The Folly, Medina

[Chi34]

We’d not been to The Folly for a few years.
Thursday evening was quiet and serene.
Friday, tonight, has a group of power boats at the southern end of the pontoons with music blasting out at extreme levels.
Is this typical now at weekends?
The harbour staff seem to have arranged pontoon space to allow the group to moor together.

 

[DJE]

That can happen anywhere on the Solent I find. I've seen three rafted up on a buoy in Newtown with the music playing in the cockpit of the boat at one end of the raft and the revelers all sitting in the cockpit at the other end.

 

[ashtead]

Do they have their underwater lights on as well? I seem to recall a closed post re a punchup at the Folly involving a mobo so just be careful Chi34 out there. I haven’t been to the Folly for years but sad to hear -hopefully the noise has abated by now .

 

[Wansworth]

That’s what happens when money enters the equation and a sense of style and thought for others does not exist

 

[lustyd]

While I do sympathise, if you’re after a quiet night the folly is the wrong place to go. It’s always been a bit of a party spot although it did drop off the map for a few years.
If you want quiet go to Beaulieu or Chichester Harbour

 

[ashtead]

Chi harbour has the east head delights of drifting boats at 3am though by way of compensation

 

[Pete7]

Wonder if they have all been moved out of Studland

Tend to go to the Folley out of season once the nights are closing in. Much nicer ambience.

 

[B27]

It's August!
You're supposed to leave the Solent after Cowes Week.

 

[lustyd]

Chi harbour has the east head delights of drifting boats at 3am though by way of compensation

Only if you anchor at East head (which is empty right now). Pilsey has none of that and we’re currently trying out Itchenor which seems quiet right now too

 

[Elessar]

We’d not been to The Folly for a few years.
Thursday evening was quiet and serene.
Friday, tonight, has a group of power boats at the southern end of the pontoons with music blasting out at extreme levels.
Is this typical now at weekends?
The harbour staff seem to have arranged pontoon space to allow the group to moor together.

It used to be fun on a Saturday but it died off and I stopped going. I hope the fun has returned. You’ve encouraged me to give it a try. Sounds good to me. They even let friends moor together. Excellent. Boring old farts should go elsewhere.

 

[Chi34]

Thanks for the comments.
In retrospect, I can see that we would have had a much quieter time if we had berthed at the north end of the visitor pontoons.
The party boats did turn it down at a reasonable time, but by then the pub band had fired up.
Harbour staff very friendly and do a good job.
I’ll be back, but probably not on a weekend.

 

[MontyMariner]

Did you eat there, was it good?

 

[stuartwineberg]

Food is average to decent pub fare. Staff very friendly but some inexperienced as is the case all over the place. They handled our rally dinner pretty well and the Folly berthing guys were great as usual (call CH 72 if youve never been). Facilities much better than historically with a dedicated shower block just by the pub. Book well ahead if you want the walk ashore in high season

 

[andrewbarker]

Food is average to decent pub fare. Staff very friendly but some inexperienced as is the case all over the place. They handled our rally dinner pretty well and the Folly berthing guys were great as usual (call CH 72 if youve never been). Facilities much better than historically with a dedicated shower block just by the pub. Book well ahead if you want the walk ashore in high season

+1 for the food. I'd say it's improved a lot since lockdown - both quality and a decent but quite short menu. Prices up since the revamp. We pay about £50-60 for two. Drinks wise, being the Isle of Wight, they serve a Rhubarb Bellini instead of a Peach Bellini - a novel experience!

 

[Elessar]

Thanks for the comments.
In retrospect, I can see that we would have had a much quieter time if we had berthed at the north end of the visitor pontoons.
The party boats did turn it down at a reasonable time, but by then the pub band had fired up.
Harbour staff very friendly and do a good job.
I’ll be back, but probably not on a weekend.

Great response. It is something for everyone if we tolerate each other and turn up at the right time to suit.

 

[LiftyK]

It was quiet on Sunday night.

The refurbished Folly is looking very smart In and out. There’s a vast outdoor seating area now. On a fine day it will be just perfect. I did find the menu a tad small but food was good. Island Brewery Little Nipper, was a great beer.

 

[Stemar]

I've always regarded a small menu as an indicator of properly cooked food, rather than microwaved mush. Probably the best restaurant I've eaten in had a choice of no more than four items for each course, with the menu different each day according to what was good at the market.

As for the Folly, I still miss Girls for Sail dancing on the tables

 

[lustyd]

I've eaten in a lot of expensive restaurants with only one menu choice (tasting menu) and many/most of them also use sous vide to ease prep and improve quality. Don't mistake slow and manual for "properly cooked". Modern pub food can be excellent even when delivered by mass caterers in packs to the premises.
Bad pub food these days is usually cooked slow and manual, allowing for mistakes by bad kitchen staff. Usually deep fried and no microwaves in sight, which the manager will be ironically proud of.

 

[Cspirit]

Went to the Folly last October. Arrived at 1850. ‘Kitchen closes at 7 so you’ll have to be quick”. Ordered meals for four plus wine. Meals arrived but no wine. Enquired? “ We don’t have a corkscrew but Harry thinks he might have one in his car so he’s off looking”. One found eventually. Last week, arrived around 7 after returning from France. Plenty of spare tables but no chance of meals as kitchen too busy. Happily the friendly ferry man David offered to get us a Chinese takeaway from Cowes. Good man - that’s what I call service! Not going back to the Folly for a bit though ....

 

[ashtead]

Went to the Folly last October. Arrived at 1850. ‘Kitchen closes at 7 so you’ll have to be quick”. Ordered meals for four plus wine. Meals arrived but no wine. Enquired? “ We don’t have a corkscrew but Harry thinks he might have one in his car so he’s off looking”. One found eventually. Last week, arrived around 7 after returning from France. Plenty of spare tables but no chance of meals as kitchen too busy. Happily the friendly ferry man David offered to get us a Chinese takeaway from Cowes. Good man - that’s what I call service! Not going back to the Folly for a bit though ....

I don’t think the dancing Girls for Sail exist now to keep you entertained either unless perhaps they have rebranded but maybe users of Sherperds might have spotted her in their local habitat more recently?