Ventnor and The Spyglass Inn
We took Tuesday to again drive down to the south coast town village of Ventnor. Ventnor is carved out of the coast hill side and is littered with zig zag roads which provide a dizzying and difficult drive in and out of town. Outside of the high cliff perched homes, it is the sea front which drew me in.
Filled with bed & breakfasts, pubs, and holiday chalets, Ventnor is a vacation destination for many island visitors. With its quaint charm and unique island character, it is not hard to see why.
Our destination was the Spyglass Inn. Situated at the far end of the seafront, this large pub sits right on the coast line and offers an impeccable view of the ocean and town.
The Spyglass has so many hallmarks of a good pub: uneven stone floors, short ceilings, and a great selection of beer. The inside of the pub is full of disjointed small rooms and cozy nooks.
I really like this. Although your tiny room may be shared with a small group of other people you don't know, it allows for a more intimate experience with your friends.
Our room also featured a stuffed lobster, which, as you can tell, perplexes me a little bit.
The Spyglass is not a "local" pub and is more aimed towards "holiday makers". I would almost consider it a "chain" pub, as it is one of several pubs under the same owners. This is not meant to be a slight. All of these pubs are quite different, I imagine the similarities are more behind the scenes. Unlike the other night where Bob and I went to a true local, which was basically like drinking beer in your living room with 20 strangers, The Spyglass is more of a well oiled commercial establishment.
The menu was expansive. Wendy chose a mussel chowder, Bob & Zoe had cottage pie, and I had fried king prawns. While everyone else chose a chokolota for dessert, I, not-surprisingly, had a pint of Goddard's instead.
The food was good and the beer were top notch.
After eating inside, we moved ourselves outside to soak up some of the afternoon sun. If it wasn't for the sound of the surf kissing the shore and jackdaws scavenging for loose chips, I could have fallen asleep and lost track of time. Ventnor is a great place and The Spyglass is a worthy destination.
Filled with bed & breakfasts, pubs, and holiday chalets, Ventnor is a vacation destination for many island visitors. With its quaint charm and unique island character, it is not hard to see why.
Our destination was the Spyglass Inn. Situated at the far end of the seafront, this large pub sits right on the coast line and offers an impeccable view of the ocean and town.
The Spyglass has so many hallmarks of a good pub: uneven stone floors, short ceilings, and a great selection of beer. The inside of the pub is full of disjointed small rooms and cozy nooks.
I really like this. Although your tiny room may be shared with a small group of other people you don't know, it allows for a more intimate experience with your friends.
Our room also featured a stuffed lobster, which, as you can tell, perplexes me a little bit.
The Spyglass is not a "local" pub and is more aimed towards "holiday makers". I would almost consider it a "chain" pub, as it is one of several pubs under the same owners. This is not meant to be a slight. All of these pubs are quite different, I imagine the similarities are more behind the scenes. Unlike the other night where Bob and I went to a true local, which was basically like drinking beer in your living room with 20 strangers, The Spyglass is more of a well oiled commercial establishment.
The menu was expansive. Wendy chose a mussel chowder, Bob & Zoe had cottage pie, and I had fried king prawns. While everyone else chose a chokolota for dessert, I, not-surprisingly, had a pint of Goddard's instead.
The food was good and the beer were top notch.
After eating inside, we moved ourselves outside to soak up some of the afternoon sun. If it wasn't for the sound of the surf kissing the shore and jackdaws scavenging for loose chips, I could have fallen asleep and lost track of time. Ventnor is a great place and The Spyglass is a worthy destination.
Mike Lang
