As the island is basking in unprecedented heat this half-term, many people have headed to the beach.
A new temperature record of 31.4C was reached on Tuesday, and yesterday the sunshine, light winds and heat persisted, taking the top temperature up to 30C during the afternoon, and late in the day it was still simmering just below that. The Met Office said it could still get hotter later on.
Bella Duquemin has worked at Surfside at Port Soif for six years, and said it is definitely the hottest May she and her colleague Patience Ogier had ever experienced at the kiosk.
‘It’s great, it’s been really busy but we’re very hot,’ she said.
‘Everyone wants ice cream – that’s the main thing. We ran out of so many on bank holiday Monday. No one wants the cake, or not really interested in a burger either – it’s all about the ice creams and cold drinks. We both love working here when it’s like this, time goes so fast and people are happy.’
Mim’s Kiosk at Cobo is also thriving in the heat. Owner Mim Sarre said even her hot bean jars had been in high demand.
‘The best thing about this weather is it brings everyone out and they’re all smiling,’ she said.
‘When everyone smiles, it makes us smile too – all my staff say the same. It’s just wonderful to see the whole population smiling. And absolutely everything is selling.
‘People are even eating spicy chilli, jacket potatoes and bean jar – in this weather – which is really funny. I had to make a big batch of spicy chilli on Sunday, it’s funny.’
The island’s heatwave has coincided beautifully with its school break, said David Barlow, the owner of Grandes Rocques Kiosk.
‘It’s a perfect storm. The kids are off and everyone’s out. People have been waiting for some decent weather, so it’s good – very busy. To me, it feels like August.
‘The last couple of days we’ve just been selling anything and everything that’s icy and refreshing. When they all go back to school next week, we can sort of get your act together again.’
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