please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Crab & Lobster is not as foodie as its namesake in Bembridge. In fact, it seems far more of a drinkers' pub. On a Saturday afternoon, they were gearing up for live rugby union. It was on 5 different TV screens throughout the pub. Ales on were Timothy Taylor Landlord, Goddard's Wight Squirrel & St Austell Tribute. Can be found just around the corner from the Ventnor Heritage Museum. One of a few decent pubs in this town.
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Thought at first that it must be a recent conversion of a former smithy but it's actually been a pub for well over a hundred years. The stone-walled Stables Restaurant at the rear of the pub used to be the stables of the neighbouring Crab & Lobster Hotel (opened in 1879 but since converted into flats). Although its pretty much one room, it does have some character and the welcome was particularly friendly. I had a pint of Goddards Starboard for £3.60 which was decent enough with Doom Bar and Spitfire being the other choices. We didn't eat but the limited menu seemed to be priced quite cheaply. Only a minute or two's walk from the High Street and a car park and just round the corner from the Heritage Centre.
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Back street pub furnished with an eclectic mix of seating. Well kept beer, Goddards Scrum (a local IOW brew), Timothy Taylor Landlord and Ringwood on when I visited. Food served but menu is fairly short. Several kids were running riot in there when I was there but locals didn't bat an eyelid so this may be a regular practice? Worth a try though.
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Yep superb place up a side street. Somehow looks a bit like a provincial 1950s railway station from the outside.
Nice furniture with newspapers / mags to read. The sun was pouring in the window on a summer's afternoon.
Decent enough beer.
But the bus takes solo long to get here from the Yarmouth ferry - groan.
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Extremely friendly town pub with very friendly locals. Excellent pint of Tim Taylor Landlord for a highly affordable £3.30. Lovely (enormous) Sunday roast with loads of yorkies and thick gravy.
Thoroughly recommend.
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nice if a little eccentric
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Quite liked it - nice atmosphere inside. Beer was OK (I had the Adnams, but wuld agree that a locally brewed ale would be nice - it's a strange world when we ship Adnams beer all the way from Suffolk to the Isle of Wight !!) Would go there again.
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Attractive pub with an interesting interior full of bric-a-brac.Ok beer from Adnams etc.
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In early August 2010 we were staying in Yarmouth and decided to make the difficult journey by bus to Ventnor to eat at the Crab & Lobster Tap. We had been there before several times and had a pleasant evening and meal so thought the journey could be worth it. On arriving about 7 pm there was a board outside advertising meals so we walked in and ordered drinks and asked to see the menu. After serving the drinks the person behind the bar said, much to our surprise that, he would see if the there was any food on that evening. He disappeared for a few minutes then came back and told us they couldn't be bothered to do any food that night, but if we cared to come back the following day we could have a meal. We obviously know when our custom is not appreciated so we will not be bothering going there again.
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Very friendly, lots of locals and a good selection of well kept ale, even try befor you buy. Lovely!
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Agree with addlened. Great shame about the boring and predictable range of beers. Decided on this occasion not to stay but see if we could better at other pubs in Ventnor
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Visited in April and found the place very friendly with a good selection of well kept beer. Shame not to see Isle of Wight breweries as one gets bored of seeing Doom Bar etc everywhere.
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I was in here a couple of times over the Christmas period. It has evidently been recently taken over. There is a fair selection of beers on hand-pump, some of which are local. They were in very good condition. Didn't get to try any food as the kitchen was closed during the Christmas period. The landlord and lady were very friendly and the locals too. Definately worth a visit, or several.
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really nice pub very friendly staff good range of beers highly recommended
BAZ58 - 19 Oct 2009 11:19 |
Excellent underated pub serving good food and local beers.
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I was in here a couple of times on holiday last week. Nice enough pub. Beer is well kept (though there are only two hand-pulls). The food is excellent and the wine list is excellent value.
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I've just checked the facts and Barnabas Wild got his licence to run the Crab and Lobster in 1788. He was a eccentric chap and used to put a bowl on his head when it rained. He once walked from Portsmouth to London in a day I believe. Any chance of a free pint chaps?
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My great-great-great grandfather's brother (Barnabas Wild) owned this pub in the early 1800's. I wonder if I could get a free pint here if I showed them the proof.
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