Ventnor Blog

For those of you fortunate enough to have time on your hands during the day to sit down and watch the box, you probably saw the week long series of programmes featuring the Isle of Wight last year.

You might remember that Ventnor’s very own brewery and fishery were featured.
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Thanks for forum member Looby Loo for letting us know that the Medieval Feast planned for Friday night has been cancelled.

We’ll let you know once a new date has been set.

Update: This event has been cancelled. We’ll let you know when it’s re-scheduled.

In case you weren’t aware, this Friday sees the return of themed nights at our favourite local tapas bar, El Toro Contento.

Last month saw the Andalucian buffet which was a storming success.

This month, they’re going medieval.

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We see in the The Times today that Adgestone Vineyard is up for sale.

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If there’s anyone out there looking for some work, just noticed that there’s a job going at Quay Arts in their rather excellent cafe.

You’ll get £5.52 per hour, but there were no details of how many hours they wanted someone for. Best to get in touch with them (822490) to find out and don’t forget to tell them where you saw it.

What you’ll be doing: (more…)

Lorraine and Serafin from El Toro Contento tapas bar in Pier Street are putting on an Andalucian buffet on Friday next week.

Not only will there be great food, but they have Paul Athey, of Banda Martinez playing live Spanish guitar. Cost for food for the evening is £16.80 and booking is essential (call on 857600).

Lorraine and Serafin are on the look out for solo musicians who can play once a month and will adapt the menu for the evening according to the style of music.

Details of a medieval feast planned on Friday 8th February to follow shortly.

Vegetarians might want to switch off now.

News reaches us that Ventnor butcher and Deli, Norris & Knight are now stocking rare roast beef.

According to Mark who has been searching as far as Newport for some rare roast beef, he was delighted to discover that our local butcher now stocks delicious, perfectly cooked, and pink through and through, rare roast beef.

Apparently, it literally melts in the mouth. Support your local butcher and give some a go.

Just in case you didn’t get that … rare roast beef at Norris and Knight!

Thanks to forum member, DarkKnight for posting up this joke below and putting a smile on our faces. Whilst we’re at it congratulations should also be extended to FarmersBoy for creating the most popular thread on the forum. 44,984 views since its creation back in April 2007.

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If you fancy seeing the New Year in with a continental twist, then the Ventnor Towers Hotel in Madeira Road is just the place for you.

If you’re a lover of all things French, then here’s your chance to dress up in your favourite clobber and enjoy a night of fine wines, luxurious foods and great entertainment.

For one night only The Towers will be transformed into the Moulin Rouge where you can enjoy a fabulous six course gala dinner. To follow, there’ll be French and Isle of Wight cheeses, coffee and French truffles (natch).
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News reaches us (thanks Mark) that due to popular demand, Norris & Knight Deli in Ventnor High Street will now be making an addition to their selection of Isle of Wight cheeses.

You may’ve already sampled the excellent, award winning Isle of Wight Blue which they have been running for sometime, and you may’ve even got yourself some of the Isle of Wight cheddar from the Newport Farmer’s Market in the past.

Now you don’t have to go that far if you fancy a bit of cheese for the weekend. As of tomorrow, Norris and Knight will be stocking Isle of Wight cheddar. Hurrah!

Come next Saturday, Ventnor should be buzzing with activity and hopefully lots of visitors from around the Island.

This is because Saturday 8th December is when the work of several Ventnor businesses comes to fruition and we see the Ventnor Christmas Fun Day.

Organised by Wendy (Thistle Cafe) and Kim (Fish & Chip shop), the day promises lots of fun for the kids and entertainment for the big kids (that’s you and I).
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BUSINESSES, schools and community groups on the Isle of Wight that have been shortlisted are being invited along to the annual healthy eating awards ceremony which is being staged at the Royal London Yacht Club in Cowes on 30 November. (more…)

Following the news that Alan Staley, Head Chef at The Royal Hotel receiving the Island Life ‘Chef of the Year’ award last week, Simon popped along to the kitchen at the Royal to catch up with Alan.

Alan tells us about how he started out training at the Isle of Wight College and moved swiftly onto The Savoy Hotel in London, where he worked for about a year (a lifetime in kitchen terms).

Following that cheffed at various restaurants and hotels, including onboard the QE2, before heading back to the Island to settle with his family.

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For the third year running, Ventnor Community Projects will be opening their doors on Christmas Day (and Boxing Day) and welcoming anyone in the community who might otherwise be spending the day on their own.

If you’re not looking forward to the prospect of spending your Christmas in front of the TV with a meal for one, why not spend the day down at the Projects? (more…)

This coming weekend sees the return of the annual Christmas fair at St Catherine’s church in Ventnor.

The celebrations kick off on Thursday evening at 7.30pm with a concert of light entertainment, this is followed on Friday lunchtime by another concert.
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If you can’t make it up to Ryde tonight for The Wild Oats charity single launch gig, but are planning to be around Newport, why not head over to Coast (opposite Morrisons).

As we mentioned a while back, Blunt Events and Mind Matters have teamed up, to provide a little haven on Friday and Saturday nights where you can chill out with fine wines, beautiful beers and super tasty tapas.

Open from 8pm til 2am, it’s a great place to meet up with friends, and as well as the food and drink, you’ll be treated to some crazy visuals and a cracking selection of music too.

Prices are reasonable and the hosts super friendly. Highly recommended.

Oh, and you get to see some of Mike Forrest’s brilliant artwork on the walls too.

After seeing the various revellers around town last night continuing their beaujolais celebrations, we’ve spared a thought for them this morning and have pulled together just a few of the hundreds of hangover cures published on the Web.

We’re not suggesting that any of them work, but as anyone who has experienced the hangover from hell will know, it’s worth trying just about anything.

Our personal favourite? A mild dose of Vitamin G courtesy of Besty and Spinky’s good old fashioned cooked breakfast … always a winner (whether you’re hungover or not). (more…)

The Royal Hotel
Belgrave Road
Ventnor
Isle of Wight
PO38 1JJ

Tel : 01983 852186
Fax Number: 01983 855395

Email
Website

Listen to a podcast with Head Chef, Alan Staley

The Royal Hotel has 55 bedrooms and is the only AA 4 Star Hotel on the Isle of Wight.

Set in the coastal town of Ventnor, the hotel has outstanding views of the Isle of Wight’s breathtaking coastline.
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News reaches us today that Head Chef at The Royal Hotel, Alan Staley, picked up the coveted ‘Chef of The Year Award’ this week at the Island Life Food and Drinks Awards.

The awards ceremony took place at Westover Park on Sunday night in front of the Island’s glitterati and we’ll be putting out a podcast later in the week of our chat with Alan.

During his 11 year residency at The Royal Hotel, Alan and his team have picked up 2 AA Red Rosettes and clearly continue to wow customers and critics alike.

Look out for a feature about the The Royal Hotel soon on VB.

Congratulations to Alan and the team at The Royal.

More great promotion for our wonderful town.

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We’ve had a number of people asking us if we know where they can get a decent lunch on Christmas Day.

Well apart from round ours (natch*), we weren’t quite sure where to recommend.

One of our regular readers, Guiseppe also posed the question over on the forum (in fact he created the 1,001st thread in general chat), but as he only had a couple replies, we thought we’d put together a list of places across the Island who might be offering lunch on Christmas Day.
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If you’re heading up to the Open Mic Comedy Night at Quay Arts this Friday and find yourself not wanting to go home after it’s finished, check out this new night starting up in Newport.

If you are looking for a chilled out intimate space to enjoy tasty munch and bonza booze, then Coast in Newport on Fridays and Saturdays is the new place to head to.

Launching this week, Blunt Events and Mind Matters have joined forces for this new Venture which promises relaxed, ambient surroundings with music and visuals crafted by Ronni Blunt and Cliffy Love Partridge.
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We received a very worrying email yesterday from one of the town’s shopkeepers.

Over the past few months, it appears that less and less people have been using the small independent shops in Ventnor, preferring instead to do their shopping in one place - the supermarket.

Many of the shops are now really struggling to keep going, some of them having to borrow heavily, just to pay the bills each month.

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It’s a busy weekend coming up and with so much happening on Saturday, you might be thinking of having a lazy day on Sunday.

If so, think again, for this Sunday sees the return of the hugely popular Big Day Out. This year it takes place at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway in Havenstreet.

Visiting Ventnor Cricket Ground and Botanics last year, this major event aims to promote the safeguarding of children and young people.

It is always popular and although entrance is free, you do need to pick up tickets beforehand.

There will be loads of organisations and services exhibiting and you’ll get a chance to speak to staff from lots of organisations including the IOW College, Connexions and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards.
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Ventnor based sausage maker, Paul Murphy, had a hop in his step last Friday, as he bagged himself two awards at Farmer Jack’s Big Sausage Competition.

According to the County Press, not only did he win the best newcomers award, but also best alternative sausage with his rabbit, bacon and thyme sausage.

By strange coincidence, there has been much discussion over on the forum about the lack of rabbits between Ventnor and Shanklin.

You might remember that we interviewed Paul last year at the Ventnor Brewery Christmas Fayre, when he explained where his ingredients come from and his plans for the future.

Podcast after the click. (more…)

Thanks to VB reader, Lisa Burt for alerting us to a event being held next month over at The Enchanted Manor in Niton which may appeal to many of our readers.

Lisa tells us that Ric and Maggie Hilton (owners of the hotel) will play host (and hostess) to a night of enchanting magical entertainment.

You can enjoy a gourmet buffet (along with a complimentary glass of champagne) and the chance to meet world famous fantasy artist, Josephine Wall.

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