Matt and Cat\'s Isle of Wight Eating Out Guide
On a day like today, when winds of up to 100mph have been recorded at The Needles, it’s nice to be indoors, snuggled in...

On a day like today, when winds of up to 100mph have been recorded at The Needles, it’s nice to be indoors, snuggled in front of the PC. Although a little late, the autumn weather is upon us; chilly evenings and squally days.

Chilli

Hardy mainland urbanites probably don’t notice these inclement conditions, happy to spend an evening on the streets in a vest and flip flops. But for soft southerners Matt and Cat, the winter heralds a time when jumpers are taken out of storage and M is stitched into his underwear.

The night that M and C visited the Old Village, it seemed that Shanklin had been mothballed. The buckets and spade shops and some eateries were battened down, even the Rock Shop had its shutters drawn. However, the lights weren’t entirely out – the blue glow of the Village Inn enticed your reviewers deep into thatch territory.

Village Inn

Recommended by Matt and Cat reader ghostmoth, it didn’t take your reviewers long to get off the street and into the pub’s cosy interior. To say the venue was intimately lit is something of an understatement. The lightbulbs cast a reddish glow, mainly because they had been daubed in red paint. However, it wasn’t so gloomy that M and C couldn’t see the glass and crockery left on their table. Alas the barmaid was involved in a major session on her mobile phone (at one point she was crouching behind the bar gazing at its illuminated screen) so, helpfully, Cat cleared the table and was able to get some service from a less preoccupied member of staff.

Chicken and leek pie

In fact, the lady Cat spoke with was very chatty and was keen to answer Cat’s questions about the mysterious steps down to the stone-floored cellar, giving a potted history of the venue. A pint of Deuchars IPA and a fruit-based drink for The Cat were dispensed and, having already studied the menu, C was able to give the orders for food.

The menu contained a typical selection of pub favourites: food from the grill, home-made pies, and a selection of fish dishes. There was also a spectacular fish platter for two on the specials board. As it was a chilly night Cat opted for the carb-heavy chicken, leek and mushroom pie with French fries and peas. Matthew, who also needed warming up decided to rise to the challenge of Texas chilli bowl, described as fiery chilli con carne.

Matt and Cat’s bill
Chicken and leek pie £10.45
Texas chilli bowl £10.75
Drinks £3.80
Total £25.00

The barmaid turned her attention away from her mobile phone for a moment and busied herself with DJ duties. Before long, Matt and Cat’s hearts sank as the middle of the road dronings of Phil Collins filled the air. A discussion about the ubiquitousness of this elderly pop-god soon had M and C peeling off their coats as they warmed to this perennial topic. They were also thawed by the friendliness of the previously distracted barmaid as she delivered cutlery and condiments to the table.

Before the food arrived there was a bit of time for your reviewers to prime their new toy, a camera specifically chosen for its ability to take pictures in low light. Too many times M and C have been caught out taking pictures of their meals – given away by the intrusion of the flash. With the new gadget, they should be able to be a bit more covert about their ops. However, it was soon apparent that the ruddy hue cast by the painted bulb was not going to be penetrated by even the most sensitive of devices and Matt and Cat resigned themselves to flashing as usual.

Dinners were delivered with a smile and a disclaimer about the heat of the dishes. Certainly Cat’s pie’s ramekin was toasty and its leeky contents could be heard bubbling. A generous pile of French fries were alongside with a spoonful of tiny peas. Keen to avoid a scalded tongue, Cat manoeuvred the pie’s contents onto her plate to help them cool down. She was delighted to have exposed a moist pile of tender chicken and plenty of leek, all cosied up in a tasty buttery sauce. A spectacular contrast to the dessicated offering at the White Mouse. It was just the ticket for this cold night and, with a tummy full of hot chicken, Cat had warmed up to the point of discarding her mittens.

Matt’s chilli was described as fiery and, by Jove, it was! There was plenty of beef and chilli plus a sprinkling of kidney beans. The whole lot was topped off with a dollop of soured cream and sprig of parsley. Having chosen chips over rice, Matt was a bit disappointed with the skinny fries – expecting something with a bit of girth. He should have paid more attention to the menu, as French fries was specified. An accompanying mixed pepper salad was good, complementing the hot meaty dish.

Both dinners were excellent and, when the barmaid came to clear the plates, Cat asked her to clarify the meals’ provenance. “All our dishes are home-made” came the confident reply. This did not come as a surprise; a bought-in pie would probably have had an implausible and teetering puff pastry hat.

The only trouble with eating such hearty fare is that it meant that there was no room for pudding. This was a bit of a blow as Matt was certainly keen to try the home-made bread and butter pudding and Cat was equally enthusiastic about the tarte au citron, served with raspberries and marscapone. Alas, there was no more room in their stomachs at the old Village Inn so, gathering their coats and scarves and with Cat re-donning her mittens, they walked back out into the chilly air.

The Village Inn serves delightful food in a cosy, if slightly dim, setting. The service was pretty chummy and very prompt. Recommended.

  • Jayne says:

    Unfortunately the food was basic and the service was awful! We asked for a good evening and local atmosphere and all we got was attitude and arguements. This is not a place to come and enjoy a friendly meal. They nee to take better care of their customers and try to answer questions with a smile!

  • John Woodhouse says:

    We popped in for lunch two or three years ago. After being ignored for quite a time we departed & went elsewhere. The staff seemed to be having a debate about something. Never been back

  • We have been to the Village Inn on many occasions – had meals there twice and were always more than happy with the quality and service

  • Bizy says:

    Ate there today and the food is delicious and very generous portions, however the staff are awfully rude and unwelcoming. We were tutted at for not hearing what the waitress said, had plates slammed down in front of us due to our confusion from not hearing what she said, no communication when we spoke to her and at one point she even bumped into my fellow diner with out so much as an apology!! I actually cant believe people can behave like that let alone their place of work.

  • Julie Watson says:

    Tried the chicken madras a couple of weeks ago, really dissapointing, all you could taste was tomato, and not a hint of spice (or heat) a paltry serving of rice and a burnt naan bread, however my son had the chicken & ribs which he enjoyed, but having dined there several times in the last few years, felt that the food had gone down and that maybe they could think of some new ideas for the menu, as that didn’t look any different.

  • oliver harvey says:

    havent eaten here – but the menu reads from 1988

  • oliver harvey says:

    dont drink the tap beer here.
    beer always flat , doesnt taste right at all, how ever many times i try – only drink the bottled crabbies !

  • A. Diner says:

    Ate here just before Christmas and it was really busy and had a nice warm atmosphere. We were really impressed by how friendly and attentive the staff were all evening, they got it just right. I had the BBQ ribs and it was almighty in size, but couldn’t be faulted, they were piping hot and the sauce was lovely – the meat just fell off the bones. The chips were french fries, not my favourite type of chips but again they were really tasty. The side salad was very good and very mixed, a real delight. I would definitely go back. Even though prices slightly higher than some pubs, it was absolutely well worth it.

  • Mistyboy says:

    Oh dear !! Ate recently as a single diner at the Village Inn, and had possibly the most unappetising and tasteless apology for a chicken, leek and mushroom pie ever..I hunted for any sign of leeks or mushrooms and gave up. It was dry and the chicken was lumpy , gravyless, and processed. Gastro delight ?? No gastro disaster. Having complained, I was offered a free dessert and chose a cheese platter. When this came it was a feast for a family. A definite “I’ll show him” gesture from the chef no doubt. A delicious main course would have sufficed. This one is crossed off my visit list, and I suggest the owners take an objective view of the fare on offer here. Female staff who were engrossed in chats with their friends dont help either. A Customer is obviously an interference for this complacent hostelry.

  • lex says:

    do they have a website?

  • kj says:

    How dare you drink my Deuchars IPA. Nice to se my local did so well. Probably the ebst allround pub I have found anywhere on the Island, and the live music is good too

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