The Caesarea is the older of the two public houses- indeed it is one of the four oldest in the town, having been in business since at least 1834, and the only one which has traded continuously with the same name for over 175 years.
The Aurora is not far behind, having been in business since at least 1858, when the British Press noted on 10 September that "Mr Canning of the Aurora supplied the banquet at the Queens Assembly Hall when the cable from England to Jersey was inaugurated by the Channel Telegraph Company".
Catering was a speciality of this tavern in the 19th century. In 1888 Mr W A Vade advertised in the British Press Almanac:
- "W A Vade
- Wholesale and Spirit Marchant
- 7 & 8 Cattle Street, St Helier, Jersey
- (Opposite the Fish Market)
- Board and Lodging on Moderate Terms
- Horses and Carriages on Hire
- Table d'hote every day at one o'clock
- Price 1s
Mr A Traylen took over the establishment in 1894 and, after his death, his widow continued the business, describing herself as proprietoress. The Illustrated Guide to Jersey in 1898 described "Mrs Traylen's" as "a noted house for luncheons" and in the Evening Post Almanac in 1907 she was still offering table d'hote every day at one o'clock for one shilling.
Today the Aurora is a popular haunt of islanders of Portuguese origin and has a bar dedicated to Benfica Football Club.
1857 advert
1857
1859
1862
1859
1902
