Violet’s 1940’s Cafe
Uncategorised 9th February 2015 0
Has anyone opened a café recently that isn’t vintage-themed? Is there actually any room in the market for a place where you can just eat a cheese sandwich and not have to be reminded of the joys of rationing, ersatz coffee and lend-lease bacon? Well, of course the answer... Read more
Archive review: Mrs Jones Tea Depot
Uncategorised 10th January 2015
This is an archive review: the Tea Depot is closed. There’s a joke that’s made on the Isle of Wight every March when the clocks change, which is: “Don’t forget to put your clock forward – to 1952”. Well, in East Cowes there’s at least one person whose clock... Read more
The Man in the Moon, Newport
Uncategorised 27th December 2014 5
The J D Wetherspoon chain is to pubs what Lidl is to supermarkets. Once decried, the opening of a Spoons was seen as part of the erosion of the traditional English town pub; driving down standards and cheapening neighbourhoods. These days, the sneerers have gone very quiet. Like Lidl... Read more
Winter Gardens, Ventnor
Uncategorised 13th December 2014 1
It should never have happened. Only a few years ago the Hambrough Group was sailing unassailably high on the choppy waters of fortune. A Michelin star safely on the wall, expansion was in the air as the Pond Cafe and other properties came successfully under the wing of this... Read more
Breakfast, lunch, tea and cake in Brighton
Uncategorised 9th December 2014 0
Mostly Matt and Cat write about the Isle of Wight. But not always. In 2014 they took an autumn city break in Brighton where they got some great dining out tips from the locals, and this is one of several reviews they wrote there. It’s one of an occasional... Read more
Archive: Fogg’s, Ventnor
Uncategorised 2nd November 2014
Archive review: Fogg’s is now closed. Fogg’s has undergone something of a mild transformation. An earlier incarnation saw a wildly ambitious multi-page menu with an eclectic range of dishes from around the world. Probably a menu that was more fun to conceive than deliver. A change of ownership saw... Read more
Eastern Eye, Sandown
Uncategorised 5th October 2014 3
There are a some local Indian restaurants that M&C would say are definitely worth a visit. Monsoon in Ryde is a lively, modern curry house that Matt and Cat are always happy to recommend. The veteran Saffron in Cowes also has many fans, and M&C have enjoyed several meals... Read more
Bendula, Ryde
Uncategorised 5th October 2014 5
With the arrival of Ryde Thai in Union Street in early 2014, Matt and Cat declared Ryde Leisure Strip™ to be the Islands home of international cuisine. Potential diners can zigzag across the road, lured by the tempting food of the aforementioned Thai, plus Italian, Malaysian, Indian, Wild West... Read more
Ronnie and the Taco Bandits
Uncategorised 28th September 2014 0
After years in the doldrums, the Isle of Wight has become quite the destination for festivals and events. Yachts, books, hedges and even potatoes have their own celebrations. And, as much fun as it is bimbling around a field welly-wanging, examining artificial insemination charts and enjoying a good old... Read more
Bagel Wrap, Ryde
Uncategorised 7th September 2014 0
‘How many Islanders does it take to change a lightbulb?’ ‘Change? We dont like change!’ One of the Isle of Wights charms is how it has remained steadfastly behind the times, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. This laissez-faire attitude may have more to do with collective inertia than... Read more
