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Eating out on the Isle of Wight

Savour the flavour of home grown fruit and vegetables, freshly caught seafood and local wines, beer and cider in Isle of Wight restaurants.

As part of Eco Island ­ the vision for a more sustainable Island by 2020, the Island is committed to flavoursome, home-grown produce. Expect seafood straight from the fisherman¹s catch, tasty organics, locally-brewed beer, locally-grown wine, scrummy ciders made from gorgeous Island apples.

Whatever your tastes, your senses are in for a treat here on the Isle of Wight. And whatever your budget and whenever the season you visit, you¹ll find your ideal eating venue. Eat and drink in an historic inn, a grand manor house, a romantic restaurant, a trendy bistro or a chocolate-box tearoom. Every town and village has places to tempt you. So indulge yourself and enjoy food and drink, hospitality and service.

A selection of pubs, restaurants and tearooms have chosen to participate in a Quality Award scheme for the Island which assess their overall quality of food and service. Assessors paid particular attention to the quality and presentation of food, enthusiastic and friendly service and high standards of cleanliness.

The assessment criteria covers six "quality areas" food, service & efficiency, hospitality, bar & restaurant, cleanliness and public areas. The performance of each establishment within these areas combines to give an overall quality score. The scheme also highlights their use of local produce.

What to look for:

Establishments which have achieved a high result in the assessment process will be able display one of the Isle of Wight Tourism Quality Awards.

Here's how they work:

Award - The Highest Quality Assured logo is displayed by an establishment with an overall score of 80% or more.

Award - The Quality Assured logo is displayed by an establishment with an overall score of between 60% to 80%.

Award - The Local Produce logo is displayed by an establishment which regularly serves or uses Isle of Wight produce.

We hope that our Quality Awards scheme will help to make your stay on this beautiful Island even more enjoyable.

Scores on the Doors

Isle of Wight Council is responsible for regulating the food safety of the Island's 1900 registered food business.
In 2007 it launched a scheme to publish information about food hygiene standards, (Scores on the Doors) which involves a 0-5 star Food Hygiene Rating. These scores are available for the public to view at: www.iwight.com/scoresonthedoors Businesses are also asked to display a certificate prominently on the front of their premises.
Our Food Hygiene Rating scheme has learned from the experience of other authorities, both national and international. Isle of Wight Council's Environmental Health Manager said, "The scheme provides the public with better information regarding food hygiene and a recognised reward for those who effectively manage food hygiene. It also gives an incentive to businesses to which improvements can be made. These complement our existing approach which combines education with enforcement action.
Look out for the A5 sized Food Hygiene Rating certificates on the doors and windows of food premises, and visit the website.