The Breeze Bistro at Island Marina IOW

[castaway]

Ended up having breakfast there a couple of weeks ago and was amazed at what a smart establishment it was ! Very reasonable prices as well. We certainly will return for dinner soon if it is 1/2 as good as the breakfast.

Can't be easy when everybody goes no further up the river than the Folly (although I'm sure they wouldn't place themselves as competeing in that market!).

For those what don't know the River Medina at Cowes, the Island Harbour Marina is just about 1/2 a mile further up river from the Folly Inn and if you want a quite night away from the (very enjoyable) Folly scrum, its quite possible to anchor just off the channel near the Marina entrance and paddle in to the landing stage.

Nick.

 

[Seajet]

Island Marina / Island Harbour is a great place to stay if not in a hurry, sadly the tides don't work if on a weekend trip from the East, but if heading West in a leisurely fashion, or if grot weather, it would be hard to find a calmer spot.

Has always suffered from lack of traffic, therefore investment, so I'm pleased to hear it seems to have picked up.

The Paddle Steamer Ryde is an interesting but sad sight, in my youth I used to go to the disco on board ( worst beer I've ever had, and it was always interesting watching drunken dancers trying to cope with the floor becoming level as the tide came in ! ). There have been several moves to restore the Ryde, - the original engines are still fitted, and she did well at Dunkirk - but the owner is recalcitrant, now it's too late.

The P.S. Medway Queen used to be on the mud nearby, flooding every tide, but is now on the Medway in a very hand to mouth restoration project, has sunk on her mooring at least once.

When staying at Island Harbour in bad weather I've found the bus service pretty good, as it is all over the IOW, allowing excursions to Newport or all over the Island.

It's a short pleasant shoreside walk to the Folly, and there's a very handy little shop in the mobile home park en route.