The Beach Hut Diner, Ventnor
29th June 2008 9
Everyone likes to be nosy. The fascination with our fellow humans occupies a lot of our time. You’ve only got to look through the TV listings to find programmes dedicated to satiating the needs of trunky-want-a-bun viewers. You can spend half an hour watching people struggle with their hysterical... Read more
Isle of Wight Festival: Food 2008
14th June 2008 5
In a special guest review, Matt & Cat regular Wendy reviews food at the Isle of Wight Festival. Read on for her daily updates! Friday 13th June 2008 Isle of Wight festival food feedback today, Friday! (Just back in, how’s that for dedication.): More varied Island presence than last... Read more
Boathouse, Springvale
1st May 2008 34
This is an archive review of a previous incarnation of The Boathouse. For the current review go here. The Boathouse – and Matt and Cat’s previous remarks about it – has proven to be one of the talking points of this website. See the bottom of the page for... Read more
Sun Inn, Calbourne
29th January 2008 6
In the increasingly competitive pub and restaurant market, establishments often hang their Unique Selling Point on some small featurette, extrapolating it into an entire theme – see, for example, the Island’s only capital punishment theme pub – the Hare and Hounds; a venue which developed its identity from its... Read more
Archive review: Octopus Garden Cafe, Cowes
Uncategorised 1st December 2007
This is an archive review. The Octopus Garden is now closed. John Lennon, as featured on the door of the Gents (with modesty spared by Matt and Cat), looking rather like the Island’s very own Jack Douglas? The Octopus Garden Cafe in Cowes started life as a museum of... 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
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
This is an archive review. El Toro Contento has closed. Matt and Cat welcome all suggestions for new venues so keep ’em coming! On this site’s well-populated ‘suggest a venue‘ page have been two requests for M and C to review El Toro Contento Tapas Bar, Ventnor. So, on... Read more
The Arthur Wakeley Restaurant, County Hall
1st April 2007 2
It’s a little known fact that the Isle of Wight Council’s hospitality suite is open to the public when not being used for civic occasions. High in County Hall a modern, air-conditioned suite of rooms – once offices for council bigwigs – now house an urbane and civilised eaterie... Read more
The White Hart, Havenstreet
27th March 2007 23
The pleasant task of reviewing all of the eateries on the Isle of Wight may never end; what with establishments changing their management and kitchen personnel and with new places opening all the time. In fact, it could almost be described as on a par with painting the the... Read more
