to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
Whether you’re looking for a hearty roast and a pint in the countryside or the catch of the day right next to the sea, the Island has a wide variety of pubs serving up a bit of what you fancy and your favourite tipple. We asked our locals and past visitors for their favourite Island pubs and here are their recommendations.
The pub with a view! Steeped in history, the Spyglass Inn dates back to 1803 and is located in the smugglers haven of Ventnor. The outside terrace offers panoramic views of the beach and out across the English Channel - a pub right on the sea. Family run, the Spyglass offers regular live music and a menu of pub classics, as well as fresh crab and lobster delivered straight from Ventnor Haven Fishery. A favourite with locals and visitors alike.
The cosy country pub! Nestled in the quiet rural village of Hulverstone, The Sun is everything you’re looking for in a country pub. Set among miles of unspoiled countryside and just a stone’s throw from the Compton beach, The Sun is the perfect pit stop for explorers or for simply relaxing with a pint and a picture perfect view. Dating back to the 16th century, this quintessential thatched pub offers a tasty modern homecooked menu and an impressive roast on a Sunday. The Sun Inn is dog friendly, has a large garden, offers a kid’s play area, regular live music, and is a great start and end point for walkers and cyclists wanting to explore the west wight.
The friendly family run pub! Run and owned by a husband-and-wife team, The Blacksmiths is sure to offer a warm and friendly atmosphere and amazing food every time you visit. A 400-year-old traditional country pub, the interior offers an elegant take on its rural heritage making for a cosy but modern feel. The perfect venue for catching up with friends, getting the family together, a relaxed date night and special occasions, The Blacksmiths menu is rich hearty and has something for everyone, from classic fish and chips to their signature “Newchurch Pie” filled with tender lamb and minted gravy served with crisp potatoes and fresh seasonal veggies. Yum! The Blacksmiths is dog friendly, has large gardens, a kid’s play area and spectacular views of the countryside.
The pub by the sea! Situated in the sleepy seaside village of Seaview, The Old Fort offers just that – amazing views across the Solent. A traditional pub with a modern nautical theme, The Old Fort serves delicious homecooked dishes and pub favourites using local produce. A great place to stop for a rose lunch by the sea or to make an evening of it after a day on the beach, The Old Fort offers a relaxed and welcoming dining experience. The pub is family and dog friendly, offers free Wifi and curry night is on Wednesday throughout the year!
The ultimate sunspot! The Lifeboat is a modern pub overlooking East Cowes Marina on the River Medina. As well as a spacious restaurant indoors, the pub offers a large decked outside eating area which is a total sun trap in the summer. Serving modern pub favourites from fajitas to halloumi burgers to curry and more, The Lifeboat is a relaxing haven by the water from which to watch the world go by. Pop in for a sunny afternoon drink and end up staying for dinner, this is the perfect pub for socialising on hazy summer days. Dog and family friendly, The Lifeboat also offers a regular live music schedule.
The pub for local produce! Set in the heart of Godshill, the Taverners is everything you’d expect from a “proper” country pub, low ceilings, beams, flagstone flooring and a hearty seasonal menu using the best of Island produce available. Produce is bought in daily from local markets and Island farms, fish is caught in local waters and veg is all locally grown or picked from their own vegetable patch and fruit trees. The Taverners bake their own bread and pastries daily and offer cheese from the award-winning Isle of Wight Cheese company. Offering the freshest local produce, the Taverners serves a real taste of the Isle of Wight and provides an authentic dining experience. As well as their food, the Taverners take drinking seriously too, offering 10 excellent wines by the glass, premium spirits, draught lagers and real ales including their own Taverners brew. The pub is dog and family friendly offering a toddler’s play area and a small farm shop offering local produce used in their kitchen.
The family pub! The Fighting Cocks is a friendly and family orientated pub situated in rural Arreton. This traditional country pub offers an extensive food selection for all the family, priding themselves on offering value for money and a great service. From delicious homemade pie and veg to a classic lasagne, the menu is packed full of all your pub favourites, serving local real ales, bottled beer, spirits and a good selection of wines to accompany your meal. As well as the spacious dining area, The Fighting Cocks offers a large beer garden and one of the largest kid’s play areas at a pub on the Island.
The pub by the beach! Located just across the road from Appley beach, The Boathouse pride themselves on quality dining in a pub setting, complimented by a wide selection of ales and wine. A light and airy space, The Boathouse offers all year rounding dining with an open fire to keep cosy indoors watching the waves in the winter, and a paved garden complete with outdoor sofas for reclining with a long drink in the sunshine all summer. The perfect pit stop after a day walking or relaxing on the beach, or for whiling away the afternoon with friends and family.
The pub on the cliff! A 16th century freehouse, The Buddle is a quaint rural pub situated on the clifftop at Niton, just a short walk away from the impressive St Catherine’s Lighthouse. Steeped in smuggling heritage, this charming pub offers a tasty menu comprised of everything from Goan fish curry to homemade gourmet burgers and a hearty roast, all served in a traditional setting full of warmth and character. Outside, The Buddle boasts a pretty patioed seating area with picturesque views out across the English Channel. Dog and family friendly, this is the perfect pub for explorers and lovers of the great outdoors. The Buddle is set in an area of outstanding natural beauty and links a number of nearby footpaths winding around Niton undercliff, to nearby beaches and down to St Catherine’s Point - the most southerly point of the Isle of Wight. We challenge you to find a more pretty or peaceful spot!
