For our few days on the Isle of Wight we stayed at Warner’s Bembridge Coast Hotel. We visited Ryde on our first day as we travelled to Bembridge. The weather wasn’t kind on our second day as we visited Yarmouth and called at the Mermaid Gin distillery.
Day 2: Tuesday 29th March 2022- Isle of Wight Pearls
We left Bembridge and headed across the island to Isle of Wight Pearls. Our satnav took us through the central part of the island along very quiet narrow lanes! The rain held off just long enough for us to get from the car into the shop. We wore masks but very few other people there had bothered.
After researching of all the display cabinets it was time for a coffee. Timing is everything and just as we walked through to the small café the recently arrived coach party also descended there. After queuing and picking up our coffees we walked back to the side room with tables.
Once there we sat and watched folks ignoring all issues about Covid precautions including handling sugar cubes before putting them back in the bowl. This made me very grateful that I took my tea without sugar!
The rain was back in force as we left the shop. On this part of the island we were now close to where we had stayed before. Yarmouth was therefore an obvious place to go next. Along the Military Road we had great views of the coast and the sea before we turned inland to get to Yarmouth.
Day 2: Tuesday 29th March 2022 – Yarmouth
In Yarmouth we watched a ferry leaving past the pier. We gave walking the pier a miss as by now the rain was quite heavy.
We were looking for somewhere dry and we wanted a snack for lunch. The café at the start of the pier was packed and there were no obvious queueing for tables. In the small pedestrian precinct we came across the Number One coffee shop. The windows were all steamed up but inside it wasn’t too busy and we found somewhere to sit. I had a beef sandwich along with yet more tea.
By the time we left the cafe was very busy. The pouring rain curtailed our visit and after a brief look at the shops we left.
Day 2: Tuesday 29th March – Mermaid Gin
The satnav took us back a completely different route across the island. We came to a junction and the Mermaid Distillery was signposted – this was clearly too good an opportunity to miss. As always there were roadwork traffic lights to negotiate after we turned. The pub, The Wishing Well, is on a sharp right-hand bend and could not be missed.
As we walked to the main door of the pub it opened and we were warmly greeted and welcomed inside. The distillery is at the back of the pub. Our timing wasn’t great as the stills were under maintenance so we were unable to have a closer look.
After such a warm welcome it would’ve been rude not to order a drink – we ordered lattes and joined a small group in the comfortable seats around the fireplace.
The light fittings of the bar were all fashioned from Mermaid gin bottles and looked great. At the back of the side bar there were a couple of tables with gin and related memorabilia. I bought a bottle of the pink gin before leaving. As we left the roads were very busy due to the time of day and of course the roadworks.
The next day we visited The Needles, a windmill and the Pepper Pot.
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.