Isle of Wight- your recommendations

[Atalune]

We usually go to at ives or padstow for a short U.K. break. We have been to Harrogate and York too. But this year we have settled on the Isle of Wight for the June half term.

I’d love your favourite Resturant recommendations please. I’ve read reviews and so on but some insider knowledge would be great.

We are a family of four. I have a booking for the smoking lobster so far and am on the wait list for the hut. We are staying in shanklin and have a car. We like everything! Kids are 10, 13.

Thank you

The terrace in Yarmouth is lovely, as is Gossips cafe

Po41 in Yarmouth does amazing coffee.

Oohh so pleased to see a positive IOW thread. We’re going for the first time in a couple of weeks and also staying in Shanklin!
I’m gutted we’ve missed out on a table at The Hut but I didn’t know they had a waiting list so might email them.

We’re also planning to visit Adgeston Vineyard. Has anyone been? We’re not massively into wine but enjoy drinking it! And no kids to worry about

Can I piggyback please? We’re going May/June half term and staying in Ventnor. Really excited as going on a ferry will feel like going abroad 😂

Yes this is why we booked @Longdistance DP is absolutely not a fan of UK breaks and specifically said he wanted to go somewhere that felt far enough away to feel like a holiday.
Somehow any knowledge of the Isle of Wight has passed him by so he was thrilled to discover we’d be going on a ferry 😂

Just read through the thread and we’ve also booked the Terrace in Yarmouth so pleased that’s been recommended. We’ve also booked a day of bike hire from Cowes and planned to do the Red Squirrel to Newport but I’m not sure how long that takes and whether we need a longer route planned?

For the bike ride from Cowes to Newport, once you get to Newport if you want to make it longer you can then go the other side of the river and cycle up to Wootton (the final bit ends at Wootton Steam Railway station). This bit takes you through Island Harbour where there's a nice restaurant (with a kids play area if you have kids) and also the Spice Girls double decker bus which is now an AirBNB.
Either that or you can take the cycle path through Newport to Blackwater & Merston. Both are on old railway lines. I'll try and find a map.
Places to eat for lunch on that cycle ride could be Bargemans Rest Pub, Quay Arts Centre Cafe, Island Harbour restaurant (I forget what's its called), or if going in the Merston direction then there are a couple of cafes on that bit too that you cycle past.

www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/things-to-do/cycling/bicycle-island/day-rides

Route 9 is Newport - Merston. When you get there you can either do their suggested loop or carry on to Sandown, or cycle back the same way you came.

redsquirreltrail.org.uk/other-routes/newport-wootton-bridge/

Newport - Wootton cycle trail

Longdistance do you have young children? If so they might like the Isle of Wight shaped splash pool on the front at Ventnor (and you might like sitting in the cafe right next door while you supervise!).

FizzyPink there is a lovely pub right on the beach at the bottom of shanklin chine called the Fisherman's Cottage, need to book as its popular. From there at night you can see the lights of ships on the horizon on their way to Frnace and beyond, and hopefully the stars in the night sky if its a clear night.

In Shanklin old town there are about 3 pubs all near each other (one is called the crab) and they often have live music in their gardens.

I've not been to that vineyard but sure you'll have a nice time. There is also another one called Rosemary Vineyard near Ryde.

Hope you have fun.

I haven been to IOW for about 10 years, but we're going for a week in August with 13yo DD. Staying at a cottage in Cowes.
Posters keep mentioning The Hut - where, what is it? I presume not Pizza Hut!

Brilliant, thank you so much @SouthOfFrance

Haha not Pizza Hut. Its a restaurant on the beach at Colwell Bay (near Yarmouth/Freshwater end of the island). Lovely views & food.

thehutcolwell.co.uk/

There you go. People sail over from the mainland to go there, they put their anchor down in the bay and the Hut runs a little boat to get them ashore. You can also get a little truck ride from Yarmouth to get there too I think. Or just drive and park in the nearby road/carpark.

Thanks @SouthOfFrance. It looks fab! But unfortunately it's fully booked for the week in August we're on the island😢.

We’re also going to IOW for the first time in August, staying in Cowes during Cowes festival. Do you need to book restaurants in advance? I’d never have thought to do so before reading this thread but now thinking maybe I should?

@ImNotReallyHere I definitely would for August. We’re going for half term and booked most restaurants a couple of weeks ago and there was already limited availability at some of the more popular ones.
It’s a bit annoying as you can’t then be as spontaneous on the day but I’d rather know we’ve got things booked and avoid walking around hangry trying to find somewhere

Thanks @FizzyPink It’s my DS’s birthday when we’re there so I’ll def book for that date. The Hut looks amazing but pricy and probably wasted on my teens. So glad I found this post. Sorry to jump in on OPs post but any recommendations what to do with a 17 and 14 yr old around Cowes and places to eat in Cowes? Have noted the Folly was mentioned above.

And I really like the idea of the garlic farm for brunch or lunch but can’t find a menu. Anyone been? How is it price wise and will my garlic averse DH find something to eat?

The Crab and Lobster Inn at Bembridge is well worth a visit
www.characterinns.co.uk/the-crab-and-lobster-inn

The Deck Tea Garden at the Carlton Hotel is a great spot for lunch in Shanklin. It's on the cliff road up above the beach so you get great views from the garden.
www.carltonhoteliw.co.uk/
Visit Shanklin Shine at night time to see it lit up.

Robin Hill is a great day out (better than Blackgang Chine in my opinion, but you can get a joint ticket for both)

Adgestone vineyard is WELL worth a visit. You can do tours, tastings and there are goats & chickens on site that keep the kids entertained whilst you sip a glass of the wine in the garden!

There's plenty more, we love it there! But those are my top picks.

Imnotreallyhere I think perhaps you should book any resturant you particularly want to go to, usually it wouldn't be an issue but just with covid I think this year it could be worth it.

Google 'Matt and Cat Isle of Wight Garlic Farm' for a review of the resturant. Pretty sure there are non garlic items in the menu!

The Folly is in East Cowes so you'd need to either go across the floating bridge to get there or drive round via Newport.
Other places in Cowes to eat could be The Woodvale (nice green and bit of shingle beach in front), That 60s place (60s themed cafe/restaurant) The Fountain (live music) The Red Duster (evening meal type place). There are lots of other ones but that's just some ideas.

Things to do, walk along the esplanade towards Egypt Point. Osborne House (English Heritage) House and Gardens in East Cowes. Carisbrooke Castle near Newport. Tapnell Farm water park (inflatable type thing where you fall in the water)
Surfing lessons (Sandown I think has some), horseriding along the beach at St Helen's beach, you can also hire SUPs and Kayaks at St Helen's to explore the river.
Do you have a car or are you limited to Cowes?
Compton Bay dinosaur footprints at Hanover point are amazing at low tide. And Compton is great for body boarding and surfing and less touristy (eg no shops or amusements, just loos and an ice cream van).

Another nice place for a mooch and a cafe is Quarr Abbey.

@SouthOfFrance wow thanks for that. Will check them out. Yes we will have a car

@ImNotReallyHere if you go onto their Instagram profile, they have a highlight with the menus. Looks like everything has some kind of garlic included! It’s garlic_farm

Am agreeing that Tapnell Farm Park is brilliant for kids, loads to do, especially if the weather isn't good. The Cow (their restaurant) is fun to eat at.