Matt and Cat\'s Isle of Wight Eating Out Guide
Not a food review! Matt and Cat comment on a new book Many congratulations to the lady who describes herself as “gourmet and former award-winning Island chef” Angela Hewitt, on the publication of her new book, What’s Cooking on the Isle of Wight and Wight Good Food Guide. Matt... Read more
Summer, seaside, ice cream. How easy can it be? On the Island, you’re rarely more than a few moments from an ice-cream vendor of some sort or other. Matt and Cat, like everyone else, occasionally indulge, and today in Cowes they found themselves in need of cooling sweet refreshment... Read more

Pier View, Cowes

3rd September 2007 2

Each town on the Isle of Wight has its own idiosyncratic style and ambience. Newport’s gentle hustle is hectic compared to the relaxed meanderers of Yarmouth’s town square. Ryde’s artsy shops contrast with Cowes’ yacht-centric commerce. And, in the summer, Cowes is particularly busy. As mentioned before in their... Read more
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

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
This is an archive review. See the new review here. It’s hard to imagine any more prestigious setting for a restaurant than Queen Victoria’s former chapel, overlooking the beautiful landscape of Osborne House. With this in mind, Matt and Cat explored the superb gardens at Osborne one sunny afternoon,... Read more

China China, Cowes

1st March 2007 9

Like moths to the flame, Matt and Cat were drawn one evening to the enticing pink and purple glow emanating from China China, a most exciting-looking venue on Cowes Parade. The outside of the building is a sight to behold; not only for its sexy lighting but its granite... Read more

Cowes Tandoori

9th February 2007 6

Cowes, which endures all year around despite the oft-repeated myth that the place shuts down in winter, has the benefit of no less than three good-quality curry restaurants. The final member of this triumvirate to fall under the scrutiny of Matt and Cat is the Cowes Tandoori. The Cowes... Read more

Seabreeze Cafe, East Cowes

1st December 2006 7

Having just missed the ferry to Southampton by a whisker, Matt and Cat found themselves with a hour to kill in East Cowes. And it was lunchtime. In its prime, East Cowes must have been a very busy place with the Columbine Works, Westlands, and Trinity House at full... Read more
It seemed like a crazy mission – to go to Cowes in the middle of August, and try to get a decent meal at a humane price. Everybody knows that you don’t go to Cowes in August, because there be yachties there, arrr! The little boutiques crank open their... Read more