Archive review: Laura Jane’s Café, East Cowes
Reviews 21st October 2012
Archive review: Laura Jane’s cafe is now closed. Some people imagine that Matt and Cat are orderly souls; with a neatly-written list of candidate venues to review, fully researched and scheduled in their diaries at regular intervals. The truth is so far removed from this cosy vision of administrative... Read more
Isobel Centre Café, Pan
ReviewsUncategorised 20th August 2012 6
Matt and Cat’s lunch breaks are usually taken within a set radius from their Newport workplaces. Their invisible umbilicus allows them to range to Olivo, French Franks and the Blue Door. Tugging a bit tighter on the string, they can make it to the Noodle Pot and even Original... Read more
Ventnor Botanic Garden Café
ReviewsUncategorised 2nd August 2012 5
How many Islanders does it take to change a light bulb? “CHANGE? We don’t like change!”. Everyone must have heard that joke by now and presumably there are regional versions of it being laughed at around the world. And change? Well, Islanders embrace it, don’t they? Now, Matt and... Read more
Newport Café, Scarrot’s Lane
ReviewsUncategorised 2nd August 2012 3
Even the most casual reader of this website can’t fail to have noticed that Matt likes a fry-up. Cat will, if pressed, eventually confess to being partial to a cooked breakfast – usually a bespoke combination of eggs and mushrooms with, occasionally, some bacon added for valuable protein –... Read more
Butterflies of Yarmouth
ReviewsUncategorised 24th June 2012 1
How does Yarmouth’s Old Gaffers Festival do it? Every year without fail the organisers manage to pick a scorching weekend on which to hold this celebration of classic boats, street acts and local produce. In 2012, because of the diamond jubilee celebrations, the event was brought forward a week... Read more
Brading Station
ReviewsUncategorised 11th June 2012 3
Hands up if you’ve seen ‘Brief Encounter‘? There may be quite a few who have, as the classic film is de rigeur on a wet Sunday afternoon. It’s based on a one act play by Noel Coward and stars Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard as the protagonists whose doomed... Read more
Hillside Bistro, Ventnor
ReviewsUncategorised 23rd April 2012 5
Matt was once described by his university professor as having a Rolls Royce brain with Morris Minor engine. Cat, who used to be pretty punctual and organised, has adopted Matt’s languorous attitude over the years they’ve been together. This lackadaisical leaning means that they have never quite managed to... Read more
Archive review: Marchesa Bar, Ryde
ReviewsUncategorised 5th April 2012
This is an archive review. Marchesa Bar has now closed (and reopened as House of Zabre Cafe Bar) Have you noticed how Ryde’s Union Street is a street of two halves? Slice it lengthwise and you will find that on the western side the eateries are mostly chain-style fast food... Read more
God’s Providence House, Newport
ReviewsUncategorised 3rd March 2012 6
God’s Providence House is in a fine old building in the heart of Newport. This beautiful and historic tea room has since the dawn of time run on the most traditional lines, and evokes a feeling almost of time travel. One can imagine oneself taking refreshment in a more... Read more
Watersedge, Gurnard
ReviewsUncategorised 27th February 2012 7
You know those winter Sundays, the ones where, after months of hiding coyly behind grey clouds, the sun decides to play peek-a-boo? In that brief moment everyone who has spent the last few months watching old war films and clearing out their cupboards throws on their warmest anorak and... Read more
