please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Yesterday was our first ever visit to Ventnor. We started on the Esplanade with the pirate-themed Spyglass Inn. It was a dry day. But being by the sea was qite bracing. There are plenty of tables and benches outside for the hardy. Inside was busy with drinkers and diners. There are a number of small drinking areas, making it quite cosy. Plenty of nautical items to admire and live music on a Saturday afternoon too. Ringwood Best Bitter & Forty Niner are the regular ales. Fifth pub of the day and we finally found ales brewed on the island - Yates' Islander & Goddard's Starboard. I tried the latter. But it wasn't the best quality beer I'd ever tasted. I'd still say this pub is worth a visit though.
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Always like some live music so the Spasm Band last Friday night drew us in (along with most of the island it seemed). With very little competition along the Esplanade (and even fewer that appealed to us), it wouldn't have been too difficult a decision to make even without the music. Plenty of rooms/nooks and crannies to sit in although tables were packed closely together. I had one of the local brews (Goddards I think) which was reasonable but, like so many pints on the island, not memorable.
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Lovely spot overlooking Ventnor bay. Initial disappointment seeing 1 Marstons and 3 Ringwoods but then saw 2 Isle of Wight beers, namely Sunfire from Yates and one from Goddards. We had the Yates and it was in good condition.
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good pub,with outstanding views of the sea.good selection of ales including local brews.plenty of dinners in side.door entrance bit small for the larger person!worth the walk down the steep hill and along the prom.
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A really quaint old pub at the far end of the esplanade. There is a large balcony on the outside with a great view of the beach. The small bar is in 1 corner with a number of small rooms around it. It is laid out in a nautical fashion with a pirate theme. Due to the low ceilings and small windows, it is rather dark inside but it was a dull day when I was there. Seating is variable with stone flags on the floor. It had an excellent range of real ales including a number of local brews. A unique pub that is a must if you are in Ventnor.
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At least they had a I.O.W brew on, many don't. Great staff,food good and ale plentiful.Yes it does get busy,so what? I don't go to many 'good pubs' that arn't. There are plenty of other drinking outlets here,so try somewhere else.The beer is nearly always spot on in the Spyglass because of the turnover.Not every pub can entertain beer flies. 8/10.
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I stayed at the pub for two nights, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. We were pretty much a captive audience as the weather was shocking but that was fine as I adore this pub. The drinks and accommodation are pricey but the food is very reasonable and the portions are huge.
I had fantastically fresh whitebait for New Year's Day lunch, the service is also good. Another reviewer, I think it was Fuggle mentioned a lady who looked like Helen Mirren, think this might be the lady that checked us in and out of the accommodation but she was so friendly and very helpful when it came to going home, she called loads of cab companies to get us a ride to the station.
Also we met lots of people who live on the island whilst drinking and dining in the pub who were really friendly. I like the interior with all the maritime paraphernalia and the views are breathtaking. Wouldn't want to to be the cleaner though with all that dusting! One of my top ten for sure.
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A nice relaxed meal sat by the sea, but I guess we were lucky to get the weather in October, and I can imagine the chaos when this place is full of tourists in the summer. Food was in my opinion reasonably priced, of a good standard and came in reasonably large portions.
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busy good beer but put off by screaming kids
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Went here due to beer at the MillBay not being on form. Was surprised to see only one Island Brewery Ale on and yet three (!) Ringwoods. What's going on. Food very pricey but excellent. On the most gorgeous of days the view is stunning but get there early if you want to see it from your seat.
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Busy in the summer with hoards of tourist families; good views; very average beer and only worth going to say you've been!
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Great pub - Goddards Fuggle Dee Dum again! Very friendly landlord- we chatted about the IOW breweries and beers. Nautical memorabilia in cosy snugs and amazing views across the sea.
NB if you park in the pay and display up the road be careful you're not 9 minutes late!!!
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Have to agree with consensus on here. Lovely view (marred only by the bandstand-style monstrosity that replaced the old pier) but lacklustre in other ways. Drab interior. Food's so-so - best to stick to the reliable ploughman's. The big disappointment is the beer. They lay on quite a few real ales but I've never had a really good pint here and have often left my drink half finished. Probablyh best to stick to lager and enjoy the view.
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I sat outside and had a couple of beers in the sun which was very pleasant.
The barman was both friendly and knowledgeable and let me sample one of the beers. Both beers I had were in excellent condition.
I didn't try the food although it looked OK if you like everything to come with a chip mountain.
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based on previous reviews not sure what to expect. It was busy with 4 or 5 different ales on. Bar staff were friendly and the beer well kept. Goddards Fuggle de Dum was particulary good. Did not eat but food looked good although overpriced but that could be said of most of the pubs in Ventnor.
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Spent a bit of time here recently. Unfortunately the beer isn't great. They have a couple of handpumps but the beer was less than perfect. We didn't try the food. I have to agree with the earlier reviewers, it is a bit of a tourist trap. Pleasant enough once in a while, it has an interesting interior and a spectacular location. The entertainment on New Year's Eve was very good.
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Just had a fantastic weekend in Ventnor and visited this pub a few times. Excellent range of beers and good food, especially the special menu. They've cut down on the live entertainment for the winter but the staff said they will be back to full swing at Easter
Well worth a visit.
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Rude staff, overpriced tourist trap. Swerve, there are plenty of good pubs on the island.
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Has become pricey for food and drink. Excellent range of real ales, but many if not most now in excess of �3 a pint. All the meals come with salad and either chips or jacket (for quick turn round), so not the place if you want veg or a roast!
Trades a great deal on its position, views and range of real ales, but if your willing to settle for a choice of just two or three (good) real ales (or if your tipple is something else), then the Mill Bay also on the front, or Bell Bar in the Winter Gardens above, both offer good quality reasonably priced and varied food, and sea views also!
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Long established pub in a superb position overlooking Ventnor bay. Always busy but plenty of tables on two levels of terraces. Inside is very dark and dreary, but it�s the outside view that you come for
The menu is very extensive, almost too much so, leading you to think that not everything can be �home prepared�. I had a fish pie, which definitely was homemade and very nice, and Judith had a crab sandwich which was filled with plenty of crab. The food is not cheap but they do give generous portions
They have a good selection of beer from Ringwood and Ventnor breweries. Pleasant staff
Recommended
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
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Set in a fantastic location The Spyglass Inn was recommended to me by a friend. I don't talk to him anymore. The bar staff and kitchen staff are sulky and miserable. The four of us ordered food and it was really below average. Dry, overcooked and obviously from Iceland.(The shop not the country!) I cannot recommend the food at all. But if you want to watch the sea and enjoy a pint then do just that. Like many picturesque places it trades on its location and not its reputation. Stay away from the VAST family eating area and the dark and dingey pub interior. Enjoy the beer on the terrace and eat elsewhere. 5 out of 10 for the beer and the view.
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Stayed overnight in this inn. Location is great but poor value for money. Interior of the room was very old, breakfast is cook it yourself with pots, cups and pans which are filthy.
Pub itself was ok, the range of local beers was good however the guinness was poor.
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Visited this pub several times because of the spectacular view. Found the lady taking the orders was extremely brusque and perfuntary, but the place was always busy. Had a cold ploughmans which was huge loads of ham and cheese etc. Second time had a steak which was stone cold and tough as an old boot. Accompanying bits and bobs frozen and deep fried not especially nicely. Boyfriend had calamari though and he said that was lovely.
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well overrated.don't believe the hype.great location,but second visit and food still cold and crappy-expensive and expected a lot more.Get the impression they feel they're doing u the favour.
anonymous - 24 Sep 2007 21:43 |
The woman who served me at the food counter, (think Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect) was rude and just plain scary. The food was expensive but came out huge and was tasty. The beer from the local Ventnor Brewery was top notch and the view across the bay from the terrace is stunning. A real mixed experience.
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Slightly tacky tourist pub. Friendly but busy staff, nice location on the seafront and pretty good beer.
Apparently run by the same people as the slightly nicer Mill Bay Inn.
Don't bother to eat here - you might as well go to Iceland and at least then you can deliver your starters at a different time from the main courses.
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Nice setting, good guess ales and huge food portions. Never had any food served cold as other have mentioned. Main gripe for me was that almost every pint was served in a dirty glass. They even served one fella with a chipped glass.
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great location - agree with other comments about poor food - everything microwaved, staff very off hand, and have to queue, bit like a conveyor belt. Had meal, served cold, yes, big portions but all cheap chips (or powder made mash). Profits very obviously more important than service - like the other post said, better pubs in the area
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I went back the other day being on holiday, have to say I agree with VentorVisitor's comments. Was good at first but seems to have faded. Although the Burger I had was good. The chips I had were almost cold by the time I got them and had probably been heated up in a microwave. Not sure if I will be coming back here if i'm on the island again in future, as you can get a better meal for a cheaper price in other locations.
Only saving grace is the lovely view of the sea.
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visite dthis pub several times some time back sad to say that good beer good location poor staff IS still the same then
anonymous - 18 Feb 2007 15:17 |
Perhaps the best pub location on the IOW. We visited the place twice for evening meals (August 2006), and it was very busy.
But It was worth waiting, and the staff did a great job.
But the food and ales were better at the near-by Mill Bay Inn, which is not listed in this pub index.
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Wonderful location, there's something really special about sitting by the sea, sipping a pint and having a meal. The food was fine, large portions and a lot of plates going back uncleared which is a waste. The Badger beer was good, but I've had better.
The down points were the bar, tiny when there's a couple of hundred people in and outside the pub. The only plus about that was an orderly queue was formed and you got served in turn. As mentioned elsewhere the staff do leave something to be desired.
10 for location, 7 for food and drink and 4 for staff.
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The first few times I visited here I was impressed, but this faded the more often I went - to the point where I won't return.
The food is pretty standard and not much to get excited about. The staff are very off-hand.
It's clear that this establishment has been setup to make the most money possible, primarily from tourists - however and whenever they can. Among an assortment of the lowest tricks? Charging our very young daughter �1.50 for an extra roll with her soup!
There's a lot better places in Ventnor - masses of them.
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Posted my last comment as Tony.Went back this year just to check and the place hasn't changed. The bar staff are the most unfriendly I have ever encountered- ANYWHERE! It's a shame as the setting,beer and food are really great. I suppose if they have everything going for them, they can afford to treat their customers with total disdain. I wish they would read and folllow the note on behaviour on their own menus. Never again!
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Nice pub, lovely view of the sea from the front, food looked good as well
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The food is beautiful. the drinks are nice. staff r not at all friendly.
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Have visited this pub on many occasions and different times of the year. Normally when we are ferrying visitors arund the island.
No problem with the food but I too have found the staff unfriendly.
It is not on my regular visit list for this reason.
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Fantastic setting.Beer and food excellent. Perhaps we called on a bad day as the bar staff were unfriendly, extremely offhand and made us feel very unwelcome.
Tony - 10 Oct 2004 15:23 |
The most welcoming and first class pub I have ever been in on all of my travels!!
Craig - 2 Oct 2004 12:56 |
The quintessential holiday pub. Overlooking the bay, you can sit outside on the edge of the seawall, or inside in one of the many atmospheric rooms sunning of the central bar area. Excellent food and well kept beer made this a very pleasant experinec indeed. Visited July 04, Voted 10
Jimbo Smith - 25 Jul 2004 10:52 |
