The George Hotel has for decades been a reliable stalwart of Yarmouth. But this year, any metaphorical cobwebs have been blown away. A new broom has swept through the venue, boutiquifying the bedrooms, George-ing up the staircase, and with imminent plans to Italianate the garden too. Under the guiding... Read more
At the tail-end of a scorching Bank Holiday weekend we had seen the Island at its best. Hedgerows nodding with fresh flowers, sun glinting on the gorgeous blue sea, beaches full of happy holidaymakers and of course some great meals out. Gathering a few friends we decided to make... Read more
Mid-February, when everyone’s thoughts turned to love – or at least the commercialised Hallmark-whimsical-heart-shaped-helium-balloon-a-thon that is Valentine’s Day, our thoughts turned to parsimony. Yes, we spend a disproportionate amount of our hard-earned on supporting the Island’s food industry, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want value for money. So,... Read more
You must have heard us blather on about how folks on the Isle of Wight orientate themselves by where the post office used to be. One of Cat’s first experiences of being given directions followed a trail of landmarks that were no longer there; “Past where that old copper... Read more
Cat’s got an elderly relative who’s convinced that B-Day (Brexit Day, EUletide, or whatever you want to call it) will bring not only that mythical £350m for the NHS but also a welcome return to pounds and ounces. In some deep recesses of the Island we have been known... Read more
If you’re on the Isle of Wight, and seeking somewhere to eat, there’s a high likelihood that you are going to look favourably on somewhere with a sea view. We have remarked before on the curious fact that there are actually surprisingly few such venues. If you doubt us,... Read more
After the excesses of Christmas, many of you will have emerged blinking into the New Year full of staunch resolutions to stop drinking alcohol, deny yourselves meat, run every day and generally have a miserable and sanctimonious January. We know that our willpower isn’t as reliable as yours so... Read more
Let’s say you’re stuck with a traditional newsagent’s shop in Gurnard. It’s been trading for years but frankly, the writing is on the wall. Nobody buys fags any more, printed media is not really a growing market, and as for sweets and toiletries, darling, we all get them from... Read more
You know The Chequers, right? One of those big, rambling family road pubs that you took the kids and grandparents to. The kind of place where a large car park and play area are adequate compensation for the generic pub grub menu. If that’s still your idea of the... Read more
People regularly ask us if we are truly anonymous food reviewers. “Surely staff must know when you are eating in their venue?” is oft the cry. They possibly do, but sometimes we keep them on their toes. We might book under a different name, go with friends or, sometimes... Read more
