ISLE OF WIGHT FOOD SPECIALITIES

Isle of Wight is certainly a food lover’s paradise. With great revelations round every corner, one can savour the enticing food and pamper their taste buds to their heart’s content. The island boasts supreme quality food products from fresh sea food to farm grown garlic, Minghella’s ice cream to Steephill Cove’s pasties, a wide array of bakery products to finest wines straight from the vineyards the list is inexhaustible.

There are several farm shops strewn across the island - Godshill Organic Farm shop, Farmer Jacks at Arreton Barns, Horringford Gardens Farm shop, Briddlesford Farm shop , etc to serve the best produce from the island.

Farmers markets are a special feature of the Isle of Wight where food lovers and farmers from all over the island collectively discuss the latest tastes and the coming season’s produce. More details of these markets can be found here

The island has a wide array of products on offer for tourists and locals.

Seafood

With an enamoring coastline, the Isle of Wight has a fine selection of seafood available. Fish, crabs, prawns and lobsters are a common sight at the coast. The island fishermen ensure they are served fresh from the sea to your plate.

Blakes of Ventnor Beach, The Best Dressed Crab in Town, Seagrove Crab & Lobster Co, Wheeler's of Steephill Cove , are some other seafood suppliers where fresh crabs and lobsters can be bought.

There are a lot of pubs and restaurants serving great, fresh crab, prawns, lobsters and more.  Personal favourites include the Crab and Lobster pub in Bembridge, the Boathouse in Steephill Cove ,

Garlic

Keeping in mind the health benefits and fabulous gastronomic properties, the Isle of Wight is one of the major producers of garlic and various other garlic-based products including chutneys, pickles, relishes etc. The Garlic farm is one of the chief producers in Europe. Mr Colin Boswell and his family run their 3-decade-old business and provide the people of the Isle of Wight and the rest of the world, the freshest and the finest quality garlic. There is an on-site kitchen facility too at the Garlic farm. The garlic is available at the Garlic Farm shop and teashop in Newchurch all throughout the year.

Ice Cream and sorbets

Minghella ice cream is a well known and well loved Isle of Wight brand. A family business, and founded in Ryde in 1950, they have garnered immense popularity and they are now widely recognised as one of the best in the ice-cream products arena.

The ice creams are made with all natural products without any artificial ingredients in over 140 assorted flavours. The all-natural taste and colossal fan following are perhaps the reasons they have earned 53 Great Taste Awards.

Wines from Vineyards to Beer from Breweries

The Isle of Wight is also famous for its vineyards and breweries. The mild climatic conditions and prolific soil quality lends itself to production of wines and other alcohol based products.

The three main vineyards are Adgestone, Rossiters and Rosemary Vineyard.  All are open to the public to have a tour around and taste some of their wine. 

The main breweries are Yates, Goddard and Ventnor, and you’ll likely find their beers in the local pubs, bars and hotels around the island.

Cheese

Another success story from Isle of Wight, Rich Hodgson and his mother own and operate the Isle of Wight Cheese Company to produce some unparalleled soft and blue cheeses from fresh dairy milk. The Isle of Wight blue cheese won the Best English Cheese Award at the IFE exhibition in London in 2007.

Pasties

Isle of Wight is famous for its pasties, especially the Steephill Cove’s crab pasties from Wheeler’s Crab Shed who also have daily fish specials. Available to eat freshly cooked on the beach, or uncooked to bake at home, they are always a tasty treat!