Recommended pubs on The Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight has many a great pub for you to enjoy if you would like have a drink or wish to eat out. There are plenty of thatched 'olde worlde' pubs with old beams and the like inside, there are some in really unusual or isolated locations, or some will have outdoor play areas and gardens for children or some with fine views, and some are really hard to find! Here are our personal favourites.
Large sized multi roomed pub with a very traditional feel to it, nice atmosphere and a large patio area outside with an outside bar which catches the sun. One of The Royals had his stag night beers here many years ago. The outside exit is quite close to The Painters Arms. Highly recommended.
Cowes PO31 7SA
Not a pub by any means but a very good Thai Restaurant, reasonably priced food and drinks which is a nice bonus for this specific area of Shanklin Old Village. Pleasant traditional wood panelling interior. No parking. Highly recommended.
High St, Shanklin Old Village PO37 6NR
Medium sized multi roomed pub with a traditional feel to it. Set in splendid countryside with fantastic views and fresh air, surrounded by fields this now has two small to medium sized car parks, outdoor seating area and patio as well as a lower childrens play area and adventure playground. Surrounding area is quiet here. Situated on the B3401 Calbourne to Carrisbrooke road. Highly recommended.
Calbourne PO30 3JZ
Tucked away small pub whose interior has not changed in many years, outdoor seating with patio and sun lounge as well as a family room and restaurant - all spread around a sheltered courtyard. This old coaching Inn is snuggled below a steep, rocky slope. Do you fancy somewhere unusual? - then try this one! Interior picture taken several years ago.
Bonchurch PO38 1NU
16th Centuary Inn with oak beams and flagstone floors this was reputed to have been a smugglers pub many years ago. Adjacent to the pub is a converted barn and this is used to be popular with families but sadly footfall has dropped due to a road closure. Outdoor seating and small lawned area to the front as well as a patio area.
Niton PO38 2NE
Large sized multi roomed pub with a traditional and contemporary feel to it, nice atmosphere and there are a couple of rooms left in a state of the past with some nice panelling along areas away from the busy part of the pub. Nice to see just a bar area away from the food areas.Highly recommended.
Yarmouth PO41 0NS
A local and friendly pub with outside patio area and an unusual interior. Skeletons, Knights in armour and a witch to mention a few of the props. Joan of Arc - burning at the stake feature some people might remember this came from The Waxworks in Brading. Music, darts, no food.
Sandown PO36 8HY
Just outside Rookley on The Chequers Inn Road this extended large pub also highly geared up for food and very popular with families. Many outdoor tables on a large patio dining area with a large lawned space split into large and small childrens play areas, with climbing structures, slides and swings.
Rookley PO38 3NZ
Medium sized pub that is renown for being difficult to find. Outdoor tables onto decking as well as another area just the other side of the car park - with great sea views, quiet location. Small rear car park and another smaller one at the front however a larger car park is about 100 yds away.
Bembridge PO35 5TR
Famous for being on many fudge box fronts or postcards and is still thatched and very old. Nice to have a pint outside in the summer evenings. No gardens although there are tables and seating at the front and some more around the side of the pub on a patio. No car park.
Shanklin Old Village PO37 6NS
Quite a large pub set in a quiet and small village with a stream running through the pubs large rear garden. Children's play area and plenty of outdoor seating with the option of feeding the large fish which occupy the shallow stream, fish food may be purchased from the pub. Quiet location.
Shorwell PO30 3JZ
Spectacular views from this isolated and quiet location. Medium sized two roomed pub with a small conservatory facing Sandown Bay one way and Whitecliff Bay/Bembridge Harbour the other both some considerable distance below, outdoor seating. Can be difficult to find.
Culver Down PO36 8QT
This is the only licensed bar on the beach on The Isle of Wight (although The Fisherman's Cottage comes close). It serves hot food and drinks all day, right off the hot sand!! Although not strictly a pub this bar is quite unique and has outdoor tables in which you can enjoy the weather whilst having a beer. Car parking is adjacent along the Esplanade.
Sandown Beach PO36 8AT
Very old and very small, picture postcard thatched pub virtually on the beach and is at one of the entrances to Shanklin Chine. Good views and reasonable amount of outdoor seating - no children's play areas although the beach is a couple of yards away! This pub is not open all year. Iconic and highly recommended.
Shanklin beach South PO37 6BN
Large single roomed pub which is very popular with families. Very large garden at the rear containing a large maze in which the bigger children can get 'lost' and they do sometimes! A dedicated play area for the smaller children and a football kick around area for the boys, a good idea! Plenty of outdoor and indoor seating. Very limited car parking at the pub, but there is plenty free parking directly across the road.
Godshill PO38 3JD
This small restaurant and bar is tucked away slightly and perched on top of a cliff at Shanklin, fantastic views from this high up location with plenty of outdoor seating. Area is pretty quiet and it is on a coastal path not far from Shanklins beach at the Hope beach end. Nice local beers! Best access is to walk after parking on The Esplanade or in a nearby car park, although it is a little steep for a short way.
St Boniface Cliff rd, PO37 6ET
Medium sized pub which has a large rear garden with pond and car park with splendid surrounding countryside and The Tennyson monument is just up the road. It is very peaceful here. Reasonable amount of outdoor seating available around the back with a children's adventure climbing frame. Can be a bit difficult to find.
Totland PO39 OHY
Medium sized pub with quite a large amount of outdoor seating as well as a 9 hole crazy golf course (small charge), bouncy castle, small children's adventure playground and football kick around area with goal, swings. It is on the main road from Yarmouth to Newport road which can be busy.
Ningwood PO30 4NW
This is very easily missed and is quite unusual. Small bar with two small rooms adjoining and half a dozen tables outside overlooking Shanklin Chine's natural plants and trees. When there is a live group the larger room with a small stage and bar are also used, and all rooms have a mock stone wall effect applied with subtle lighting - with the stage backdrop resembling that of a castle. No food.
Shanklin Old Village PO37 6NU
Within The village Post Office this micro pub offering handmade pizza's is popular with locals and some tourists alike. Two small rooms (one is part of the PO) adjacent to a small bar can be quite noisy at first, a larger third room for food is at the back and a reasonably sized garden is there if the weather is fine as well. Friendly staff, we watched our pizza being made then cooked in a wood fired oven.
Niton PO38 2AZ
Medium sized multi roomed pub with a traditional feel to it and quite unique inside and out, music. No food. This pub many years ago was the start of the idea of The Garlic Farm, and from generations later The Garlic Farm is now what it is. The Painters Arms has hardly changed in 70 years.
Cowes PO31 7TA
Not a pub by any means but a small Italian restaurant that comes highly recommended for food, booking essential especially at busy times of the year. Also a nice area nearby for pre or post drinks.
Shanklin Old Village PO37 6NS
So nice to see this open as a full pub again and food also served. Local ales as well as beers from the adjacent Wight Knuckle brewery. On the bar inside is an old photo album showing what the pub used to look like many years ago, before the boat conversion and one showing an adjacent railway line. A few outdoor tables. Very limited car parking.
Bembridge PO35 5NN
This pub is set in a quiet location in the village of Newchurch. This pub has a deceptively large rear garden overlooking fields as well as a few patio areas for customers to enjoy on a fine day. Some of the garden is 'hidden' - you cannot see it till you venture down to the bottom. The Garlic Farm is nearby.
Newchurch PO36 ONN
The pub is on the main Bembridge to Sandown road right next to Bembridge Airport. Friendly and entertaining pub with a seperate function room and restaurant, outdoor seating. Large car park at the side of the pub, views of bembridge airport. Do not be put off by the unusual exterior of this pub, give it a try.
Bembridge Airport PO35 5PW
Just slightly off the main track through Freshwater this small interior sized pub is set in a picturesque location and the surrounding area is quiet. Large rear garden sectioned off into two parts the last backing onto fields. Medium sized car park with limited parking nearby. A good walk and cycle route along an old railway line starts from here.
Freshwater PO40 9BP
Small village pub with two small rooms with low ceilings, small area outside the front and reasonable sized rear garden and car parking is at the side of the pub. Very glad to see this lovely place re-opened up. Quiet area.
Porchfield PO30 4LP
Quite a few small rooms are contained within this large pub of real character. Lots of sea faring memorabilia and entertainment most evenings at peak season. Excellent sea views from two outdoor terraces and one Boathouse suitable for families. Winners of several awards, a popular iconic pub, highly recommended. No parking available at the pub, a Pay & Display car park above it or on The Esplanade nearby.
Ventnor Esplanade PO38 1JX
Located near to the end of The Esplanade with sea views and a generous amount of outdoor seating catching the best of the sun, and the beach is just a few yards away. Large single roomed pub with no children's play areas. Owned by The Spyglass Inn proprietors and has a similar menu. No car park, park on the esplanade opposite or one of 3 car parks (pay and display). Highly recommended.
Shanklin Esplanade PO37 6BS
This extended thatched old pub has excellent views from it's large amount of outdoor seating area which is part patio and grass. This is in a very small and quiet village location and if the weather permits is a gem to sit outside and the road adjacent to the pub is not busy. Quiet location.
Hulverstone PO30 4EH
Nice childrens play area around the back with outdoor seating, as well as a couple of patio areas quite good for families. Limited small car park although plenty of spaces are available in the main car park of Godshill (free).
Godshill PO38 3HZ
Famous for being the oldest pub in Newport dating back to 1550 and once had a secret passageway to Carisbrooke Castle for King Charles. An old staircase to the old brothel can still be seen, the pub was rebuilt in 1684 after a major fire. Outdoor patio areas, open fire place.
NEWPORT, Isle of Wight, PO30 1BQ
Nice pub with outdoor seating and benches which is great on a fine day. Not that large a pub but they do have a good sized room upstairs. Highly recommended
Seaview PO34 5HB
An old thatched property just inside the area of 'The Old Village' with food and beer as well as teas. Nice small garden to the front and a larger garden at the side with a lawned area, plenty of tables as well as 3 areas that have 2 or 3 tables undercover - handy for a sudden shower. Good views upward towards St. Boniface Down. Two small rooms inside. Limited real ales due to a very small bar, varying closing times - bare this in mind.
Shanklin Old Village PO37 6AA
This Old Village Inn within Bembridge village dates back to 1787 and has had some serious refurbishment recently, friendly staff serving locals and visitors alike. Outdoor areas at the rear of the pub, highly recommended. Do not confuse this with The Village Inn pub at Shanklin Old Village.
Bembridge
Nice pub with memorabilia dotted around inside and another thatched property. Nice small courtyard at rear and this area is nice in the summer months. There is a family dining area upstairs for when the downstairs area is full. Live music in peak season. Also famous for being on fudge box fronts and postcards, highly recommended.
Shanklin Old Village PO37 6NU
Nice pub overlooking the large village green of St Helens. Large interior with small amount of seating at the front and more at the rear. Food also. Campsites nearby as well as St. Helens beach. Parking available nearby.
St Helens PO33 1UJ
The smallest pub on the Island! Many guest beers and a friendly local or two. No Food or fruit machines in the two very small rooms it has, friendly traditional atmosphere. No outdoor seating or area. Winner of CAMRA Real Ale awards, not really suitable for children.
Ventnor PO38 1ES
Situated on Totland Bay front this establishment has some fantastic views from the inside seating areas or the terraced outdoor benches. Excellent on a summer evening especially if live entertainment is on. Very limited parking.
Totland Bay PO39 0BQ
This pub has a large room now dedicated to food with another small bar and it gets quite busy. Size of the meals here were one of the largest we have experienced - so make sure you are really, hungry. Outdoor lawned area with limited amount of outdoor seating. Medium sized car park and alternative car parking possible nearby.
Whitwell PO38 2PY
This quite large pub is set in a quiet location in the village of Niton. This pub has a small garden as well as a few patio areas for customers to enjoy on a fine day. Quiet location, car parking.
Niton PO36 ONN
Totally refurbished and extended this is now vast inside and out. Large amount of outdoor seating available with a children's play area and a children's barn sometimes with supervision provided. The evening sun catches all of this very large garden and yet it has quite a remote location with large car parks especially at the rear. Very busy in August, although the surrounding area is quiet.
Chale PO38 2HA
This is my favourite small place for pub food! Great tasting food with friendly staff. Single roomed narrow pub with outdoor seating area on a raised decking, medium sized car park. Booking advised as the interior is not overly large. Highly recommended.
Yarbridge near Brading PO36 OAA
