Coffee Room at Skintrade, Newport
Uncategorised 12th March 2015 2
Guinness World Records is an astonishing institution. Under what other circumstances would the oldest ever person, the world’s longest human nose and Norma Stitz’s …ahem… assets appear in the same publication? And how about that perennial favourite world record: how many women can be squeezed into a Mini? What... Read more
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
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
Off the Rails, Yarmouth
Uncategorised 7th September 2014 6
The question that Matt and Cat most often hear is “Are you guys really fat?”. Well, aside from the fact that Cat is not a ‘guy’, the answer is well – no, maybe yes, in places (mostly restaurants). While Matt is content to lean back in his chair and... Read more
Adgestone Vineyard
Uncategorised 6th September 2014 2
People on the Isle of Wight have long, long memories – and unforgiving ones. Matt and Cat have heard tales of folks who have vowed never to revisit a particular establishment after a single disappointing experience – and cling to that simple principle for so long that generations later... Read more
Tony’s, Ryde
Uncategorised 6th August 2014 7
It’s not the rarest of occasions, the opening of a new fish and chip outlet in a seaside town. Frankly, it happens pretty regularly. Some chippies stay the course for decades – or in the case of Stotesbury’s, Newport, over a century. But whenever new hands take up the... Read more
Archive review: Urban Diner, Newport
Uncategorised 14th July 2014
This is an archive review. Urban Diner is now closed. Ah bless the Isle of Wight, so steadfastly stuck in the middle ages. Or at least the middle of the twentieth century, if you believe the laziest of stereotypes. No, you dont need a passport. Yes, there is a... Read more
The sun has got its hat on, hip hip hip hooray! Not every day, admittedly, but today was The Day. And, as tradition dictates, everyone has to ‘make the most of it’. Which, for you mainland readers, translates as an hour sat dehydrating as you rage in your car... Read more
Eegon’s, Cowes
Uncategorised 3rd November 2013 0
Cowes has quite a dynamically-changing high street. During the famous yachting festival particularly, the place is bursting with temporary retailers and eateries. However it’s not all seasonal pop-ups; there are some establishments like Benzie that have been there as for as long as Brucie has been entertaining us on... Read more
