The Old Fort, Seaview
This is an eaterie with a split, or even multiple, personality. It is not an old fort, nor anything like one - it is a traditional seaside cafe that has grown up a bit. It is described as a cafe, and indeed much of the time it seems to be one. However it is also a pub, and sometimes goes a little way towards being a restaurant.
As the seasons wax and wane this difference is even more marked. Seaview is a dear little sailing village where DFLs (Down-from-Londons) understandably make their second or third homes, and any few remaining locals are mainly engaged in estate agency or gardening for their absentee masters. Thus in the height of summer, especially on bank holidays, the Old Fort is a heaving mass of hoorays, brass buttons and cravats flying as though the 80s had never ended. Ladies, you can with impunity wear a large black velvet bow in your hair! Gentlemen, smoke a cigar and play hilarious drinking games! Frankly, we'd give it a miss at this time of year - they don't need your business anyway. If you must go, book a table well in advance, if you can, and don't expect to park anywhere within 2 miles. But wait, there is more to tell.
In the quieter times, if the weather is nice, you can sit outside on the sea wall with your pint or plate and enjoy one of the finest views of the Solent to be had from a civilised place. And later still, in the winter, Seaview is just quiet streets of shut-up big houses dark and lifeless, their owners toiling in the city. Then the Old Fort is a warm haven for a spontaneous evening meal and a peaceful pint watching the lights of the great ships moving silently up and down the Solent.
The food? Oh, the food! Yes, it's pretty good. They have a small but reasonable menu, and in the winter often some very good deals. There's usually a curry special, and the curry night is not too bad, although the curries tend to be of the Thai variety rather than the Indian sort. Think a little better than standard pub grub, but not quite restaurant fare, and certainly not restaurant prices.
Visit the website: http://www.oldfortbarcafe.co.uk/
15 comments
Comment from: Bushy 
Some of us actually live in Seaview all the year round! Some of us even work here! Seriously, we really like the Fort, especially out of season. On Tuesday three of us had super steaks with real fried onions - not 'rings'! They have also been doing some really nice specials of late. And the curry nights always feature a good selection of which only one is Thai.
15/11/07 @ 16:21
The beer's good as well-although with my parents down from Bury St Edmunds it was odd to be drinking a beer that is brewed in their home town. I'd really like to see more places stocking Goddards around Ryde.
Nevertheless, The Old Fort is the perfect distance from Ryde for working up an appetite, and the walk is GORGEOUS> The Fort is a lovely place and beautifully run.
BTW, this review is one of your finest bits of writing.
Nevertheless, The Old Fort is the perfect distance from Ryde for working up an appetite, and the walk is GORGEOUS> The Fort is a lovely place and beautifully run.
BTW, this review is one of your finest bits of writing.
26/11/07 @ 20:14
Comment from: Julie Watson
Visited end of August 2008. Ordered sausage & chips x2 and a tuna mayo baguette, and waited 45 mins for it to arrive.Sausages looked very dodgy and one small bite was enough to tell it was off, chips disguting and tuna baguette was very dry and hard to eat. Thought that being in such an upmarket place we would get nice food, but we were wrong, wasn't cheap either will never go there again.
26/09/08 @ 13:57
Comment from: GillyT
We had two excellent meals at the Old Fort last weekend. Their curries are fantastic and the service was quick and friendly. A great place to watch the world float past.
26/09/08 @ 16:23
Comment from: visitor
would like to verify that the comment left about the baguette and sausages was relating to the cafe next to the old fort which is not connected.just wanted to clear that up.
01/10/08 @ 15:28
Comment from: Bushy
I'm glad that last comment got added, as I can't imagine the Fort serving substandard food. Mind you, going anywhere in Seaview in August is best avoided - the locals go into hibernation for the month to escape the DFL 'yachties' and their badly behaved offspring!
06/10/08 @ 11:34
Comment from: Bushy
The Old Fort has just started Winter £6 specials. On Friday we had pork steak in pepper sauce with herb mash and fresh vegetables. Top quality ingredients, well cooked and excellent value. They've also started doing Sunday lunches.
19/10/08 @ 13:19
Comment from: Gill
We had a great meal at the Old Fort on Sunday. The place was full of folk troughing down on delicious-looking Sunday lunches but we went for some of their 'Winter Warmers' - a lovely Shepherd's Pie, a thick & tasty Onion Soup and a mouth-tingling Thai Green Chicken Curry. Although the pub was busy the service was quick and efficient and the food was fresh, hot and full of flavour. We will be back to try the Sunday Lunch soon!
13/01/09 @ 11:13
Comment from: DFL
We've eaten in the Old Fort at all times of day, days of the week, and weeks of the year - even though we are 'DFL's as you call us...
The food is tasty, honest and there's plenty of it. They're always welcoming, especially with children - the kids' meals are good food too, not just microwaved nuggets.
The view is unbeatable, and sitting out in the summer by the seawall watching the dinghy racing is a great way to spend an afternoon.
Yes, of course, you should book in August, and also on Weds for curry nights the rest of the year. But many times we've nipped in there on the off chance of a meal, and emerged 2 hours later well fed and well oiled.
Thoroughly recommended.
The food is tasty, honest and there's plenty of it. They're always welcoming, especially with children - the kids' meals are good food too, not just microwaved nuggets.
The view is unbeatable, and sitting out in the summer by the seawall watching the dinghy racing is a great way to spend an afternoon.
Yes, of course, you should book in August, and also on Weds for curry nights the rest of the year. But many times we've nipped in there on the off chance of a meal, and emerged 2 hours later well fed and well oiled.
Thoroughly recommended.
14/02/09 @ 17:32
Comment from: Mark
Hello... we had a horrible experience at the Old Fort this week. We arrived for drinks and food on a Wednesday. All tables but one had reservations on them. We sit at the one table which was open, and then ordered drinks. We were planning on staying most of the evening, and discussed food options with the barmaid. Then, about half way through our first pint, the barmaid comes over and drops a reservation label on the table, and says "you have until 7.30pm" then walks off. I was astounded at this. No asking us our plans, no consideration, no nothing. I have lived around the world, and eaten in literally thousands of restaurants/pubs and have never been told to move once we were seated in this fashion. Literally stunned, I asked to speak to the Manager. A lady came over eventually, and told us basically we had until 7.30pm then a party of 7 were coming in for food. We explained that we were "here first" and no one told us we would or could be ejected. She basically implied there was nothing she could do, and the party of 7 could not be turned away. We left in disgust and had a great time at the Sea View Hotel and in the Thai Restaurant next door. Customer is always right... yeah, unless you are in the Old Fort. Customer Service... obviously means nothing to them. Money money money... cant turn away a party of 7 people! Part of my day-job here on the Isle involves entertaining customers - will certainly not plan on taking them to the Old Fort at any time.
Funny thing is we went into the Old Fort the week before (with a party of 8) and they turned us away as they had no space....
Funny thing is we went into the Old Fort the week before (with a party of 8) and they turned us away as they had no space....
04/06/09 @ 17:55
Comment from: Island Visitor
We visited on Sunday 26th July and ordered food from the bar. The main meals seem to be better value than the bar food. The baguettes were an eye-watering £6 each and when they arrived we were very disappointed. The sausage baguettes - ordered for the kids - contained a couple of cheap split catering sausages whilst the Coronation Chicken baguette looked and tasted like something from Tesco. We also ordered Cheeseburger and Chips (£7) sadly the burgers were the frozen variety which looked as if they'd been pre-cooked and then microwaved to order. The chips were soggy in the middle and were clearly the frozen McCain's type. I'm frankly astonished that anyone would recommend this place. For 3 baguettes and 2 Burgers/Chips we paid £32 - there couldn't have been more than a fivers worth of food on our combined plates. A total rip off and the worst dining experience we've ever had on (or off) the Island.
28/07/09 @ 16:30
Comment from: mattfromryde
We went there for lunch today, which was our first 'in season', as it were. The place was half DFL, but great views. The wife had the ever excellent thai green curry, and I for reasons unknown went for the burger (not having read the last review). I was expecting something gourmet, but it was as previously described. Not recommended. Not withstanding this,the service was excellent and I will return, but will be sticking to that which I know in future.
03/09/09 @ 19:13
Comment from: DIsappointed
Having read these reviews we were a little sceptical about trying the Old Fort but wanted to see for ourselves. I have to say WHAT A RIP OFF!!!
I had a baguette (£6) and my other half had the ham, agg and chips (£6.95) whilst also ordering a small glass of house wine (£4.50).
The baguette was hard, small and came with a stale side salad. For £6 you would expect EITHER a sizeable baguette (no) or if not, then an accompaniment of crisps or chips maybe (no). My other half's ham was packaged, wet, watery ham from those horrible square 'packages' you get in the supermarket. She had one egg, which was nice, and a small portion of chips, which were nice. BUt was it worth £6.95??! Not a chance. Also, the glass of wine....175ml....house white.... for £4.50??? Slightly overpriced.
Frankly, we won't be returning. And living 20mins away, and owning our own establisment, that's a shame. The problem is the Fort charge inflated prices because they CAN! If it was good value, nobody would care. But it isn't. Stale baguettes for £6???????? Raise your game.
Disappointed of Ryde.
I had a baguette (£6) and my other half had the ham, agg and chips (£6.95) whilst also ordering a small glass of house wine (£4.50).
The baguette was hard, small and came with a stale side salad. For £6 you would expect EITHER a sizeable baguette (no) or if not, then an accompaniment of crisps or chips maybe (no). My other half's ham was packaged, wet, watery ham from those horrible square 'packages' you get in the supermarket. She had one egg, which was nice, and a small portion of chips, which were nice. BUt was it worth £6.95??! Not a chance. Also, the glass of wine....175ml....house white.... for £4.50??? Slightly overpriced.
Frankly, we won't be returning. And living 20mins away, and owning our own establisment, that's a shame. The problem is the Fort charge inflated prices because they CAN! If it was good value, nobody would care. But it isn't. Stale baguettes for £6???????? Raise your game.
Disappointed of Ryde.
02/03/10 @ 23:15
Comment from: Dave Benson-Phillips
Firstly I'd like to comment on this website as a whole and how I find it unfair that it allows people to come on and vent their frustration, surely a little moderation would be a sensible idea? Just a thought.
I personally like to make my own judgement on establishments and coming on here and reading some of the comments would put me off visiting the Old Fort but as a local and regular I know it better than most and feel some of the comments are more than a little unfair.
I'd like to highlight the fact that the Old Fort offers a far better choice of food than simply a baguette and some ham, egg and chips and I'd like to think, as a man who enjoys my food, that someone with an interest in catering would look further than a baguette when sampling, and passing judgement on, what an establishment is capable of. £6 may seem a lot for a baguette but if you were to go into 90% of take-away baguette shops on the Island you'd find yourself spending around £4 and you'd recieve something of similar size to that served in the Old Fort. That's without being able to sit down and enjoy the views.
I'd never consider coming onto a website like this and venting my anger over a poor experience with a baguette, I have better things to do, clearly others do not. I for one will be returning to the Old Fort many more times in the future and I hope people can see past a poor review of a baguette and go and try the food for themselves.
Matt and Cat respond: Hi Dave, thanks for your comment. We like the Old Fort and, as it's local to us, we eat there quite regularly. As for moderation of the comments on Matt and Cat's Isle of Wight Eating Out Guide - you should see the ones that we don't allow!
I personally like to make my own judgement on establishments and coming on here and reading some of the comments would put me off visiting the Old Fort but as a local and regular I know it better than most and feel some of the comments are more than a little unfair.
I'd like to highlight the fact that the Old Fort offers a far better choice of food than simply a baguette and some ham, egg and chips and I'd like to think, as a man who enjoys my food, that someone with an interest in catering would look further than a baguette when sampling, and passing judgement on, what an establishment is capable of. £6 may seem a lot for a baguette but if you were to go into 90% of take-away baguette shops on the Island you'd find yourself spending around £4 and you'd recieve something of similar size to that served in the Old Fort. That's without being able to sit down and enjoy the views.
I'd never consider coming onto a website like this and venting my anger over a poor experience with a baguette, I have better things to do, clearly others do not. I for one will be returning to the Old Fort many more times in the future and I hope people can see past a poor review of a baguette and go and try the food for themselves.
Matt and Cat respond: Hi Dave, thanks for your comment. We like the Old Fort and, as it's local to us, we eat there quite regularly. As for moderation of the comments on Matt and Cat's Isle of Wight Eating Out Guide - you should see the ones that we don't allow!
08/03/10 @ 21:02
Comment from: Pete
We've been visiting The Old Fort regularly for evening meals during the past 3 years and have enjoyed every meal, not to mention the views and atmosphere. Would recommend the green curry, fishcakes or rib-eye in particular. Curry night is very good value but being very popular booking is essential.
It's particularly good to visit off-season when there are some great value meals, unsurprisingly it gets very busy during the peak holiday season.
It's particularly good to visit off-season when there are some great value meals, unsurprisingly it gets very busy during the peak holiday season.
01/06/10 @ 19:06
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