Purple Mango, East Cowes
2nd November 2008 18
The lights are shining bright in East Cowes these days. Despite SEEDA‘s numinous arrival in the town – now revealed disappointingly as all light and no heat – the brave entrepreneurs behind Saffron in Cowes have thumbed their noses at the economic downturn and opened a stylish restaurant in... Read more
East Dene, Bonchurch
26th October 2008 1
It’s not all chip shops and cafés on Matt and Cat’s Isle of Wight eating out guide: sometimes the eponymous reviewers will veer off the well-worn track. One Saturday afternoon in the tail-end of the wedding season Matt and Cat found themselves at East Dene, Bonchurch, as guests of... Read more
Number 3, Bath Road, Cowes (DB’s)
25th October 2008 7
Note: in July 2011 DB’s changed its name to Number 3. Matt and Cat took it into their heads to dine in Cowes. As it was getting late in the season it was pretty quiet, and they enjoyed a peaceful stroll along the parade, watching the Red Funnel ferry... Read more
Puckpool Tea Gardens
2nd October 2008 2
Even on the most unprepossessing of days, visitors to the English seaside will seek out crazy golf and a nice cup of tea. The Island is well-provided with venues for both of these past-times, and it happened one brisk autumnal afternoon that Matt and Cat set off for one... Read more
Joyce’s Café, Newport
23rd September 2008 2
Matt and Cat love to find new places to eat and are regularly recommended pubs, restaurants and cafes by friends and colleagues. One suggested establishment is the elusive Greasy Lil’s – M and C have been unable to find this notorious greasy spoon café and the person who proposed... Read more
There’s a theory suggesting that if you sit and wait long enough, everything will come to you. If this principle has much currency, there have probably been a few gurus on mountaintops waiting for a very long time for a nice fresh fish supper to come along. What they... Read more
Matt and Cat don’t often get out during weekdays, chained as they are to municipal desks in the heart of the county’s administrative capital. However, just occasionally, they given a day pass and, on a particularly miserable Tuesday, they were let off their leads to roam the Island’s countryside.... Read more
Archive review: Mamma Mia, Shanklin
Uncategorised 6th September 2008
This is an archive review. Mamma Mia has now closed this restaurant and opened another. This review and the comments on it refer to the former venue. Some considerable time ago, Cat was a regular patron of Pavarotti’s Restaurant in Shanklin. Its Italian staff were very welcoming, the authentic... Read more
Bestival, 2008
5th September 2008 5
Special report by our roving festival reporter, Wendy Her updates will be added to this review, so keep checking back and read down to find out the latest! Bestival Friday update Well, I’m here posting from the SOS internet cafe, one of the few dry spots at Bestival this... Read more
Chequers, Rookley
2nd September 2008 14
Being seaside dwellers, Matt and Cat tend to cling to the edges of the Island – except when heading to the megalopolis that is Newport for their day jobs. However, they can be drawn to Vectis’ rural innards when necessary. One such voyage of discovery lead them to Rookley’s... Read more