Our few days on the Isle of Wight was at Warner’s Bembridge Coast Hotel. This hotel overlooks the Solent and is very close to the ferry port at Fishbourne.
Day 1: Monday 28 March 2022 – To Bembridge
This visit to the Isle of Wight started on a ferry from Portsmouth. We were early for our booked ferry and we were boarded on an earlier crossing.
This particular ferry was large and had lots of space for the passengers to spread out. Mask wearing was clearly optional but as the weather was good we sat outside.
The crossing was smooth and after landing on the island we now have to decide where to spend our time before we were able to check in at the hotel.
Day 1: Monday 28 March 2022 – Ryde
Ride looked the closest place to spend some time. The one way system took a bit of mastering and after two circuits we picked finally a pay and display and went for a wander.
We walked down to the pier down Union Street which is full of shops and restaurants.
When we returned back up the hill we stopped at the Festival Diner and Bar for our lunch. The walls were full of posters and memorabilia from the first to the latest Isle of Wight festivals.
We ordered bagels and sat at a big round table in the front window. The bagels were excellent and I even managed a can of Camden Pale Ale. We chatted with the owner and heard some of his stories about the festival and the hype as it restarts.
Further up the hill we went into the Royal Victoria Arcade. In it there was an eclectic selection of shops, some open and some closed.
Further up Union Street we passed Yelf’s hotel…
Day 1: Monday 28 March 2022 – Bembridge Coastal Hotel
The hotel was reached from ride along a series of roads that ranged from wide to narrow and from open fields to heavily built-up suburbs. Driving was further complicated by the huge amounts of roadworks taking place with two or three way traffic lights. The island was gaining a fibre Internet network and almost everywhere we went over the time we were there we had hold-ups
Lane End Road in Bembridge took us to the lifeboat station at the end of a private pier. There we turned right onto the narrow Fishermans Walk with a row of houses on our right and past a closed public car park before we entered the grounds of the hotel.
Our room was in one of the annex buildings that were connected to the main building by long corridors. We were able to use a lift to get to the room after entering the annex building via the side fire door.
The parking spaces in the main car park was so narrow that our car could just fit in the space. This meant that anyone parking next to us would block our car doors.
This Warner’s hotel had separate a dining room and entertainment hall. We were allocated a table for meals but could sit anywhere for entertainment.
Our table was right at the back of the restaurant and was very close to all the other tables. Dinner was good but was chaotic as our server was new to the job and this was his first evening!
On our second day we visited Yarmouth and the home of Mermaid Gin.
After returning home we later tested positive for Covid after our return home and spent the next 10 days in isolation and feeling pretty ill. Now nearly 10 months later I’m finally happy to write about our time on the island.