Yelf’s Hotel, Ryde
Uncategorised 28th July 2007 21
There’s something quite satisfying about an establishment that has not succumbed to the refurbishment fashions of stripped wooden floors, strategically placed ‘objets’ and sunken lighting. Yelf’s Hotel in Ryde retains its old skool charm – demonstrating that carpets, a staff dress code and crooning Tony Bennett piped through the... Read more
Steamer Inn, Shanklin
28th July 2007 11
Shanklin Esplanade is one of the quieter of the traditional beaches on the Isle of Wight, where visitors still enjoy the golden sands, amusements, crazy golf and ice creams. It’s Matt and Cat’s recurring pleasure to stop off on the way home from work at such a place where... Read more
Three Bishops, Brighstone
17th July 2007 25
Playing grockles is fun, as Matt and Cat found out one summer’s day. Following a delightful walk up Mottistone Down to take in the breath-taking views of the ‘back of the Wight’, they ventured to the nearby thatched mecca of Brighstone in search of a cream tea. Brighstone Tea... Read more
Osborne House Petty Officers Quarters Cafe
8th July 2007 2
Osborne House has an impressive Terrace Restaurant for the ultimate lunchtime venue – but if you want to get a taste of the Osborne experience without buying a ticket you can take advantage of the new cafe in the recently restored Petty Officers’ Quarters. It’s a remarkable bit of... Read more
Room 4, Ryde
8th July 2007 15
Ryde in the summer is a buzzing town. And, particularly when the sun is out, the streets throng with holiday makers, locals and, on the Saturday that Cat and friend visited Room 4, Ryde Arts Carnival was processing down Union Street. Previously a shop selling giftware, jewellery and African... Read more
Hogs Head, Newport
8th July 2007 1
Matt and Cat chose the previously prohibitively smoky Hogs Head as the venue for their first meal in a newly smoke-free environment. A visit the week before had seen them not even stay long enough to order a drink at the bar, so breath-taking was the fuggy atmosphere. However,... Read more
Situated in a prominent position at the upper end of Carisbrooke High Street is the substantial red-brick pub, The Waverley, named after the paddle steamer of the same name. Matt and Cat drove into the spacious rear car park early one weekday evening, having been lured in by the... Read more
Lifeboat Inn, East Cowes
24th June 2007 17
If you were to visit East Cowes marina and its Lifeboat Inn by boat, it would be easy to imagine that you were in a cosmopolitan waterside town, wealthy from development money. However, approaching the marina from the east, through streets of red brick terraced houses, past tall factories... Read more
Browns Cafe and Clubhouse, Sandown
23rd June 2007 2
Down on Culver Parade, a little way from the hussle and hilarity of the esplanade, Sandown boasts a fine 1930’s miniature golf course, complete with a clubhouse in the period style. Behind it prevails the municipal cafe which Matt remembers from many happy visits as a child, some 35... Read more
Taj Tandoori, Sandown
17th June 2007 6
The vast, metropolitan town that is Cowes boasts no less than three eat-in tandooris, the Island’s county town, Newport, has only two, and Ryde, Shanklin and Sandown have to make do with one each – oh, and one in Lake. It’s a mystery why, outside Cowes, such busy tourist... Read more