Chocolate Apothecary, Ryde Esplanade
6th September 2009 22
For over 200 years Ryde Esplanade has provided Islanders and visitors alike with a range of shops and hotels, from the elegant and sophisticated to the tacky and workaday. The Victorian chemist’s on the Esplanade now houses an unusual addition to the seafront; definitely on the elegant end of... Read more
Fields Cafe, Niton
17th August 2009 10
Churchfields is a pretty red brick house owned by St Faith’s Church, Havant and was for many years the home of Cat’s grandparents, Fred and Marjorie. Back in the 1970s the summers were always hot. Home-grown runner beans and squishy raspberries were harvested from the small but bountiful kitchen... Read more
Playing at grockles one sunny August day, Matt and Cat and junior reviewers Bill and Jack headed west with a plan to have lunch at Warren Farm, a place repeatedly recommended by a colleague. It was closed. Not to worry – something else to eat must be nearby. A... Read more
Kings Manor Farm Café
18th July 2009 9
Another sunny afternoon; another farm café. Yes, friends, it’s hard enough work reviewing the Island’s food at the best of times, but summer is a particularly strenuous season for diligent Matt and Cat, as they dash from one end of the Island to the other in an attempt to... Read more
McDonald’s, Ryde
18th July 2009 7
Taking advantage of their employer’s flexible working policy, Cat and a colleague bunked off to Ryde one lunchtime for reasons to tedious to go into. The Cat had already eaten her nammit but her friend, who was recovering from a heavy night on the sauce at Ocean Blue Quay,... Read more
Archive review: Manuel’s, Cowes
Uncategorised 14th July 2009
Archive review: Manuel’s is now closed. It’s coming up to high season on the Isle of Wight and its sailing capital in particular is due for an intense time as Cowes Week fever reaches its crescendo. This time of year all of the shops, bars and eateries are well-stocked... Read more
Rex Piano Bar, Ventnor
7th July 2009 13
Matt and Cat have said enough recently about the idiosyncrasies of Ventnor’s inhabitants. Sweeping generalisations have been made from the most cursory of glances at passers by. So, one might assume that if M and C were given hours of intense exposure to one of the town’s most quirky... Read more
Archive review: Oceanblue Quay, Ventnor
Uncategorised 4th July 2009
This is an archive review. Oceanblue Quay has changed hands and changed name. After giving it a while to find its feet Matt and Cat finally toddled through the doors of Oceanblue Quay, the new restaurant at Ventnor esplanade, as bone fide customers. Although in an enviable position at... Read more
Waterfront, Totland Bay
29th June 2009 14
Going to Totland Bay at midsummer must be like going to the moon. Matt and Cat blasted off from Newport and headed in a near-straight trajectory. Reaching jowl-bothering speeds of nearly 40mph (except through Shalfleet), they went west towards the setting sun. The light from our brightest star was... Read more
Olivo, Ryde
16th June 2009 45
What glorious weather the Isle of Wight enjoyed in early June! Good job too, as otherwise the music festival would have been a wash-out and Seaclose Park remodelled as a quagmire to rival last year’s Bestival mudbath. Making the most of the sunshine, M and C put on their... Read more
