The Folly

At £3 per meter it is the same as a swinging mooring in Beaulieu and (depending on where your LOA sits in the charging bands) possibly cheaper than the moorings outside Yarmouth…

To my mind the greater rip offs are Lymington town quay or Bucklers Hard where prices were significantly increased with the promise of no or greatly reduced rafting which is definitely not the case
 
Picked up a Yarmouth outside ball for the night last week. 11.5m boat was £38.

Portland Harbour £12.45 to anchor, Boatfolk Weymouth Marina £52.
 
oakleyb said:
Just returned from a night at the Folly. £40 for non walk ashore. Won't be going there again
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Were there many other visitors there? I was there a couple of weekends ago, albeit a Sunday night rather than a Saturday night, and it was almost deserted, maybe two or three other visitors. Not so long ago rafting was the normal during summer weekends with good weather.

The price went up last September (or thenabouts). I have since had a email discussion with the berthing master (who also runs the water taxi, and now also crucially sets the mooring rates, as they in effect lease the moorings from Cowes Harbour Commissioners) because for my 8,5m boat, which is charged for nearest whole meter ie 9m the charge went up from £18 to £27, and with the water taxi for two, that becomes £37, all for a mid-stream mooring with no facilities (except those on shore), and I felt the hike was too much. Once people got to know of the rise (by first visit after the rise), they wouldn't come back, and the price rise would end up shooting itself in the foot, so to speak. his answer was they had no alternative but to increase the prices to, err, stay afloat.

The other big threat to the Folly Reach is the potential development of the derelict factory site just downstream from the Folly itself. This has happily been the victim of aspirational development that got nowhere for decades, but now things seem as they may be moving on a bit. Apparently it is going to become the most prestigious hotel/leisure/residential development on the Island, and if it happens, it will ruin the Folly forever.
 
If it ends up like most projects on the South Island I doubt the aspirational development will attract many islanders so look out for a half finished development for a few years -I recall many half built houses at island harbour . If the council has anything to do with it it will be a chain ferry FB6 fiasco or ryde skating rink type failure. If it’s aimed at DFL for holiday home usage limitations it might attract some but red funnel ferries not entirely reliable and of course the road links are poor.
As for the Folly itself we tend to avoid even though years ago kept a boat there when Alan Cunliffe was harbour master -(in days when Berthon in Lym was £5 a night and thought expensive) the inn and facilities are poor . Go to east cowes and eat at lifeboat pub which is very good. We berth at east cowes for free as a Haslar boat when we can get in which is another reason why folly has no attraction.
 
At 8m, we decided that a Folly pontoon with no facilities for over £20 was ridiculous. Newport's cheaper and, while not as pretty, for those who can dry out, the has acceptable facilities. FIns can dry out against the wall, beyond the pontoons, but that end can be noisy with traffic on the flyover.

Another pontoon we won't be using again, and for the same reason, is the one up towards Emsworth in Chi.

On the subject of Newport, has anyone eaten at the Bargeman's Rest recently? We had a very disappointing meal a few years ago, and haven't been back, but are wondering if it's worth trying again, as the Harvester's food, while decent, is getting a bit monotonous.
 
I had thought bargeman now part of an island chain ? We ate at the BR but over 5 years ago. The food and service run by character inns at crab and lobster likewise has become dire with poor service ,won’t be going back . Sadly Newport lacks much to inspire the discerning yachtsman -if you fancy a trip out of its dubious charms towards carisbrooke the Blacksmiths arms is great provided you book.
If looking for hostelries Matt&Cat used to provide useful info ,don’t know if still going but a sort of South Island restaurant reviewers.
I cannot think of any eatery in Newport apart from sandwiches at French franks I would suggest though but maybe I have missed something recently arrived.
 
French Frank's have a site in Cowes.

For a "takeaway wrap" it's great, we love it. That and a walk round to Gunard and back makes for an enjoyable day.

Did it yesterday as it happened.
 
FF Also in Ryde -service is somewhat slow but certainly hand made although sometimes you might think they were baking the rolls given time but if you have 15mins spare worth a trip and you can sit down if tied out from trudging streets of Newport. I’d see Matt and Cats still have website and mention a few places in Newport to try .
 
Last year we brought the boat back from the Med to gave a bew engine. We left the Dan Bran pontoon in March and started south again. We paid more for a night on that pontoon in March than we did for a night in Nice, Menton or Ville Franche in August the previous year! We were the only boat there. I think that prices are really having a detrimental effect on the industry
 
Chiara’s slave said:
The Folly itself is a shadow of its former self. The 80s and 90s era landlord runs the Wight Mouse at Chale. He left the folly after the Whitbread takeover because he ‘got fed up with counting out the chips’ and they stopped the dancing.
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I was on the island a few weeks back and planned to visit the Wight Mouse. While searching online for information I found an article about Cheryl and Andy’s well-deserved retirement. It is the end of an era, but a very happy era if you were fortunate to be part of it. When visiting The Folly in its heyday, it always felt that Cheryl and Andy directly contributed to our experience. The masters at work.
 
LiftyK said:
I was on the island a few weeks back and planned to visit the Wight Mouse. While searching online for information I found an article about Cheryl and Andy’s well-deserved retirement. It is the end of an era, but a very happy era if you were fortunate to be part of it. When visiting The Folly in its heyday, it always felt that Cheryl and Andy directly contributed to our experience. The masters at work.
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Ah. We tend to leave the place to the tourists in summer, plenty of them go there. Lets hope the Wight Mouse can carry on their culture of welcome, good beer and good food.
 
Never been to The Folly but always been told how much fun it was, dancing on tables etc when more recent reviews tell the truth.

Same then as the Jolly Sailor who I find to be rude and over priced though they almost seem embarrased by their "Howards Way" history.
 
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