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 Isle of Wight Hotels
The Isle of Wight is sheer delight. From the north facing sailing centres of Cowes, Yarmouth and Seaview to sheltered southerly resorts such as Ventnor, Shanklin and Sandown, the island is carpeted with a diverse countryside, part dramatic, part gentle, and has a quirky charm all its own. Beach huts and ice cream stalls, crab shacks and oddball cafés, pretty villages, harbours full of bobbing boats, thatched cottages, cosy pubs, rivers, cliffs and gentle cycleways along disused railway lines: simple, timeless pleasures. There are just four hotels on the island that really stand out for us, but there may soon be more: the island is becoming fashionable once more, though hopefully it will never loose its old fashioned appeal. The hotels are listed by price category, and their order bears no reflection on our preference.
 Reviews by Fiona Duncan |
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| Mid Price: Handsome, relaxed Georgian hotel with great sea views |
| Location: Yarmouth, next to the Castle |
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| A handsome old building in delightful Yarmouth whose owners have cultivated an easy-going atmosphere ("breakfast at any time"). The panelled 17th century hall sets the scene, while in summer the newly enlarged bistro spills into the sun trap garden – the perfect place for a long, lingering lunch. Lovely bedrooms, the finest of which have panelled walls, uneven floors, and wonderful views over the Solent from private decks. |
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| Mid Price: Chic restaurant with rooms in charming Ventnor |
| Location: Ventnor, midway between the town and esplanade |
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| All change at this chic restaurant with rooms with views over Ventnor's esplanade and the sea. Sister to the excellent Pond Café in nearby Bonchurch, it's now in the hands of chef Robert Thompson and house manager Johan Brouckaert, the former a 25 year old rising star, formerly head chef at Cliveden, the latter with experience at the likes of the Capital and Gavroche. The restaurant makes waves with Thompson's superb cooking, while the thoughtfully equipped bedrooms and pampering bathrooms are made for lingering. Only the charm of Ventnor and its famous micro-climate will tempt you to leave the door. |
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| Mid Price: Friendly, stylish hub in the centre of charming Seaview |
| Location: Seaview, in village next to the sea |
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| Those with a penchant for breezy, timeless seaside resorts, will love sailing-mad Seaview, and this friendly hotel, which also acts as the central pub. As well as the bar, there are two restaurants; one airy and contemporary, the other more formal. Both serve the menu of up-and-coming chef Graham Walker. Bedrooms have been refurbished, and seven new Seaview Modern luxury rooms, by in-vogue London designers, Keech Green, opened in summer 2007. |
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| Inexpensive: Old fashioned, family run hotel in a fabulous setting |
| Location: Just off High Street, overlooking the Solent |
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| A wonderful time warp, the Northbank appeals to salty sea dogs, army types, happy families, the artist Maggi Hambling and her students, and anyone who likes their hotel lived in, welcoming and entirely unconcerned with the vaguaries of fashion, plus a joyful dash of eccentricity, a stunning view of the Solent and direct beach access. Run with charm and commitment since 1959 by three generations of the Shaw-Yates family. A one-off that no true connoisseur of hotels could ignore. Sizzling Aga breakfasts. |
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