include aquatic kickboxing, stand-up paddleboard yoga and tennis (with lessons available). There’s also a fun cookery class to learn how to make Portuguese petiscos and a rum and cocktail-making lesson. Golf enthusiasts will love the 18-hole Greg Norman Signature Design Championship course, the only one on the island, situated close by on the resort’s sister property, The Reef by CuisinArt. This oceanfront boutique hotel boasts 80 rooms and suites built across four beachfront buildings and an open-air lobby. Foodies will love The Yacht Club Restaurant, opening on to the feature pool, serving breakfast and dinner while Breezes Beachfront Restaurant & Bar offers a lounge-style atmosphere for lunch and dinner. Sundowners are a must-try at Santorini at the Clubhouse, also open for lunch. There’s a cool party vibe at this hotel with regular live DJ sets around the pool and poolside treatments available to book through Spa to You. Next up was a visit to the colourful Arts & Crafts Center in the West End, a treasure trove of island trinkets including conch shells to take home. From here, I headed to the Sunshine Shack beach bar and grill perched on Rendezvous Bay, a short stroll along the beach from CuisinArt, where I tucked into the delicious grilled lobster accompanied by the local Carib lager. It’s well worth the walk and you’re encouraged to scribble a message with your name on the shack before you leave. Coming to the end of my magical trip, as the sun went down, the wonderful team at CuisinArt arranged for me to experience some private dining at the water’s edge at the Beach Bar & Grill where I enjoyed an amazing array of food and live music. I departed Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport with a smile on my face that lasted the entire way home – this tropical paradise, one of the best-kept secrets in the Caribbean, will always hold a special place in my heart Admiring the #seaviews and #infinitypool at Zemi Beach House Hotel & Spa and CuisinArt (left) Practising #yoga and #golf at CuisinArt (above and below) #donotdisturb in the #stylishrooms and #spa at CuisinArt (below) #freshseafood and a #romantic ambience at Café Celeste (above and below) #grilledlobster at the Sunshine Shack Tropic Breeze offer holidays to Antigua to stay at the Curtain Bluff resort, 01752 880 880, tropicbreeze.co.uk, tropicbreezeholidays Book it curtainbluff.com curtainbluffresort ivisitanguilla.com anguilla_tourism BigjoePradel davidaanguilla.com anguillakayak.com axaliquidglow cuisinartresort.com visitcuisinart belmond.com belmondcapjuluca AnguillaHorses premiertaxiandtour zemibeach.com zemibeachhouse aubergeresorts.com/malliouhana/dine/celeste malliouhana thereefbycuisinart.com thereefanguilla sunshineshack.net sunshineshack_ Virgin Holidays offer holidays to Anguilla to stay at CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa, 0344 739 6909, virginholidays.co.uk 95 HONEYMOONS