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Visit our website or your local branch to find out more.
The Island’s property people
£895,000
An immaculate detached family home set within almost an acre of beautifully maintained gardens, backing directly onto open fields with far-reaching countryside views. Tucked away behind mature trees and accessed via a solid wooden gate, the property enjoys exceptional privacy and seclusion while remaining close to local amenities and the beach.
£695,000
Tucked away along a private road in the heart of Shanklin, this substantial detached home delivers space, style and total privacy just moments from the town and seafront. From the expansive driveway and double garage to the beautifully secluded rear garden, every detail has been designed for impressive family living
£675,000
This stunning four-bedroom home has been beautifully designed to create elevated, light-filled living throughout The show-stopping open plan kitchen, complete with an island, flows seamlessly into stylish dining and lounge spaces, while a cosy wood-burning stove adds warmth and charm With a landscaped garden, outdoor shower for post-beach days, ample parking, and The Hut just a short stroll away.
£650,000
Four generations of love and legacy shape Primrose Cottage, a rare gem set opposite the iconic Osborne House Tucked away along a private tree-lined driveway and surrounded by beautifully mature gardens, this substantial dual-home residence blends history, space and versatility all just minutes from Newport and East Cowes A truly remarkable opportunity
Hollybrooke Close, Shanklin
Colwell Road, Freshwater
Barton Estate, East Cowes
Nettlestone, Seaview
SPENCEWILLARD.CO.UK
BEMBRIDGE
£2,200,000
A remarkable new Arts & Crafts inspired home, blending handcrafted design, expansive living spaces and leading sustainable technology near Bembridge’s coastline. There is a particular focus on the character and fabric of the build
with integration of state-of-the-art technology, high - performing systems and materials to ensure outstanding comfort and durability, delivering levels of energy efficiency rarely found in homes of this scale and quality. EPC A
Setting the standard for exceptional Isle of Wight living since 2012
I. CRANMORE £545,000
A truly stunning and bespoke new build detached house with an impressive ‘A’ grade energy rating, including solar generation and storage – all close to Yarmouth in a plot of around 0.5 acre. EPC A
II. LIMERSTONE £1,050,000
A wonderful opportunity to purchase a substantial detached home, set in gardens and grounds approaching 1.5 acres. The property features extensive energy-saving measures, significantly reducing running costs, and enjoys elevated sea and coastal views as well as a swimming pool and variety of outbuildings. EPC C
III. GURNARD £1,225,000
A stunning contemporary home built to a high specification providing light and spacious accommodation with country views, located on the fringe of this sought after coastal village. The house features triple glazed windows and an array of features providing comfort and high energy efficiency including an air source heat pump serving underfloor heating and a mechanical heat recovery system that results in an efficient, comfortable home. EPC B
IV. BRIGHSTONE £575,000
Extended and updated, this three bedroom property offers high specification and flexible accommodation with plenty of parking and generous gardens. It is immaculate and features solar panels with battery storage, electric underfloor heating with insulation beneath, plus a recently built extension to the rear. EPC C
Editor
Christian Warren
christian@styleofwight.co.uk
Associate Editor
Rebecca Lawson rebecca@styleofwight.co.uk
Sub Editor Helen Hopper
Writers
Lottie Begg, Rebecca Lawson,
Ginnie Taylor, Christian Warren, Noah Warren
Design and Creative
Tim Mander, Christian Warren
Photography
Christian Warren, Julian Winslow, Gary Winslow
Sales
Christian Warren christian@styleofwight.co.uk
Distribution office@styleofwight.co.uk 01983 861007
Note from the Editor
Spring and our March April edition arrives with a gentle stirring.
Light lingers a little longer over the cliffs, the tide feels less hurried, and the first signs of colour return to hedgerows and gardens. After months turned inward, the Island begins to stretch. We remember, almost instinctively, that we belong outdoors.
Spring carries with it a particular kind of energy — not the urgency of January’s resolutions, but something more organic. A reawakening. Easter approaches, bringing families together around tables and on coastlines and beaches. It is a season shaped by togetherness and by simple pleasures rediscovered.
There is something fitting, then, in using this issue to celebrate what is grown here — ideas seeded on the Isle of Wight, talents nurtured by its landscape, businesses and creatives whose roots run deep in Island soil yet whose reach extends far beyond our shores. In a small community, it can be easy to overlook how extraordinary the ordinary truly is. But time and again, we see that what begins here — shaped by sea air, resilience, and imagination — travels widely and leaves its mark.
To champion homegrown stories is not about nostalgia. It is about recognising the quiet confidence that comes from knowing where you are from. Whether born of family tradition, creative risk, or entrepreneurial spirit, these are the narratives that define us.
Perhaps this is the moment to look around with fresh appreciation. To support what is local. To encourage what is emerging. To remind our young people that their ambitions need not be limited by geography. From this Island, horizons are wider than they appear.
A celebration of beginnings — whether in business, in art, or simply in a new season unfolding.
Cover Pic: Model Emma wears Adrienne Wroath By Timi Eross
LISTEN TO THE VIEW
F R E S H WAT E R BAY
CHEF’S SPRING PICKS AT THE ROCK
Midweek set menu : Two courses £28 | Three courses £35 With a complimentary Rum Punch or Hugo Spritz
Midweek, by the bay. Proper seasonal cooking. A cocktail on us.
Lunch and Dinner | Monday–Thursday
STYLE SCOOP
Spring is in the air and the Island is blooming. Discover what’s on offer this season.
EXPERIENCE
The Zoo That Comes to You
31 March
Quay Arts, Sea St, Newport
The Zoo That Comes to You brings animal puppetry to life, enchanting audiences with creative storytelling, playful creatures, and interactive fun for all ages. quayarts.org
Madame Butterfly
25 March
Shanklin Theatre, Prospect Rd,
The Ukrainian National Opera presents Madame Butterfly, a captivating performance of Puccini’s tragic masterpiece, blending powerful vocals, stunning visuals, and heartfelt drama for an unforgettable operatic experience. shanklintheatre.com
Carnival’s Trash to Trend Fashion Show
18 April
Network Ryde, Thomas St, Ryde
A vibrant celebration of creativity and sustainability, where discarded materials are transformed into runway-ready fashion, turning trash into trend and imagination into style.
newcarnival.co.uk
The Isle of Wight Open Studios Showcase Exhibition
18 April–30 May 2026
Quay Arts, Newport
Bringing together work from Isle of Wight Open Studios artists, visitors can explore paintings, prints, and mixed-media pieces, getting a preview of the Island’s creative talent before visiting the studios themselves in May. isleofwightopenstudios.co.uk
Red Funnel Awards
Entries are now open for the 2026 Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards! Celebrate the Island’s best businesses, community heroes, and visitor-friendly spots –submit your entry today.
Conscious Upgrade
by
Jane Giles
Isle of Wight psychotherapist
Jane Giles shows readers how to reprogramme their mindset and build lasting confidence.
Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra with Frost & Fire
14 March 2026
Medina Theatre, Fairlee Road, Newport
Experience a magical evening with Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Snow Maiden Suite followed by Aaron Azunda Akugbo performing Hummel’s Trumpet Concerto, and later Dvořák’s passionate Symphony No. 7. iwso.co.uk
Spot lambs in the countryside
Our nature-loving editor, Rebecca, loves wandering the fields near Godshill to watch playful spring lambs bounding in the fresh green pastures.
Sip by the Seaside
If you’d rather see spring from indoors, try warming up with a flat white while watching the waves roll in at Sandown’s charming beachfront cafés.
Fresh asparagus
Look for tender, locally grown spears to steam, grill, or toss into a light spring risotto.
Strawberries
Pick up sweet, juicy Island strawberries to enjoy fresh, in tarts, or folded into creamy desserts.
DRINK
Sip a blossoming herbal tea
Enjoy a cup of locally grown herbal tea, infused with spring herbs like mint or chamomile, perfect for sipping while taking in the warming sunshine (hopefully).
FAMILY, FUN & Life’s Little Moments
Family life is made up of beautiful layers – from the quiet anticipation of a new arrival to energetic outdoor adventures, playful days, and those evenings that bring everyone back together again.
This month’s Style Picks celebrates every stage of the journey – thoughtful pieces for parents-to-be, practical essentials for little ones, and playful finds designed to spark connection and laughter. These prizes are all about supporting family life in style –and making space for togetherness along the way.
02
Windproof fleece jacket
The perfect gift for those who love to be outdoors, Mum will love PO.P’s best-selling windproof fleece jacket. Made from 100% recycled materials, the capsule fleece is water-resistant, making it ideal for walks in April showers.
RRP: £80.00 | Stockist: PO.P
03
IQ® Circle
This Mother’s Day, indulge Mama’s mind with IQ® Circle! For adults counting on a real challenge, this new and sophisticated puzzle game is sure to intrigue the most demanding puzzler for hours! Presented in a sleek black gift box, the game is the perfect addition to any coffee table.
RRP: £12.99
Stockist: SmartToysandGamesUK
Maternity pyjamas
01
For a perfectly cosy Mother’s Day, PO.P’s MAMA pyjamas in soft organic cotton jersey are sure to be a firm favourite! Perfect for sleeping and lounging, both during pregnancy and after baby has arrived, these supersoft pieces offer an elasticated and drawstring waist for optimum comfort.
RRP: £45.00 | Stockist: PO.P
04
IQ Love
Challenge Mum with this gleaming gemstone game, with 120 challenges to keep her entertained for hours! Stimulating key cognitive skills, including concentration, logic, and problem solving, this portable game is sure to be love at first sight!
Bling2o | Adult Swim Goggles
Treat Mum with a splash of style thanks to Bling2o’s adult swim range! Taking glamour and elegance to the next level, whether swimmers want to sparkle, shine or shimmer in the water, the designs are truly iconic, promising to radiate energy and quite simply look fabulous!
New Mums will love the hands-free cuddles and convenience of the Flip 4-in-1 Convertible Carrier. Supporting facing in, facing out and back carry positions, this carrier can be used from newborn to toddler. Boasting an adjustable supportive waistband, head support, ergonomic seat, and padded shoulder straps.
£36.99 | Amazon UK
RRP: £24.99 | Stockist: Bling2o 07
Medela | Organic Breast Care Set
A caring gift for a new breastfeeding mum. The 100% natural, vegan, and organic breast care set from Medela includes the Organic Breast Massage Oil, which provides warming relief thanks to its natural ingredients, ginger and avocado, and the Organic Nipple Cream, which uses Calendula and Olive Oil to soothe and nourish.
RRP: £21.98 | Stockist: Medela
WIN - OUR STYLE PICKS!
Scan the QR code now to win. Or visit our website styleofwight.co.uk OPEN ONLY TO ISLAND RESIDENTS.
Stephen Wight has played some of the most psychologically complex characters on British television and stage – a fashion designer, a prison guard, a soldier, a father. Yet behind the intensity of his performances lies surprisingly wholesome origins: a small island, a school theatre, a handful of teachers who paid attention, and a
teenage boy who once auditioned for a musical simply to skip a dinner queue.
That island is, of course, the Isle of Wight – a place Stephen credits not only with shaping his career, but with giving him the confidence to imagine a life beyond its shores. “I owe the Island so much,” he says. “It was a very special place to grow up.”
Stephen’s acting career began almost by accident at Medina High School. He and a group of friends wanted to escape the dinner queue, so they claimed they had to cut in front in order to make the school musical auditions. The real plan was an early football match. Their plans went awry when an observant drama teacher insisted that they follow through. Stephen recalls her saying, “‘You’ll get detention if you don’t come and audition for the musical.’ So we did. And that’s where it all started.”
The musical was Fiddler on the Roof. Stephen enjoyed it instantly; his friend didn’t. Looking back, he says fate quietly intervened on several similar occasions.
whole career,” he says. “And I had that.” He speaks warmly of Lisa Peck, his first drama teacher at Medina. “There was something very different about Lisa,” he says. “A seed was planted. She had a different spirit to what you usually encounter as a teenager, and that stays with you.” English teacher Maggie Stanovich also receives a mention for encouraging him to read aloud in class, leaving a lasting impression.
Stephen believes the Isle of Wight offered him something increasingly rare as a child: freedom. “There’s a safety in an island,” he explains. “There are parameters, yes, but it’s also a safe space to explore. You go to the beach, hang out with your mates, make your own fun.”
“There were loads of strange things like that when it came to my drama education,” he reflects. “When I chose my A levels, drama was my last choice, but because of some weird computer error, I was put into it anyway. Being a lazy teen boy, I couldn’t be bothered to change it. That must have been destiny directing me.”
What mattered just as much as chance were the teachers who recognised something in him early on. “If you’ve got one or two encouraging teachers, they can shape your
Teenage life for Stephen revolved around days out with friends and long summer evenings. “It was about buses and beaches – that was it,” he says. “The whole Island was the playground.” Growing up before smartphones and social media, his generation had a particular kind of liberty. “We were the last generation who didn’t have everything filmed,” he says. “You were allowed to experiment, to mess up, to express yourself and get away with it.”
Even for a self-described ‘nerd’, the Island’s limited options created unexpected solidarity. “My mates – the so-called ‘cool kids’ – all came with me to watch Grease at Newport Cinema,” he laughs. “They rinsed me for it, but they still came.”
That connection to place runs so deep that it now forms part of Stephen’s very identity. Born Stephen Gray, he had to choose a new professional name when he discovered
another actor was already registered under his own. “I was struggling to choose,” he remembers. “My friend’s father was Brian Clemens, the brilliant TV and film writer who is sadly no longer with us. He said to me one day, ‘You’ve always talked about the Island so fondly. It gave you everything that got you here, so why not go with that? It wouldn’t just
be a random title; it would have resonance. A connection within you.’” The decision had to be made quickly – he had just one day – but it felt right. “The Isle of Wight really was the place where everything started,” he says, “so it made sense to go with that.”
Stephen is clear-eyed and affectionate about the Island, but honest, too. “I love the environment. I love the clean air,” he says. “You can feel it on lots of islands – I got the same feeling on Jersey when we were filming Bergerac. There’s a timelessness. A nostalgia.”
But like many Islanders, Stephen knew he would eventually have to leave. “The Isle of Wight is the ultimate small town,” he says. “You need to leave if you want the big lights.” London offered something the Island couldn’t: the ability to blend into the background. “A city gives you anonymity,”
he explains. “You can become whoever you want to be. You don’t get that in a small community, especially not one where you have grown up.”
Once he did leave, Stephen’s career took him far from Medina’s school theatre – from Bergerac to Men in Black - International, Channel 4’s hard-hitting Screw to deeply demanding West End roles like playing Lee McQueen in McQueen. His latest show, Waiting for the Out, is currently screening on the BBC, and next we will see him on the big screen in October alongside Tom Cruise. The film is called Digger, but try as I might, that’s all the detail I can get – Stephen is very secretive about it. “My lips are sealed,” he says.
So, what was it like working with arguably the most famous actor of our generation? “That film was amazing. It wasn’t just working with Tom Cruise –there were so many other film icons working there. Jesse (Plemons) and John (Goodman) are fabulous, and I was definitely a little star-struck working with Alejandro.” Stephen is, of course, referring to Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the multiOscar-winning director of the film, known for such big hitters as Birdman and The Revenant.
Obviously, working on such a huge scale production would have been a much different experience from TV or even stage acting. “They’re very different media,” he says. “It’s like painting on a canvas with watercolours or oil or acrylics… in all instances, you’re trying to paint a picture, but you just have to use different tools.”
Stephen describes theatre as both liberating and exacting:
“Once you start that play, that’s yours, you’re in control, your choices can’t be edited. But on screen, you give over your performance to the editor and director in post-production.” Of
course, there is a downside to having total control. “When you are filming something, it’s contained within that scene on that day… but when you’re doing theatre, you’re essentially plotting the same emotional journey day-in day-out, and you’re manifesting those emotions eight times a week,” he explains.
“That can be very consuming because you’re almost rewiring your brain to feel that way. I have had definite struggles with my mental health as a result of the challenges and the demands of taking on a role.”
Notable stage roles of Stephen’s include a dual performance opposite Richard Griffiths in Alan Bennett’s The Habit of Art, praised for its “budding intelligence”. But the role that tested his endurance most was Lee McQueen in the 2015 stage production about the talented fashion designer whose brilliant career was cut short by his untimely death. “Many times after the show, someone who knew Lee would come backstage. Often, they would start talking to me as Stephen, but then almost slip into talking to Lee because I had been made up to look so much like him. There was a lot of pressure representing someone who was so loved and well-respected, but who was
also lost in really tragic circumstances. It was an honour to play him.”
From his words, it’s clear that the psychological weight of portraying a real person stayed with Stephen long after the run ended. “It took a long, long time to ‘right’ myself again after that role.”
For all the range in his career, what comes through most clearly is how seriously Stephen takes the responsibility of inhabiting other people’s lives. “Every actor has their own process,” he says. “You may not have had the same trauma or experience as your character, but there will be something in your life that you could relate it to.”
The idea of emotional proximity –rather than imitation – underpins much of his work. On Screw, it meant spending time with prison officers and others in the system. “You’re sort of absorbing the information they’re giving you, and all of those details usher you into another way of being.” Still, Stephen speaks without drama or self-pity. His philosophy is grounded, almost workmanlike. “I take what I do very seriously,” he says, “but I try not to take myself too seriously.”
Despite the breadth of his career, and the fact that he is now a tried-and-true Londoner, the Isle of Wight still lies at the heart of Stephen Wight’s story: you don’t need to live somewhere forever for it to define you. Some places give you roots. Others give you wings. For Stephen Wight, the Isle of Wight did both.
Quick Fire Questions
Favourite beach: “Hamstead Point Beach in Newtown, but it’s beautifully quiet, so don’t tell anyone!”
Favourite pub:
“The Spyglass in Ventnor, it’s just that location!”
Favourite high school teacher: “Maggie Stanovich, Medina High School”
Favourite teenage memory: “Island beach parties and underage drinking – it’s a rite of passage!”
Next project:
“Digger with Tom Cruise, but I can’t tell you any more than that!”
LINDA SYDENHAM
From her Freshwater studio, Linda Sydenham crafts functional and decorative ceramics, drawing inspiration from the unique landscapes and materials of her Island home.
Words: Ginnie Taylor | Images: Julian Winslow
Linda has a studio set up at her Freshwater home.
The history of clay is one of human creativity, grounded firmly in the natural world. Many millennia ago, our ancestors discovered clay’s malleability and began to form simple structures for cooking and storage. Pottery is one of humankind’s earliest crafts and industries, with the oldest known ceramic dating back to the late Paleolithic period. On the Island, archaeological finds show that pottery-making dates to Neolithic times, evolving during the Roman period into a distinct style known as ‘Vectis ware’, crafted from rough, sandy clay.
“We’ve been using clay, quite simply, for centuries, to make useful and beautiful pieces that do no harm to the environment.”
Today, there is still an abundance of local clay, which potter Linda Sydenham uses to craft functional and creative pieces in her Freshwater studio. Linda was born and raised in Northwood, and speaks of early memories of finding pottery and clay pipe while playing. “I used to mudlark in the Medina as a child,” she reminisces. “We would find old bottles and pieces of old, broken pottery. It’s a wonder we never got swallowed by the mud!”
Though inspired by formative early experiences, Linda’s journey in potting began in 2019. Like many Islanders,
Linda moved away after she finished school. By the age of 30, she was married with three children. Though life necessitated a career in finance, artistic creativity was always a constant; she painted as a hobby and studied Fine Arts, exhibiting in galleries in the 1990s. However, it was during a difficult period following the breakdown of her marriage that Linda’s path changed direction.
In the wake of major life changes, Linda received advice to ‘do something fun’. She booked onto a few morning sessions in a small pottery studio
Linda uses local clay whenever possible.
“I can still remember the ‘ching ching’ sound of my first Etsy sale. It was so exciting.”
in Somerset, where she was living at the time, and was immediately hooked. Within the year, Linda had purchased a wheel and kiln, and when lockdowns were implemented, she was serendipitously prepared with a good stock of clay. This period of enforced quiet gave Linda the opportunity to focus on her newfound craft.
“Against the sadness of not being able to see family, including very young grandchildren, the skies were bright
blue, and for weeks, all I could do was get out for short walks and spend my time throwing, throwing, and more throwing. It really was the best therapy, and I’ve never looked back. By October, I had set up my own Etsy shop. I can still remember the ‘ching ching’ sound on my phone of my first sale. It was so exciting.”
In the years that followed, Linda honed her craft, undertaking courses in natural glazes and alternative raku (a
fast-firing, Japanese pottery technique) and learning from a mentor. “I was taken under the wing of a lovely potter in her eighties, who lived just up the hill,” explains Linda. “She gave me a lot of advice and support and became a good friend. I was invited to do my first Open Studios with her and two other ladies in 2023, which was a lot of fun”.
Linda returned to the Island in 2024 with her second husband John, a luthier and childhood friend. She
describes the move as “going back to my roots”. Setting up a studio in her Freshwater home, she began creating and displaying her ceramics, which are inspired by the natural world and her interest in the environment.
“I do lots of tests using natural materials. I’ve been melting seaglass, using oyster shell, yellow flag plant and doc, as well as ditch iron (fossilised wood that disintegrates). I’m processing clay from Cranmore, and I intend to work more with materials from the Island. We’ve been using clay, quite simply, for centuries, to make useful and beautiful pieces that do no harm to the environment.”
Linda’s studio is alive with creative energy, with shelves full of her ongoing experiments in local clay and natural materials. Though varying in form, texture, colour, and firing technique, each piece is crafted with purpose – connection to the earth and the environment.
“Thinking back to my days mudlarking as a child, I realise how little negative impact there was to the environment from the rubbish thrown away then, compared to now. We seem to be losing our connection to our beautiful, fragile world. I volunteer for the National Trust, and I’m passionate about nature. I hope to incorporate a little connection to this within my work. We’re guardians of our planet, and we have a responsibility to future generations to care for it.”
Through her work, Linda invites us to reconnect with our surroundings, reminding us of the beauty that can be found in traditional skills and mindful stewardship. Her story is one of creativity and resilience, serving as a gentle reminder to cherish and protect the natural world, and our Island home.
sydenhamceramics.etsy.com
“Linda’s studio is alive with creative energy.”
Linda’s ceramics are inspired by the natural world and her interest in the environment.
Explore, Discover, Be Inspired:
ISLE OF WIGHT OPEN STUDIOS – SPRING 2026
This spring, the Isle of Wight invites art lovers to explore its vibrant creative scene through two key events: the IW Open Studios Showcase Exhibition at Quay Arts (18 April–30 May 2026) and Isle of Wight Open Studios (15–25 May 2026). Together, they offer an immersive experience of the Island’s diverse artistic talent, from gallery exhibitions to working studios.
The Quay Arts Showcase brings together works from participating artists, providing a perfect introduction before visiting their studios. From 15–25 May, over 200 artists open their doors, offering insight into creative processes, work in progress, and the spaces where art is made. Here are four artists whose studios capture the breadth of IW Open Studios 2026.
Images: Julian Winslow
Julie Sajous
Sadie Tierney
Andrew Saunders
Joshua Raffell
JULIE SAJOUS
– West Wight
In a converted caravan studio in Wellow, Julie Sajous combines painting, printing, and sketching. Her work records everyday life, as well as travels, all in a bright, gardenfilled creative space. “This light-filled garden studio, which was once a neglected mobile home, is now a buzzing creative space and brilliant studio in which to learn,” she says.
Visitors can explore paintings, prints, sketchbooks, and cards, and learn about Julie’s workshops, art classes, and Portuguese sketching retreats.
SADIE TIERNEY
– South Wight
Painter and printmaker Sadie Tierney works from a light-filled studio in Ventnor. With an MA from the Royal College of Art, she begins outdoors, sketching the landscape before transforming her observations into expressive paintings and prints. Her energetic mark-making and emotional response to place define her practice.
“I love taking part in Isle of Wight Open Studios, it’s a great chance to spruce the place up and welcome visitors,” Sadie says. Visitors can see works in progress and experience the vibrant artistic community of Ventnor.
ANDREW SAUNDERS
– North/Central Wight
Following his appearance on Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year, Andrew Saunders is bringing national attention to the Island’s art scene. His expressive acrylics often depict the coast and changing landscapes, with a mosaiclike style that borders on abstraction.
“I mainly paint with acrylics… many pictures feature the sea and the landscape of the Isle of Wight… I rarely blend my colours together… which results in paintings having a mosaiclike appearance,” he explains.
Visitors to Medina Lodge in Cowes can see large-scale works alongside pieces in progress, gaining insight into Andrew’s evolving creative journey.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
THE ARTIST’S HUSBAND
Joshua Raffell & Dave Smithers – East Wight
Based in Ryde, this activist artist duo explores power, class, and LGBTQIA+ experience through raw, autobiographical work. Combining multimedia installation with textiles, sewing, and crochet, their art blends vulnerability, humour, and vivid colour to question norms and invite dialogue. Their industrial studio is a space where visitors become part of the ongoing creative exploration.
These artists offer just a glimpse of IW Open Studios 2026. With demonstrations, workshops, and exhibitions across the Island, the event invites visitors to meet artists, explore creative spaces, and experience the places behind the work.
IWOS Showcase Exhibition: 18 April–30 May 2026 at Quay Arts, Sea St, Newport Isle of Wight Open Studios: 15–25 May 2026
Discover new artists, revisit favourites, or enjoy a creative day out exploring the Isle of Wight. isleofwightopenstudios.co.uk
Julie Sajous
Sadie Tierney
Andrew Saunders
The Artist’s Husband - (Joshua Raffell & Dave Smithers)
STYLE SPECTRUM
STILL LIFE: SALLY ANN STONE
Originating from the South West of England, Sally Ann Stone’s relationship with photography began long before she ever considered it as a career. As a child, she spent long days travelling through the Devon countryside in the back of the family car with her father, who was gathering photographic evidence for his writing on The History of Postal Markings in Devon. They often stopped to photograph milestones on old post roads or post offices in small villages.
Sally and her younger brother were closely involved in this process. They carried photographic equipment, reloaded film cameras, and positioned mirrors to reflect light onto weathered stone markers by the roadside. For Sally, photography was never a separate activity; it was simply part of everyday family life.
As a teenager, she was given one of her father’s old cameras, along with carefully labelled boxes filled with philatelic tools and objects collected over years of research as a postal historian and author. These objects now feature prominently in her photographic work.
Photographing them became a quiet way of spending time with her father’s memory. At first, she photographed the objects against a plain white background, almost as if cataloguing them, echoing the way her father worked. While some viewers read the images as objective or unemotional, Sally believes each object carries its own story.
In more recent work, she has begun combining her father’s objects with items gathered from walks and travels — seed heads, shells, feathers, and seaweed — collected intuitively as nature offers them.
Back in the studio, Sally photographs from directly above using a flat-lay approach. Objects are rearranged over time, with one anchoring each composition. Time is unmeasured, and when the light feels right, the shutter is pressed, reinforcing her belief that photography and memory are inseparable.
But she doesn’t keep all that creativity to herself. Alongside her own practice, Sally spent 25 years teaching photography, a role that deepened her understanding of process, patience, and visual storytelling.
sallystonephotography.com
Shells and Stones
Blue Skull
Hyacinth Tea
Spring Green
Tulips
MEET THE TEAM AT
THE COCKLE
Perched on the waterfront, new restaurant The Cockle is a welcome addition to Island Harbour. Meet the team behind the setting with a menu shaped by global flavours, relaxed dining, and genuinely warm hospitality.
Sun glistens on the water at Island Harbour Marina on a late February afternoon. Masts sway in the breeze, chiming as birds call overhead and the blue-grey sky reflects in ripples. Movement is all around as winter turns to spring, a rare bright day promising fresh seasons ahead. It feels fitting, then, that a new venture is springing to life here. Riverside restaurant The Cockle has been open for just eleven days. Run by father-and-son team Sam and Joe Shaw, with head chef Ashley Randle in the kitchen, the venue offers relaxed dining in elegant, maritime-inspired décor.
The father and son are excited to share their vision for the restaurant; they’re aiming to make it a food destination, offering visitors a place to eat well, take their time, and relax. The menu offers a fusion of flavours from around the world, with Spanish, Mexican, Asian, and American influences. Think tapas-style small plates and starters, with plenty of seafood and steak, and a vibrant cocktail menu. The setting seems ideal as a family-friendly food destination. Sailors can moor up, it’s easily accessible, and there’s children’s play equipment outside – meaning small ones can play while the grown-ups relax.
Words: Ginnie Taylor | Images: Julian Winslow
Sam, Joe and Ashley
The
a fusion of flavours.
“I’ve always wanted to work with my dad. I felt like it was my destiny.”
Owner of popular pub The Fighting Cocks, Sam is no stranger to the hospitality industry. Island born and bred, he bought the pub a decade ago. But, he says, “I’ve always pined after a restaurant environment. We hope we’ve built a place the community can enjoy.” Sam and his son Joe have been dreaming about opening a venue together and talk animatedly about their first visit to the location. “We took a photo,” says Joe. “Dad said: ‘This is going to be ours one day’. And the rest is history.”
“I’ve always wanted to work with my dad. I felt like it was my destiny,” he laughs. “This was a perfect opportunity. We’ve recruited a really good team
and we’ve had great support from the community. Everyone has been so enthusiastic. The vision was to create a friendly place, with a balanced menu somewhere between high end and pub food. We’re family and pet friendly and so far we’ve had a real mix of visitors in. We’ve had younger people on dates, family dinners, an 80th birthday party, and ladies coming in for coffee and cake after walks.”
With the intention of carving out a distinct culinary identity, Sam and Joe have appointed Ashley Randle as head chef. Ashley began learning his craft under Kevin Viner, the first Cornish chef to win a Michelin star. He’s since taken part in prestigious cooking
menu offers
“Dad said: ‘This is going to be ours one day’. And the rest is history.”
competitions; he was a finalist in The Roux Scholarship and semi-finalist National Chef of the Year. After stints at The George, The Hamborough, and Catch, Ashley has settled into his new role at The Cockle and clearly takes pride in his menu.
“Everything is fresh,” says Ashley. “We make our sourdough and our stocks, nothing is frozen. We’re using great suppliers, both local and from further afield. There are mussels on the menu from St Austell Bay (as a nod to home), and we’re working with the Isle of Wight Cheese Company and Isle of Wight Ice Cream Company. There’s a real mix on the menu – some pub dishes, but they’re refined. We’re aiming to make this a go-to gastronomic destination.”
With its waterfront setting, thoughtful menu, and warm, attentive service, The Cockle already feels comfortably at home at Island Harbour. Just days into opening, it’s clear this is a restaurant built on care – for flavour, for atmosphere, and for the people who walk through its doors. As the seasons turn and plans for outdoor dining and breakfast take shape,
The Cockle looks set to become a place diners return to time and again – to linger, to celebrate, and to eat well by the water.
If you’ve spent any time in Bembridge, the chances are you’ve heard people mention the doughnuts at Hotbox Bakery. They’re simple, properly made, and treated as something worth doing well, not just a quick add-on.
There is always a fresh batch of ring and jam doughnuts on the go. The ring doughnuts are light, fluffy, and sugared while still warm. The jam doughnuts are generously filled – no skimping –and a lovely little mess to eat. They’re classic for a reason; there’s no need to overcomplicate here.
Alongside the staples, Hotbox does a weekly special doughnut that stays on offer throughout the week. The flavour changes depending on what’s in season and what’s tasting good at
the time. Past specials have included lemon meringue, honeycomb, apple crumble, rhubarb, passion fruit, and white chocolate. Some are fresh and sharp, others sweetly comforting, but all are made the same way – from scratch.
Ingredients really matter in this bakery. They don’t use vegetable oil butter substitutes. Everything is made with proper butter, eggs, and flour. No shortcuts, no pretending. Just good doughnuts, made carefully, and meant to be enjoyed.
33 High Street, Bembridge t: 01983 875319
@hotboxbakery_bembridge
ARAGULA (Salad Rocket)
With Will Steward, Living Larder
Rocket falls into two types: salad rocket (aragula) and wild rocket. Both are members of the cabbage family, which makes them both winter hardy and fast-growing in the spring. We grow salad rocket because of its milder flavour and softer texture. Strictly speaking, wild rocket is better for cooking and salad rocket is better raw, but as these things are more preference than fact, we generally use salad rocket for everything. If you’re growing at home, allow it to self-seed, and you’ll find it growing perpetually.
Squash and Rocket Risotto
Ingredients:
1 small butternut squash, peeled & diced small
200g risotto rice
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 litre vegetable stock, hot
2 tbsp olive oil
25g butter (plus extra to finish)
60g parmesan, finely grated
1 large handful rocket
Salt & black pepper
Method:
Heat the olive oil and butter in a wide saucepan. Add onion and cook gently, until softened.
Add the diced squash with a pinch of salt and cook for 5 minutes, stirring, until it starts to soften and catches slightly. Stir in the rice and cook for a couple of minutes until coated and slightly translucent.
Add the hot stock; I do this all in one go. Simmer gently, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan regularly.
After 20 minutes, the rice should be just tender and the squash soft. If it gets thick, add a splash more hot water.
Take off the heat. Stir in parmesan, a knob of butter, and black pepper. Fold in the rocket so it just wilts. Taste and season.
livinglarder.co.uk for more recipes.
Living Larder is a family-owned, Soil Association certified Organic farm, supplying local fruit and vegetable boxes. livinglarder.co.uk | Instagram: @livinglarder
THE GOURMET CROISSANT
SEARED SCALLOP, HOT-HONEY BACON, EGG, MISO AILOI
Inspired by trips to Billingsgate Market and adventures as far as Indonesia, the new breakfast menu at True Food Kitchen in Ventnor is boldly wide-ranging.
Sweet, sticky and savoury collide with every bite in this stellar breakfast idea from chef Adam Fendyke.
Scallops and pork have long been fine bedfellows, and here they work exceptionally well. The scallops are seared to perfection and coated in smoked miso oil, marrying beautifully with hot-honey bacon – think breakfast surf and turf. A rich, soft egg wraps and binds it all together, finished with crisp, fresh lettuce that keeps the palate light and clean.
All this sits on a light all-butter croissant, rolled and sliced, offering soft and crisp, warm and mellow notes in equal measure. Surprisingly light, deeply moreish, and a glorious way to start the day.
14 High St, Ventnor t: 01983 855674 thetruefoodkitchen.com
Other breakfast croissants include:
• Toasted croissant with smashed avocado, whipped feta, pomegranate, and poached egg
• Veggie croissant with soy-glazed mushroom, egg, smashed hash brown, truffle aioli, and tomato chutney
• Sausage croissant with butcher’s sausage, egg, smashed hash brown, black garlic aioli, tomato chutney
With new interiors, a confident new menu, and an award-winning chef at the helm, The Conservatory at Isle of Wight Pearl on the Island’s iconic Military Road is redefining what a café can be. We went to see if the food lives up to the view.
Words: Christian Warren | Images: Maria Bell
“This is British food, proudly so, with a subtle modern hand. ”
There’s something warmly reassuring about The Conservatory at Isle of Wight Pearl. The views are still extraordinary, the jewellery still sparkles, and the café — now refreshed inside and out — feels lighter, calmer, and more refined. But it’s the food that’s doing the real talking.
Under the guidance of new Head Chef Mark Wyatt and second chef Andrew Burn the Pearl Café has shifted gear. This isn’t reinvention for reinvention’s sake; it’s refinement. Familiar British dishes remain at the heart of the menu, but they’re treated with the kind of care and technique more commonly found in fine-dining kitchens than clifftop cafés.
Wyatt’s pedigree — Michelin Bib Gourmand, AA Rosettes, The Savoy — isn’t announced loudly, and that’s probably the point. Instead, it reveals itself in the details: sauces made properly, flavours balanced rather than showy, and dishes that feel comforting yet considered.
Take the Gourmet Hash Brown on the all-day menu. This is not an afterthought of a side dish but a plate with intent. Crisp bacon, wild mushrooms, and spinach support a neatly poached egg, all brought together with a velvety, rich, freshly made Hollandaise. It’s indulgent without being heavy, generous without being overwhelming, and has a genuine sense of occasion.
Lunch, served from 12 – 3pm, continues the theme. Crab cakes, using locally sourced crab, are golden and generous, lifted by Isle of Wight black garlic mayo and sharp pickled vegetables. The market fish of the day, paired with chorizo, herb potatoes, greens, and a vibrant, fresh tartare, is confidently executed — proof that classic combinations still work when the fundamentals are respected.
This is British food, proudly so, with a subtle modern hand. There’s a hint
Far horizons and fine food set the tone for a unique dining experience.
“This isn’t reinvention for reinvention’s sake; it’s refinement.”
of something more ambitious in the air – a suggestion that café menus everywhere are becoming braver – but The Pearl Cafe remains rooted in local produce and familiar flavours, simply elevated.
The whole experience is complemented by its setting. The dining space is contemporary and relaxed, flooded with light, while the view does half the work for you.
Add in the unique backdrop of Isle of Wight Pearl’s jewellery collections and it becomes something harder to define; part café, part bistro, part destination restaurant. There’s also a conscious effort to make this level of cooking accessible. Weekday offers – from Free Wine Wednesdays to Fish and Chip Fridays –feel like a genuine invitation rather than a gimmick.
What Isle of Wight Pearl has achieved is balance. The food now matches the setting: sophisticated but welcoming, impressive without being intimidating. It’s easy to eat here, but difficult to compare – and that’s very much the point.
For visitors and locals alike, this feels like a place worth revisiting. The view may draw you in, but the food is what will bring you back.
Open 7 days a week Free parking, dog-friendly
Indoor and outdoor seating
Weekday food offers available
Local crab and garlic combine into a treat for the palate
British food, beautifully made.
Chocolate Apothecary
To enjoy them at ase eat within 3 weeks
Store in a cool dr y place
The Island’s home for handmade chocolates specialty organic coffees, Award Winning Hot Chocolates and cakes. Located at Ryde’s Seafront opposite the pier, our Apothecary boasts a unique experience no other place can offer. Relax with some tea and cake while watching our master chocolatier create handmade chocolates, or sit back and watch the tide roll in.
Fork In good Food
SPRING GREENS
Spring greens and spring onions arrive just as winter begins to loosen its grip, bringing colour and lightness back to our plates. They’re humble ingredients, but full of promise – fresh, hopeful, restorative, and offering exactly the kind of simple nourishment we crave as the days grow a little longer.
Grab some spring greens this season.
WHAT ARE SPRING GREENS?
Spring greens are among the first leafy vegetables of the year, harvested young while their flavour is tender and slightly sweet. Unlike heartier winter cabbages, they cook quickly and retain a pleasing bite. Mild, crisp, and delicately oniony, they form the backbone of countless early-spring dishes, from light lunches to comforting suppers.
COOKING WITH THE SEASON
Spring greens are wonderfully versatile and ask very little of you in the kitchen.
In salads: Finely shredded spring greens can be lightly massaged with olive oil and lemon to soften them, then tossed with sliced spring onions, herbs, and a scattering of seeds or cheese.
In stir-fries: A quick sauté in a hot pan with garlic, ginger, or chilli keeps their colour vibrant and flavour clean. Add noodles, tofu, or leftover roast chicken for an easy midweek meal.
In stews and soups: Stir them through at the last minute to bring freshness to brothy soups, bean stews, or simple chicken stock. They lift heavier dishes without overpowering them.
SEASONAL COMFORT
For spring, think gently warming rather than heavy. A bowl of buttered spring greens with spring onions, a squeeze of lemon, and a twist of black pepper makes a perfect side to baked fish or roast chicken. Or try folding them through creamy mashed potatoes for a lighter take on comfort food.
They also shine in one-pot dishes. Stir them into lentil stews, pasta sauces, or risottos just before serving, where they wilt into something soft and nourishing while still feeling vibrant.
YOUR GREENS GUIDE
• Keep it simple. Spring greens don’t need much – olive oil, butter, lemon, or a splash of stock is often enough.
• Cook briefly. Overcooking dulls both flavour and colour. A few minutes is all they need.
• Balance the plate. Pair with eggs, fish, beans, or grains for satisfying, everyday meals.
• Use them often. These ingredients are affordable, versatile, and easy to add to what you already cook.
• Let the season lead. When produce is this fresh, less really is more.
As winter fades and spring begins to unfold, these early greens remind us that good food doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, it’s simply about cooking what’s growing now, and letting the season speak for itself.
From small-batch spirits to handcrafted jewellery, the Isle of Wight is home to an extraordinary community of makers producing beautiful, high-quality goods with heart, heritage, and a unique Island spirit.
The Isle of Wight has always had a knack for making things well.
Surrounded by sea and shaped by tradition, the Island is a place where craftsmanship thrives, and where “Made on the Island” has become a mark of distinction.
From family businesses that have been part of Island life for generations to bold new brands bringing fresh ideas and modern design, the range of products being created here is as diverse as it is impressive. Step into a local shop or browse an Island market and you’ll find everything from artisan food and drink to beautifully made fashion, jewellery, and homeware.
Island producers are putting quality first – whether that’s award-winning cheese and chocolate, locally roasted coffee, small-batch gin and beer, or honey harvested just a few miles from the cliffs. Meanwhile, designers
and makers are creating clothing, accessories, ceramics, candles, and interiors that wouldn’t look out of place in a London boutique but still carry the soul of the Island.
What makes these products special isn’t just their finish. It’s the story behind them: the hands that made them, the landscapes that inspired them, and the pride in producing something thoughtfully and sustainably, right here at home.
Supporting Island-made goods means supporting local livelihoods, protecting traditional skills, and celebrating innovation.
The Isle of Wight isn’t just a beautiful place to live or a holiday destination – it’s a thriving hub of creativity, enterprise, and exceptional things made to last.
Island Taste. Generations in the Making.
CALBOURNE CLASSICS
For more than three decades, Calbourne Classics has been a cornerstone of artisan baking on the Isle of Wight. Operating from Three Gates Farm in Shalfleet, the business has grown to become the Island’s largest artisan cake and dessert producer. Alongside it stands its sister company, Isle of Wight Ice Cream, founded in 2012 and now entering its fourteenth year as the Island’s only wholesale ice cream manufacturer.
Both businesses are owned and led by Louise Hart and Jenny Simmons, who have built on the original vision of their late mother, Jill Cawood. Today, they oversee a skilled team producing more than 150 products, from awardwinning clotted cream and gelato-style ice creams to cakes, cheesecakes, yoghurts, and inclusive gluten-free and vegan ranges. Their commitment to quality and innovation has positioned them at the forefront of the Island’s food production sector.
In 2026, their achievements received national recognition when they were named winners of a Barclays Business Banking International Women’s Day Award. The honour celebrates resilience, values-led leadership, commercial success and meaningful community impact — qualities that define both enterprises.
The pair’s trophy cabinet already includes the Countryside Business Award and the Overall Isle of Wight Rural Business Award for Calbourne Classics, as well as Island Produce Company of the Year from IW Radio. In 2026, Isle of Wight Ice Cream also proudly achieved SALSA accreditation, strengthening plans to expand distribution across the south coast in partnership with Medina Foods.
Using locally sourced clotted cream, their signature ice cream is churned in small batches, giving it a rich, creamy texture that’s truly unique to the Isle of Wight.
Deeply rooted in rural life, the companies actively support local agriculture and community events, from the Isle of Wight Sheepdog Trials to the Isle of Wight Festival and County Show. More than thriving food brands, they represent a multigenerational story of female leadership, resilience and enduring community spirit.
Three Gates Farm, Yarmouth Rd, Shalfleet t: 01983 531204
calbourneclassics.co.uk
THE TOMATO STALL Island flavour. Grown in sunshine.
The Tomato Stall is much more than its name suggests. Based in Arreton, it’s a family-run company that has grown into one of the Island’s most respected food producers. What started as a small operation bringing freshly harvested fruit to markets is now a large-scale
nursery growing over 40 varieties of tomatoes, all nurtured in the Island’s sunny microclimate for maximum flavour and sweetness. The Isle of Wight is ideal for tomatoes, with more hours of sunshine than the rest of the UK, and moist sea air creating conditions that allow each tomato to be harvested only
The Island gets more sunshine hours than most of mainland Britain. This means more natural sugar development, making Island-grown tomatoes naturally sweeter.
when perfectly ripe, resulting in natural sweetness and depth of flavour that can’t be rushed.
With a focus on becoming climate positive, rainwater irrigates the crops, while natural predators and pollinators help protect them. By working with nature rather than against it, The Tomato Stall supports the environment while producing outstanding fruit.
The tomatoes themselves are the stars – plump, sun-ripened, and impossibly fragrant. Each one tastes of the Island, of soil and sunshine, in a way supermarket tomatoes rarely do. Alongside fresh fruit, The Tomato Stall produces a range of tomato products, from juices and sauces to condiments, and supplies top restaurants, farm shops, and delis across the UK, earning awards for taste and quality.
A visit to the farm or the shop instantly gives you a sense of the Island and its produce, with care evident at every stage. At the Tomato Stall, they keep things simple – no flashy
branding, no unnecessary frills – just tomatoes and products grown and picked with attention. Every bite shows that flavour, know-how and patience can turn something as ordinary as a tomato into something truly special.
Main Road, Arreton
t: 01983 866907
iowtomatoes.co.uk
ISLAND ROASTED Island coffee. Roasted with precision.
Tucked away in the heart of Newport, Island Roasted has quietly built a reputation for doing things properly. No gimmicks, no greenwashing – just thoughtful, well-sourced coffee, roasted with precision.
They’ve been roasting for over 15 years, long before ‘specialty’ became a buzzword. Today, more than 40 tonnes of coffee pass through their roasters
each year. That scale comes from experience and from understanding that while anyone can put green beans in a drum and turn them brown, making coffee taste genuinely good is something else entirely.
Roasting is a science. Time, temperature, airflow and bean density all matter. It takes years to understand how a coffee behaves and how to draw out its best characteristics. But understanding the market drinking it is the art. Not every cup needs bright acidity or experimental flavours; sometimes customers want something comforting and beautifully balanced.
That’s why Island Roasted produces a full range: dependable, smooth blends with nutty, chocolate notes; more modern profiles with gentle acidity and flashes of fruit; and lighter roasted single origins designed for nuanced filter coffee. Consistency is
Unlike mass-produced coffee (which is roasted quickly in large quantities) the company’s beans are hand-roasted in small batches using traditional drum roasters. This allows for precise temperature control and timing, bringing out distinct flavours and aromas.
non-negotiable. Every batch is roasted by hand to a developed profile, logged and coded for traceability, and cupped before it leaves the roastery.
Wherever possible, they work with direct trade partners, building long-term relationships that support growers and ensure transparency. Sustainability runs through the business, from electric delivery vehicles to solar power and a reusable tub system.
85A St James’ St, Newport t: 01983 524800 islandroasted.co.uk
Island cheese. Crafted, celebrated, enduring.
ISLE OF WIGHT CHEESE COMPANY
This year marks 20 years since Isle of Wight Cheese Company first began making cheese at Queen Bower Dairy in Sandown. What started in 2006 as a small dairy operation has grown into one of the Island’s most celebrated food makers, renowned for its distinctive, handmade cheeses that highlight the quality of local milk and cheesemaking skill.
Founder Richard Hodgson began turning fresh Island milk into cheese as a tenant of the dairy, building a reputation for flavour and craft. In 2017, when the farming family who had owned the site for three generations retired and put the farm up for sale, Richard bought the property and began plans to expand. Production has since extended into adjoining old barns, with future plans including space for visitors to see cheesemaking on site.
All milk comes from Crocker’s Farm in Newport, where the Bradley family’s Holstein Friesian herd provides the fresh base for every cheese made. This ensures a fresh, fully traceable supply and highlights the importance of provenance while directly supporting a family-run Island dairy farm.
Gallybagger, a creamy cheese unique to the Island, is named after local travelling workers who carried ‘gallies’ of goods across the Isle of Wight.
The Isle of Wight Soft – first made here in 2006 – took home the gold medal at the 2025 World Cheese Awards in Switzerland. Borthwood won three gold medals across the Artisan Cheese Awards and the British Cheese Awards in 2024. Other cheeses, including Isle of Wight Blue and Gallybagger, have also picked up accolades over the years.
Alongside tending the cheesemaking and farm, Richard and the team have been cultivating a place that celebrates the Island’s food heritage, a reminder of what good, handcrafted food can bring to a community.
Alverstone Road, Sandown t: 01983 402736
isleofwightcheese.co.uk
Listening to music is not about sound. It is about how it makes you feel.
WILLIAM EIKOS, RYDE
Close your eyes and think of a song you love. You know every note, every breath, every word. You have heard it a hundred times. Now imagine hearing what was always there and never reached you. The tiny sounds buried in the recording. The spaces between the instruments. A voice so present, so real that you hear the lips part before the first word is sung.
This is not about better sound, it is about what music actually feels like when nothing is between you and it.
‘I can hear Ella Fitzgerald’s lips opening before she starts to sing.’
Rob Homes Recording Engineer Empire Studios Newport Isle of Wight
On hearing their own recordings for the first time.
‘It’s like hearing the music for the first time.’
David Cranshaw and Jim Homes Recording Engineers from Chale Abbey Studios and Empire Studios Isle of Wight
When you hear this, you will know in just four seconds!
William Funnell-Pilcher spent fourteen years and earned three patents making that moment possible.
The Aurigen V16 is not a loudspeaker in any conventional sense. It is a sound projector, designed from first principles
“As a guitarist who has spent years performing in front of cranked valve amplifiers, I have never heard a Hifi system that has been able to accurately reproduce this until now. These speakers make me feel like there is a classic cranked marshall plexi’s or vox ac30 in the room. It’s not just about tone, but the visceral nature of being next to a valve amp, and the feel of large volumes of moving air. These speakers seem to be able to shift you to the concert venue, it feels like I’m on stage. Unbelievable.
There are certain classic recordings of rock guitarists that I’ve been listening to for years and know inside out. However, listening through Aurigen I was hearing things I’ve never heard. The transients of the pick attack and even the newness of the guitar strings. It felt like I’d been listening to this material through a sheet of plexiglass my whole life and someone had just moved it out the wayrevealing an unsurpassed level of crispness and articulation with unbelievable detail”
– Dr Joe Kornycky, PhD, Senior Acoustic Engineer and Professional Guitarist
The Aurigen V 16 loudspeakers
with a new approach to place music into your room with stability, coherence, and emotional truth that simply hasn’t existed before.
There was a moment when the speakers were extraordinary, but Bill knew something was still holding them back. Four years later, standing on the shoulders of Nikola Tesla, he solved it. The Ultra-Litz Field Cable — insulated with pure silk and wool felt, the world’s first compostable hi-fi cable — was the final piece that unlocked everything.
All our products are green. Aurigen is fabricated from solid bamboo, hand made on the Isle of Wight.
We employ nine local companies, including four highly skilled artisans. Our largest cable contains 33,000 individually insulated 30-micron copper strands, double wrapped in silk with a cotton sheath and triple wool felt outer, hand-stitched in Ryde by Mandy Haslam, a renowned London West End Theatre Costume Seamstress. Superior non-petrochemical insulation tames vibrations and preserves dynamic range.
Come and hear it for yourself. No technical knowledge required. Just four seconds.
Link to see a short film about the four Isle of Wight Artisans making the Ultra-Litz Cable.
William Funnell-Pilcher and Jason Heap, the design team behind the Aurigen Suspension Arc
Island Frozenidentity. in precious metal.
SERENDIPITY DIAMONDS
Based in Ryde, Serendipity Diamonds combines innovation with sentiment to create some of the most personal jewellery possible. The company has developed a refined in-house process to transform fingerprints into beautifully engraved works of art, preserving a moment, a memory, or a loved one in precious metal.
Each commission begins with clarity. Clients can use a dedicated fingerprint kit to capture fine detail at home or provide an existing print, even from an old document or treasured keepsake. Where sufficient definition exists, the
team carefully restores and enhances the print to create artwork suitable for engraving.
The process is meticulous. The fingerprint is first darkened to reveal as much natural ridge detail as possible, then enlarged and manually restored through a delicate digital reconstruction that can take several hours. Each line is refined by hand to ensure authenticity while improving balance and legibility. Once complete, the print is rendered into a precise vector format, allowing laser engraving technology to reproduce every curve and contour with remarkable accuracy.
Creative possibilities are wide-ranging. Two fingerprints can be combined as mirrored halves of a heart to symbolise unity. Paw prints and handprints can also be prepared using the same method, suitable
If there’s enough ridge detail, the team can digitally restore prints taken from old letters, documents, or keepsakes. It’s part forensic science, part art studio!
for wedding rings, cufflinks, pendants, or memorial jewellery.
A full collection of engravable designs is available at Serendipity Diamonds, where guidance is provided at every stage. Made on the Island, each piece reflects not only craftsmanship but innovation shaped by care, patience, and personal connection.
186 High Street, Ryde t: 01983 567 283 serendipitydiamonds.com/uk isle-of-wight-jewellery.co.uk
Island light. Captured in gemstones.
WIGHT OPAL
Wight Opal has become a fixture of Island life, known for its striking jewellery and the skill that goes into every piece. Recently, the shop expanded into the neighbouring space, doubling its footprint to create room for a large display area alongside a silver workshop and gemstone-cutting studio. Visitors can now enjoy a fuller experience, seeing the jewellery, John’s paintings, and the processes that turn rough opals into finished gems.
The store’s history is rooted in its connection to the Island community. For years, Wight Opal has supplied locals and visitors with jewellery that is as unique as the Island itself. Their opals, sourced from Australia’s Coober Pedy and Lightning Ridge, are often called the ‘fire of the desert’ because of the way their colours flash and change in the light. No two are the same, and each one is celebrated through bespoke designs that let customers create jewellery that is unique and personal.
Part of what makes Wight Opal special is that the craft happens here on the Island. Visitors can watch as rough opals are cut and polished in the onsite workshop, a hands-on glimpse into a process that has fascinated people for centuries. It’s a reminder that while the stones come from far away, the skill, care, and artistry that shape them are rooted firmly in Island hands.
Each opal’s brilliant ‘play - of-colour’ — the flashing hues seen when you move the stone — comes from microscopic silica spheres diffracting light, making every gem unique.
Looking ahead, Wight Opal plans to offer classes and workshops in silversmithing and gem cutting, sharing their craft with the community and inspiring a new generation of makers. This combination of display, creativity, and teaching ensures the shop continues to contribute to Island life –not just through its products but as a place of skill, learning, and connection.
Whether you’re browsing for a gift, commissioning a bespoke piece, or simply curious about how opals are transformed, Wight Opal offers a chance to experience a craft with a global story, made locally on the Isle of Wight.
11/12 Central Market, Scarrots Lane, Newport, t: 07585 147960 wightopal.co.uk
Island heritage. Golden Guernsey goodness.
BRIDDLESFORD FARM
Briddlesford has been part of Island life for more than 100 years. Founded in 1923, it remains a fourthgeneration family-run farm and home to a rare pedigree Guernsey herd. Descended from the original 15 cows brought to the farm, the herd produces milk that is naturally rich and creamy, with the distinctive golden colour and flavour Guernseys are known for.
For generations, Briddlesford has supplied the Isle of Wight with more than just milk. Its cream, butter and cheese are used in homes, cafés and restaurants across the Island, valued for their freshness and quality. The farm’s veal and retired dairy beef reflect the same farm-to-fork ethos, with an on-site butcher counter offering seasonal cuts and house specials prepared by skilled butchers.
Its reputation has also reached the mainland. Briddlesford Halloumi is supplied to Honest Burger, and its butter has featured in James Martin’s cookbook.
As part of a recent rebrand, Briddlesford has introduced a ready-meal range using its own veal and retired dairy beef. The range
Briddlesford’s Guernsey cows all descend from the original 15 cows brought to the farm in 1923. They now number around 140 pedigree animals
supports the farm’s sustainable approach, valuing the whole herd and minimising waste while maintaining high standards.
Deeply rooted in the community, Briddlesford supports sustainable farming, preserves open countryside, and welcomes visitors keen to connect with where their food comes from. Updated packaging in a warm brown design, featuring a Guernsey cow and calf, reflects both the farm’s heritage and its future.
Lander & May may be a small business, but its work spans the globe. From their studio in Porchfield, Cowes, Chris Adams and Laura Ellis hand-make each globe using traditional techniques that have changed little over centuries. Papier-mâché spheres, smooth plaster coatings and carefully applied printed maps are paired with wooden stands turned by awardwinning Island craftsman Andy Fortune, creating pieces that are as much art as cartography.
Their contemporary maps are kept up to date, detailing thousands of towns, islands, seas, rivers and bathymetric features. Clients can personalise them too, marking meaningful places or plotting travels, transforming each globe into a one-of-a-kind keepsake. The company has grown steadily, recently launching the Burl Globe, where the stand is as much a focus as the sphere. Each is crafted from
sustainably sourced hardwoods such as oak, ash, olive or acacia, with the wood left in its natural form to celebrate grain and colour.
Lander & May’s globes now appear in museums, exhibition centres, TV studios and private collections across Europe, the United States, Australia
and even along the Great Wall of China. The company was recently shortlisted for Country Living Magazine’s ‘Best UK Artisan’ Award.
Yet the Island remains its natural home. As Chris says, “The atmosphere here feels entirely appropriate to our business. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Customers can personalise their globes, marking meaningful places or travels, turning them into oneof-a-kind keepsakes.
For Chris and Laura, globe making preserves a rare skill, listed on the Heritage Crafts Endangered Craft ‘Red’ List, ensuring the craft continues on the Isle of Wight.
Unit 3c, Porchfield Business Park, Porchfield, t: 07855 731419
landerandmay.com
ISLAND ALES Island drinks. Family-run and independent.
Based on the Isle of Wight, Island Ales is a long-standing local business with deep connections to the Island’s hospitality scene.
Founded in 1993, the company has grown from a small family venture into one of the Island’s best-known independent drinks distributors, supplying pubs, bars, restaurants, and retailers with a wide range of beers, wines, spirits, and soft drinks. What makes Island Ales special is its
strong Island identity. While many distributors operate nationally, Island Ales has always remained proudly rooted in its home community, supporting the venues and people that make Island life vibrant. Their team understands the unique needs of Island businesses – from seasonal demand to the importance of reliable local service – and they’ve built a reputation on trust, quality, and personal relationships.
Although Island Ales is widely known for distribution, the company expanded into brewing in 2010 with the creation of Island Brewery, producing its own range of locally made real ales right here on the Isle of Wight. Beers such as Wight Gold, Yachtsman’s Ale, and Nipper Bitter have become favourites, offering classic, well-crafted flavours that reflect both tradition and Island character.
For every pint of Earl’s R.D.A sold by Island Brewery, 10 pence is donated to the Earl Mountbatten Hospice, blending local brewing with community support.
At the heart of the business is the Minshull family. Started by Tom Minshull and now involving the next generation, Island Ales remains genuinely family-run, with a hands-on approach that keeps the company grounded in its original values.
More than just a supplier, Island Ales plays an important role in keeping the Island’s pubs stocked, its celebrations flowing, and its local brewing heritage alive. Whether delivering a trusted cask ale to a village pub or crafting their own beer on the Island, Island Ales continues to be a business shaped by the place it calls home.
Mark Grimshaw’s Leatherworx is a celebration of traditional craft, quality materials, and timeless design. Based on the Island, Mark creates every piece by hand with all real, high-quality bovine leather goods. from start to finish. Working as an older craftsman from his own garage workshop, he produces each item with care, skill, and a deep commitment to lasting workmanship.
Known for bespoke, one-off handmade leather goods, the workshop has built a reputation for pieces that are both practical and beautifully made. No synthetic substitutes or imitation materials are used, ensuring every bag develops character and richness over time. Good things come to those who wait, so there is a two-week waiting time because each larger item purchased is handmade, and Mark does not keep most products in stock
in case they need to be personalised. The range includes leather laptop bags in various sizes, designed to comfortably carry devices up to 15 inches in size while offering durability and style for everyday use. Unisex single-shoulder strap bags provide a versatile option for those looking for something functional and understated, while satchels and
Isle of Wight leatherwork combines hand-cutting, stitching, and finishing, keeping traditional craftsmanship alive in a modern context.
backpacks offer classic shapes suited to work, travel, or daily life.
Alongside larger pieces, Mark also produces smaller leather essentials such as credit card holders and compact wallets, all finished with the same attention to detail. Shoes and sandals are also made, including the South African ‘Veldskoen’ and ‘Grandpa’ sandal, each crafted with equal care.
As each larger piece is handmade and crafted to order, please allow up to two weeks for production, ensuring every item can be personalised if requested.
t: 07828137744
iowleatherworx.co.uk
Instagram:@ IOW_Leatherworks
XV INTERIORS Island style. Woven for home.
XV Interiors is a brand that feels completely at home on the Isle of Wight. What began as a love of coastal style has grown into a range of Britishdesigned collections of wallpapers, fabrics, soft furnishings, and home accessories, all inspired by life on and around the Island.
There’s a simplicity to the way XV Interiors approaches interiors. The colours and patterns are drawn
from the Island itself – the blues of the Solent, the soft tones of misty mornings, the textures of driftwood and sand. Every cushion, throw, or wallpaper feels thoughtful, not fussy, and brings a quiet sense of place into the home.
XV collections are available online and can be purchased across the UK, Europe, and North America, recently launching in Canada. However, the business is still firmly rooted on the Island, and that connection shows in everything it does. Alongside the products, XV Interiors offers a design makeover service, helping people bring that relaxed, coastal feel into their homes, whether locally or virtually. There’s no gimmick, no trend-chasing – just considered design, attention to detail, and a love of material and colour.
Soft coastal blues - the kind inspired by the Solent and used in nautical interiors -are linked to calmness and reduced heart rate.
Cool tones signal openness and sky, making your nervous system feel safe.
What makes XV Interiors special is how personal it feels. The products and designs have a calm, grounded quality that reflects both the Island and the people behind it. Whether you’re picking up a throw, wallpaper, or a fabric sample, it’s easy to see that these are things made with care, designed to be used, loved, and to bring a little of the Island into everyday life.
Instagram: @xvstripes xvinteriors.com
Island Inspired.Distinctly Different.
ADRIENNE WROATH
Adrienne Wroath Jewellery in Newport is one of those spots that makes you pause and really notice. Every piece feels considered, handmade, and completely individual — jewellery that carries a story rather than just a label.
Adrienne makes all her work right here on the Island, which is a constant inspiration — the colours of the sea, textures of stone, sculptural elements of nature, even the quiet rhythm of the countryside find their way into her designs. From delicate silver rings to bold statement pieces, everything is crafted with care and attention to detail that only comes from working directly with the materials.
Visiting the workshop gives a glimpse of that process. Adrienne combines traditional techniques with her own creative touches, making jewellery that feels personal and timeless, not massproduced. You leave with more than a
piece of jewellery — you take away a little piece of the Island itself, shaped by local hands.
What makes Adrienne’s work special is its strong connection to the Island. Each item is made with care and designed to be worn and cherished. It’s the kind of jewellery that reminds you that craft, creativity, and connection to where you live really do matter.
Adrienne’s creative process embraces traditional jewellerymaking techniques. Some of the tools she uses are essentially the same as those that ancient Egyptian metalsmiths used thousands of years ago.
Embark on a journey of discovery with XV Interiors' inspired collections. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the natural world, where every hand-drawn design tells a story and every piece evokes a sense of wonder.
TRASH TO TREND: SUSTAINABILITY MEETS STYLE
Turning waste into wearable art is at the heart of Trash to Trend, New Carnival’s sustainable fashion project for young people aged 14–30 on the Isle of Wight.
Funded by Arts Council England, Trash to Trend is part of New Carnival’s wider programme supporting creative development and opportunities for young people. Over recent years, the organisation has been exploring environmentally friendly materials and techniques within carnival design, and this project brings younger artists
into that journey. Inspired by the international Junk Kouture young people’s competition, Trash to Trend is the Isle of Wight version.
The project explores the fascinating crossover between bespoke carnival costume-making and high-end fashion. Both worlds are driven by strong themes, storytelling, and handcrafted, often one-off designs. The key difference lies in materials: while haute couture relies on luxury fabrics, carnival artists use what’s available; discarded plastics, packaging, textiles, and found objects, transforming ‘trash’ into something unrecognisable.
Participants take part in a programme of practical workshops and creative support, experimenting with upcycled and repurposed materials while developing design and making skills. The journey culminates in the Trash to Trend Fashion Show, where final creations are showcased on the catwalk and prizes are awarded. This year’s show takes place on Saturday 18 April at Network Ryde (formerly St Thomas’ Church).
Last year’s show, held at the atmospheric Appuldurcombe House in Wroxall, featured more than 60 outfits and ten winners across different age categories. Hosted by Quivers, the event was praised for its inclusivity, creativity, and individuality. Many participants had never stepped onto a catwalk before, yet they left brimming with confidence. A tutor described how, “The project helped them go beyond what they thought was possible.”
This year, Trash to Trend is also proud to be part of the Future Citizen UK Programme, linked to Sustainable Fashion Week.
newcarnival.co.uk
Showroom
open Monday - Saturday 10am - 4pm
Bespoke Tiffany Style Euro Shank Engagement Ring
We supersized our client’s engagement ring with the addition of a larger diamond added to a new setting on their existing band.
Citrine Diamond and Aquamarine Dress Ring
We created a fabulous dress ring through our bespoke design service, set with an emerald-cut citrine alongside aquamarines and diamonds.
Custom fingerprint wedding rings
This matching pair of wedding rings featured our clients’ fingerprints styled into a single heart across both rings. This is just one of the custom designs available for wedding rings at Serendipity Diamonds
Aquamarine and Diamond Halo Stud Earrings
Bespoke earrings featuring the birthstone of March - aquamarine, set within a surrounding halo of diamonds, in 18ct white gold.
Pavé Diamond Cocktail Ring
This incredible bespoke ring design featured a dazzling display of over 1.25-carats of diamonds, Pavé set into a platinum ring design based on our client’s chosen design.
2-Stone Diamond Drop Necklace
A beautiful two-stone diamond drop necklace features natural or lab-grown diamonds crafted into a slider design. Part of the Serendipity diamond pendant collection available in-store or online.
Ornate Ruby and Diamond Bubble Ring
Remodelled from an original design in white gold, this unique ring design featured our client’s rubies and diamonds remodelled into a brand new platinum bespoke ring.
Specialists in jewellery remodelling and custom jewellery design
Independent family jewellers on the Isle of Wight since 2007
One Hundred Stars
Fans Scarlett Jumpsuit
RRP
Fans Summer Jacket
RRP
Luchelle Boutique
Maslen Design Studio:
WHERE FASHION MEETS ART IN BEMBRIDGE
If you love fashion and you love art, then the newly opened Maslen Design Studio on Embankment Road, Bembridge, should be your number one destination this season.
Holly Maslen has brought together a rotating selection of artists to line the walls of her bright new studio, while the huge windows provide the perfect showcase for her beautifully hand-painted clothing range.
Each individual item is painted by hand using machinewashable paint, with all garments sourced second-hand — creating a collection that is both eco-friendly and sustainably made.
“ Now feels like the right time to set up somewhere permanent, somewhere people can easily find me.”
Holly explains:
“I’ve been touring around for a couple of years now,
popping up at different venues with my clothes. Now I feel it’s the right time to have a more permanent space. It’s also a fantastic light-filled studio to work in, and clients can directly see my process.”
The studio is also a destination for anyone wanting to give their wardrobe a new lease of life.
“You can come in with a garment you already own and we can chat about how to transform it into something unique,” Holly says.
With both feet firmly planted in the Isle of Wight arts scene, Holly is keen for the space to become more than just a shop. The studio will also host a variety of workshops outside of opening hours. As the evenings grow longer, what better way to indulge your creativity for an hour or two before heading for a beer — or even a sauna — at The Point, just a stone’s throw away.
Maslen Design Studio looks set to be a vibrant new creative hub in Bembridge, gearing up for a busy season ahead.
Studio Hours
Tuesday to Saturday 10am til 4pm
For workshop information and artist updates, follow @maslendesignstudio on Instagram.
Lucy Whelan Vintage:
A NEW SPIN ON THE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
Venture down into the basement beneath the fabulous Lily’s Café on Seaview High Street and you’ll find Lucy Whelan and her lurcher, Snoopy.
They have a way of making you feel instantly at home.
“I have a lot of people telling me it’s like walking into my house — that they feel really comfortable here,” Lucy says. She offers a personal shopping experience, takes bookings for birthday parties and hen dos, and now stocks a growing collection of vinyl alongside her vintage finds.
“A lot of people come in saying they are disenchanted when shopping — but they love it here. These days it can be hard to find what you’re looking for, and when you do, it’s often overpriced or poorly made.”
The beauty of shopping vintage and second-hand — in an actual shop — is not just the thrill of finding something one-off and special. It’s the human interaction. Whether it’s Lucy styling a customer or strangers encouraging
each other with a spontaneous “You look gorgeous in that!”, the experience feels personal and uplifting.
“It really brings people together and boosts confidence. I love helping someone find their dream outfit — especially girls looking for a dress to their Prom who come in and make a real occasion of it.”
With permission, Lucy captures a celebratory twirl for her Instagram, @lucywhelanvintage, sharing the joy of each unique find.
An Aladdin’s cave of carefully curated pieces — Lucy has been collecting and sourcing since she was 16 — this hidden Seaview gem is as much about the experience as the clothes themselves.
Lucy Whelan Vintage 07971686574
High St, Seaview PO34 5ES lucy@lucywhelan.com
Anaïs rocking her new vintage Topshop denim jumpsuit
Charlotte serving serious sass in this sapphire blue ‘80s satin suit.
Steph gives a good twirl in a fabulous '70s halter neck dress
Chrissy delighted with her stunning midnight blue velvet gown.
With Caroline Hurley Healthwell Solutions
Spring Awakening:
THE BENEFITS OF A GENTLE DETOX
Spring is often described as a season of renewal. As the days grow lighter and nature begins to bloom, many people naturally feel drawn to refresh their routines and restore balance to their health. This period of “spring awakening” offers an ideal opportunity to refocus on wellbeing and gently support the body through a seasonal detox.
Over winter, it is common to move less, eat heavier foods, and spend more time indoors. While this is a natural response to colder months, it can leave us feeling sluggish, bloated, and low in energy. A thoughtful detox does not mean extreme fasting or restrictive dieting; rather, it involves nourishing the body with whole, nutrient-dense foods while reducing the burden on the digestive system.
One of the primary benefits of a detox is improved energy. By increasing intake of fresh vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and water, the body can more efficiently eliminate waste and support liver function, which plays a vital role in natural detoxification. Many people report feeling lighter, clearer-headed, and more motivated after even a short period of dietary reset.
Digestive health often improves as well. Reducing processed foods, sugar, alcohol, and excess caffeine can ease bloating, regulate appetite, and encourage healthier gut bacteria. This, in turn, supports immunity, mood, and metabolism, all key pillars of long-term wellbeing.
Spring detoxing can also be a powerful mental reset. Choosing to prioritise
hydration, balanced meals, gentle movement, and adequate rest encourages mindful habits that extend far beyond nutrition alone. These small, consistent changes help create a stronger connection between body and mind, reinforcing positive routines that support sustainable health.
Ultimately, a spring detox is not about punishment or perfection. It is an invitation to listen to your body, simplify your choices, and embrace the season as a fresh start. By approaching detoxing with care and balance, you lay the foundation for improved vitality, resilience, and wellbeing throughout the months ahead.
healthwellsolutions.co.uk
OLD WISDOM, MODERN SCIENCE
From turmeric to fibremaxxing, social media is flooded with food trends, but what is science and what is hype?
Words: Rebecca Lawson
We’ve all heard it: ‘Food is medicine’. From wellness feeds to turmeric lattes with names like ‘Golden Glow Elixir’, it’s a phrase that’s as trendy as it is ancient. Humans have practised food-based healing for millennia — from traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine to European peasant gardens. Historians note that food and healing were rarely separate; the modern split between nutrition and pharmacology only emerged in the
Turmeric & Curcumin: Helps digestion and may reduce inflammation; real-life effects are modest. Pair with fats or black pepper; high doses can upset the stomach or reduce iron absorption.
Verdict: Fine in cooking, not a cure-all.
twentieth century. Garlic for immunity, ginger for digestion, cinnamon for blood sugar — they worked because they truly do.
Today, these remedies are Instagramready, sometimes lost amidst wellness fads. Yet in mainstream healthcare, ‘food as medicine’ is concrete: medically tailored meals for conditions such as diabetes or heart failure can reduce hospital admissions and
Magnesium Glycinate: Absorbs well; may help sleep, stress, cramps. A balanced diet usually provides enough.
Verdict: Check with a professional — no universal miracle.
ease healthcare burdens. Chronic inflammation — a factor in arthritis, heart disease, and stress-related illnesses — responds well to diets like the Mediterranean plan, rich in oily fish, pulses, and vegetables, and low in refined sugar. Science is catching up: those old sayings — ‘Eat your greens, they’ll keep you young’ — had it right all along.
Fibre (‘fibremaxxing’): Supports digestion, blood sugar, cholesterol, and gut health. Most UK adults fall short of 30g/day.
Verdict: Good trend if increased gradually with plenty of water.
High-Protein: Supports fullness, muscle maintenance, and repair. Social media often exaggerates high intakes.
Verdict: Sensible for active people, but don’t chase extreme amounts.
SOMA MEMBERS OFFER HERBAL GARDEN ARCHITECTURE EXPERIENCE
At the heart of SOMA — the wellness collective from Style of Wight — is a desire to bring wellbeing off the page and into lived experience. This season, we’re collaborating with Grail Grove, a locally rooted herbal medicine practice, for an immersive experience designed to reconnect us with the land beneath our feet.
The Herbal Garden Architecture Experience is a guided return to nature and the empowering art of growing your own herbal medicine. Hosted within Grail Grove’s living ecosystem, the session blends herbal education with practical garden design, inviting participants to explore how plants, people, and place intertwine.
Guests will create their own personalised herbal garden plan using a specially designed Garden Compass, learning how sunlight, orientation, and ecosystem balance influence plant placement and vitality. Teaching centres on traditional Western herbs that thrive locally, alongside practical guidance on how to grow and use them safely at home.
The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, combining guided insight, creative design, herbal tea tasting, and connection with the wider SOMA community. Each participant leaves with a completed garden plan and a curated SOMA goodie bag.
The workshop is priced at £40 per person, with limited spaces available.
Date: Saturday 18 April
Times: 11am–12:30pm or 1pm–2:30pm
As part of our commitment to growing the SOMA community, we are offering complimentary places exclusively for SOMA members. Join SOMA to be entered into the draw, or secure your space directly by booking at the standard rate.
Spaces are limited and early registration is encouraged.
scan the QR code to register now.
Or visit our website styleofwight.co.uk
NATURAL MOVEMENT IN NATURE
Ventnor
Botanic Gardens has long been a place of healing. Island residents and many visitors know of its time as a tuberculosis hospital, with the location chosen for its clean sea air and sheltered position. That sense of recovery still lingers — your shoulders drop the minute you walk through the gates. So, when I heard the VBG team had developed their Wellness Sanctuary, it made perfect sense.
And it really is an experience, not just a class. The gardens themselves are soothing at any time of year, and the staff greet you with genuine warmth. I could happily have spent hours in the Japanese bamboo garden, watching the stems sway and listening to the wind. Add in a browse around the shop, a packed roster of wellness classes, and the promise of a good smoothie at the end, and a quick visit becomes an entire afternoon.
I went along for a Qigong class with Garry, held in a light-filled room
overlooking the gardens. The group was welcoming and relaxed. Qigong is a gentle movement practice focused on cultivating energy through slow, flowing movements and breath. It’s different to tai chi, which tends to follow longer, more formal sequences.
Ventnor’s wider programme includes Scaravelli Yoga, Firebird Movement, tai chi and hatha flow. I finished with a smoothie and protein ball in the Plantation Room Café, then headed home still floating slightly.
botanic.co.uk
Words: Rebecca Lawson
BEARS AND BLISS: A CRYSTAL SOUND BATH
Nestled safely overlooking the bear pit at the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, the vibrations of pure quartz crystal bowls and Reiki leave me completely relaxed and rejuvenated.
It’s Sunday afternoon on a wet and windy day, and I’m scheduled to attend a sound bath experience with Mahamaya Reiki. The weather is telling me to stay home in front of the fire. Thank goodness I don’t listen.
The session takes place in a room overlooking the bear pit, giving us a perfect view of these amazing animals. From the moment I arrive, Katie and Sam make me feel completely welcome. The room itself is cosy, with a gentle warmth that feels especially inviting given the dismal weather outside. But what makes this session truly extraordinary is the view, directly out over the bears. There is something unexpectedly empowering about being able to relax so deeply in front of such large, powerful animals. It makes me feel truly immersed in nature – connected to something ancient and grounding.
The sound bowls are pure quartz crystal singing bowls, white and translucent. The vibrations aren’t just something you hear; you can feel them deep in your bones – the physical relaxation is so intense it almost feels like being lightly drugged, in the best possible way. The short Reiki session supports this perfectly and I feel a deep release and warmth through my body.
Unsurprisingly, I sleep unbelievably well that night – the kind of deep, restorative sleep you don’t often get. I would wholeheartedly recommend this experience. It is calming, unique, and deeply nourishing, with a setting I’ll never forget.
A different kind of get-together.
Imagine inviting your closest friends into a softly lit room. Phones down. Shoulders dropping. A warm drink in your hands. Breath slowing. The noise of the week settling.
This is not a spa night.
Just a calm, guided reset experience brought to your home, venue or workplace. Each gathering is shaped around your group. Slowing the pace. Finding clarity. Restoring energy. Breathing properly again.
As the Island shifts into longer days and sharper light, our homes deserve to follow. From bold Linwood sofas and lime-green lamps to pink hippos and carnival candles, this is your gentle nudge to introduce bright, joyful pieces that wake a room up without tearing it apart.
Words: Rebecca Lawson
Annie Sloan’s chalk paint can revamp any space. It’s avaliable at Dig for Vintage.
There’s always a moment in early spring when the house starts to feel a bit flat. The light changes, the days stretch out, and suddenly the heavy textures and safe colours that worked in January look slightly tired. But don’t despair! It just means it’s time to introduce something brighter. A new lamp. A bold sofa. A rug that actually has something to say. Small, confident changes can completely shift the mood of a room — and spring is the perfect excuse to make them.
The biggest mistake people make at this time of year is assuming they need to completely redecorate. Rip it all out. Start again. New scheme. New personality. But spring isn’t about upheaval, it’s about punctuation – a bright comma, a flash of exclamation. A small, brave decision that shifts the mood of a room without emptying your bank account or your patience.
The easiest place to begin is with one large, unapologetic piece. A sofa, for example. Bayliss and Booth’s Linwood sofas make an ideal focal point. Their colours are not shy. Think proper blues, botanical greens, and warm corals that feel like late-afternoon sun. They are the kind of sofas that anchor a room. Around them, you can scatter lighter, softer notes – pretty coloured fairy lights draped along a shelf for those evenings when the light still dips early, or carnival candles that look as though they’ve been borrowed from a travelling
fair. Those tiny flickers of colour against a bold sofa create warmth without fuss. It’s a little bit playful. A little bit nostalgic. Exactly what spring should feel like.
If you are more the roll-your-sleeves-up type, paint is your friend. Annie Sloan’s range of chalk paints at Dig for Vintage is one of those dangerous discoveries. You go in for a browse and emerge planning to repaint an entire sideboard. The beauty of chalk paint is its ease of use, and the finished product doesn’t need to be perfect. Make a statement with a shocking pink sideboard or a Mexican blue cupboard. Or perhaps a
Luchelle Boutique is full of bold pieces for bright spring choices.
small chair in the sort of buttery yellow that makes you smile every time you pass it.
And then there are rugs. A rug can change the feel of a room faster than almost anything else. Anne Ginger’s colourful rugs are a case in point. They don’t sit politely, they sing. Layered over wooden floors or even over a neutral carpet, they pull everything together and, somehow, lift it all at once.
People panic about mixing colours and patterns, but the secret is embarrassingly simple. Pick one dominant colour and let it repeat, quietly, in different scales. A large floral wallpaper with hints of blue. Cushions with a smaller geometric print in a contrasting green. Once you give the eye a rhythm to follow, it all seems to come together, and the room starts to feel collected rather than decorated.
Lighting, too, deserves its spring moment. There is something about
After the long stretch of winter, a lime-green lamp and a pink hippo feel entirely reasonable.
Yarmouth Gallery’s lime green Dennis Fairweather lamp.
a bright lamp that feels almost rebellious after months of grey skies. Yarmouth Gallery’s lime-green Dennis Fairweather lamp is not for the fainthearted. Set against a neutral wall or beside a darker piece of furniture, it feels bright, fresh, electric. Add an Edna Coatsworth print, and suddenly you have a wall that pops. Nearby, a cluster of bright orange tealight holders can sit like small, glowing embers on a mantel or side table. In the evening, when the lights are low, they throw the warmest glow.
Spring also allows for some bold decisions. Luchelle Boutique’s range of MacGowen & Rutherford ceramics is proof that interiors should not take themselves too seriously. A blue dog on a bookshelf. A pink hippo peeking out from between novels. Orange and pink dog statues guarding a hallway console as though this is the most normal thing in the world. They are joyful, slightly absurd, and utterly charming. Placed
Bayliss and Booth is the place to find a range of stunning Linwood fabrics.
Grab a bold rug from Anne Ginger.
Luchelle’s pretty parrot.
among more restrained pieces, they become conversation starters and a reminder that a home is meant to reflect the people who live in it, not be a showroom version of beige good taste.
Pick a theme you like, and choose brights around that. XV Interiors does this beautifully by bringing bold colour to the brand’s nautical theme with a cushion inspired by the cardinal buoys - North, East, South, and West. Framed with bright yellow trim, the design would bring a beautiful pop of colour to any maritime-themed space. What ties all this together is confidence. Not
Decor is a carnival at Bayliss and Booth.
A bold nautical cushion from XV Stripes.
Spring isn’t about upheaval. It’s about punctuation – a bright comma, a small brave decision that shifts the mood of a room.
the loud, look-at-me kind, but a quieter sense of knowing that your home can evolve with the seasons. A neutral room can handle a shock of lime green. A traditional sitting room can cope with a carnival candle and a string of fairy lights.
Our Island landscape shifts at this time of year. The gorse burns yellow along the cliffs, the sea turns a sharper blue, even the hedgerows look as though someone has turned up the saturation. We don’t question it or say the colours clash. We accept it and let it bring us joy – who hasn’t smiled at the first
daffodils breaking through on a dismal February day? So let’s do the same in our homes.
If you are unsure where to start, begin small. Pick a single vibrant piece and live with it. Notice how it makes you feel when you walk into the room. Interiors are not about impressing anyone else; they are about how you feel at seven in the morning with a cup of coffee, and at nine in the evening when the house is finally quiet.
And honestly, after the long stretch of winter, a lime-green lamp and a pink hippo feel entirely reasonable.
SHOP THE LOOK
Anne Ginger Soft Furnishings 6b Lake Industrial Way, Newport Rd, Sandown anneginger.co.uk
t: 01983 407 730
Bayliss and Booth Lushington Hill, Wootton Bridge baylissandbooth.co.uk
t: 01983 528 600
Dig for Vintage No. 4 The Colonnade, Lind Street, Ryde digforvintage.co.uk
t: 01983 719 433
Luchelle Boutique 28 High St, Ventnor luchelleboutique.co.uk
t: 01983 717902
Yarmouth Gallery Forresters Hall, High St, Yarmouth yarmouthgallery.com
t: 01983 761424
XV Interiors xvinteriors.com
Anne Ginger’s pattern layering.
Another perfect piece revamped with Annie Sloan at Dig for Vintage.
Fit2Sail
From group-based sessions in your sailing club, marina or yacht club, to a personal session in your own home, the Fit2Sail programme comprises:
• Simple, gentle exercises to improve balance and stability
• Strength moves to make sail handling easier
• Flexibility stretches help you move freely on board or out in a breeze
The focus is on achievable and realistic personal targets. No special equipment or gym kit is required — just comfortable casual clothes.
Introductory sessions for Club Members or Personal Training Session for Individuals Book before 31 March “ At Fit2Sail our passion to share these benefits with others in the boating community. Please contact us before the 31st March to book your free introductory session.
WALKING
Every year, the Mountbatten calendar fills with events that bring the community together – none more powerful than Walk the Wight and Schools Walk the Wight.
For nine-year-old Theo, this year’s Schools Walk the Wight is deeply personal and inspired by the care Mountbatten gave his nanny, Theo is determined to give something back.
“Even though she was poorly, she felt safe there, and that made me happy,” he says. “Mountbatten helped my nanny, and they helped me, too. I want to help them.”
Last year, Theo completed a half-marathon over a week, raising more than £300. Watching the donations grow was part of the joy. “I loved watching the total go up and knowing I was helping,” he explains. His verdict on fundraising? “It’s fun! You make people happy, and your family proud.”
MOUNTBATTEN
Theo’s mum, April, says the experience has helped channel his feelings positively. “It wasn’t just about caring for my mum; Mountbatten supported all of us. Theo’s fundraising has given him a way to do something meaningful in memory of his nanny. We’re so proud of him.”
For Sue Hook, Walk the Wight carries a different but equally powerful meaning. When her husband Steve –affectionately known as Pookie – was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, Mountbatten became their lifeline.
“The care he received was extraordinary,” Sue recalls. “It allowed me to focus on being with him. I was there when he took his final breath, and it was so peaceful.”
In 2023, Sue walked as Pookie’s health declined. “That walk became so poignant. It gave me a sense of purpose.” Even while on a cruise last year, she completed 27 miles around the deck to mark the event’s 35th anniversary before heading straight to Carisbrooke for her medal.
This year, she’s forming “Team Pookie” once more.
“There’s something magical about Walk the Wight,” she says.
“The whole Island comes together. It’s truly something everyone should experience.”
In conjunction with Ian Dickens presents
The Power of the Pen
A Celebration of Young Island Talent
At the Isle of Wight Story Festival this year, there was excitement in the air not only from the acclaimed authors appearing across the programme, but from much younger writers from the Island whose stories were about to take centre stage.
The Power of the Pen short story competition brought families, teachers, sponsors, and special guests together at Quay Arts to celebrate imagination, courage, and creativity.
Guided with enthusiasm by Ian Dickens and supported by sponsors, the competition invited children to submit original 500-word stories. The judges were met with a dazzling range of entries, full of freshness and creative confidence.
The overall winner, Travis Caws, impressed the panel with Cheddar and Cheese, a story that combined humour, originality, and a strong sense of character. Alongside
Travis, several young writers were highly commended for their exceptional work: Clara Hughes, Ria Krasshi, Atticus Cope with Salmon; Kassi Ann Wills with The Royal Family; Eloise Deverall with The Strangest Day; and Nell Shipley with Anne Boleyn’s Dog. Together, their stories showcased the breadth of talent emerging across the Isle of Wight.
During the ceremony, we were treated to lively readings from Jacqueline Gazzard, the Isle of Wight High Sheriff; Nicholas Allan, Patron of the Festival and author of The Queen’s Knickers; Elspeth Giddens, Chair of the Festival; Ian Dickens, and Lottie Begg from Isle of Wight publishers Lemon Jelly Press. Their performances brought the young writers’ words off the page and into the room, with plenty of laughs and audible gasps from the audience as each story unfolded.
The atmosphere in the gallery was filled with pride. As each young writer was recognised, the impact of the competition was clear. Families spoke afterwards of growing confidence, newfound pride, and the delight of seeing children’s work celebrated publicly. Comments such as “the children involved were thrilled” and “it was such a confidence boost for them as writers” captured the spirit of the afternoon.
The Power of the Pen may be a single event within the wider festival, but its effect reaches far beyond one day. By giving young people a platform for their voices, it demonstrates just how powerful writing can be in building confidence and belief.
Ian Dickens led proceedings with enthusiasm and flair.
With Chris Kidd Ventnor Botanic Gardens
Climbing
LAYERS
In design terms, the garden can be viewed as a layer cake; plants and features inhabit zones stratified upwards from the ground. When these ingredients are used in the most conservative sense, the effect is subconsciously formulaic and can be quite arresting. Formal gardens through the ages attest to this principle almost as much as to geometry and symmetry. Informal gardens of the late 20th century have been more informed by chaos, none more than the naturalistic movement. And the king of chaos in the garden is the climber.
Climbers transcend the layer cake innately, passing through each layer. Some add to a single layer, others to a number of layers, some to all, depending on both their genes and the gardener’s craft. A species Clematis is a plant that races to reach its highest possible point, and then progressively
sinks in flower. Lonicera similarly races to the highest point, but will remain there, creating a knot above everything else. False climbers, those plants forced into the role which they’ll accept with guidance, such as Cotoneaster and Pyracantha, will add to all layers if the gardener accepts the task of managing them. More begrudgingly, climbing roses can be trained to flower at lower levels, but their fellow ramblers will do all in their power to reach height. Fremontodendron will sit within each layer with no help at all, provided it is tied up.
The selection of climbers is important; which role should they take? The arbour around the door will only have a roof, for example, if Honeysuckle is planted. An ugly wall will be covered by Clematis montana, but not all the way to the ground. A collection of
climbers can be a sight for the eyes, but present a challenge in composition. A spectacular prize is adding a cultivar Clematis to an evergreen tree. Annual and bulbous climbers, such as Tropaeolum, can be shocking and distinctive. Mixed climbers work in very few circumstances, even in the most naturalistic situations. Climbers rarely combine multiple species, and when they are artificially brought together, the chaos is overwhelming.
The greatest error with climbers is the ugliness of their climbing frame. Beware the trellis. Sinister hooks and ties, rusty wires and – in the worst of all worlds chicken wire, chain-link or recycled mesh – are all junk on a wall. The end game is a plant portrait, not the horrible canvas of softwood diamonds or ductile metal. Use the barest minimum for support. botanic.co.uk
“The Island is not small when you engage with it physically. It is enormous when you explore it intentionally.”
SHARPENING THE SENSES
Words: Tom Court
“Movement reveals truth about terrain and about yourself.”
There’s something about sport in a natural environment that sharpens more than just the body; it sharpens the senses. Where land meets water in every direction and weather writes the daily schedule, you start to read the wind, the leaves in the trees, or the clouds in the sky. You learn to listen: to the elements, to the animals, and to the people around you.
We’re living through a noticeable rise in health and wellbeing culture. Saunas are full. Ice baths are trending. Breathwork, recovery, mobility, and cold-water immersion have moved
from fringe practice to mainstream adoption. Is this a coincidence? Or is this learned knowledge, shared? Generations before us understood exposure, movement, and routine as part of daily life. Walks in all weather. Physical work outdoors. Sea swimming without ceremony. Practical resilience rather than performance theatre.
The Island is at the meeting point between that old wisdom and new energy. Different approaches, same instinct to get outside, move your body, and wake up your system. There is real magic in that intersection.
The older generation often learned through necessity and repetition. The younger generation learns through experimentation and access to information. One learned because they had to; the other learns because they choose to. In my observation,
when those two mindsets meet with combined experience and curiosity, progress is bound to accelerate.
Some of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned in sport didn’t come from formal coaching or structured programmes. They came from conversations on slipways, from fishermen reading tides, from sailors explaining why they chose one line over another, from listening instead of talking. Sometimes I feel that this perspective can be lost. However, that very lack of change could be the wisdom that you needed all along.
Mindset is the multiplier. One of the simplest performance upgrades available to anyone is goal setting. Not distant, abstract goals, but close, tangible ones. Mini adventures. Missions. Small tests of skill and will. Give your body and mind a reason to
prepare, and they will. A sunrise paddle. A downwind run. A cold-water swim streak. A coastal bike loop. These are not just activities, they are anchors for discipline and awareness.
A mission creates learning faster than instruction alone. When you set a challenge, you suddenly want to understand wind direction, tidal flow, energy management, recovery, nutrition, and sleep. Curiosity switches on because relevance appears. You’re no longer being told you’re discovering. That shift changes everything.
Sport is one of the most powerful tools for expanding your horizons without changing your postcode. People often think growth requires relocation. But perspective can expand through effort just as effectively as through travel. Take the Island itself. On a map, it looks small. Familiar. Contained. But change the method of movement and the scale changes completely. Try travelling around it on a wing foil, exposed to every headland, every wind shadow, every tidal push, and suddenly
it becomes vast. What looks compact from above becomes complex at water level. Respect grows.
I was reminded of this while chasing a fastest-time circumnavigation of the Island on a wing foil with Sam Light. What seems like a manageable loop becomes a layered endurance puzzle when powered only by wind and balance. You feel every shift. Every lull. Every acceleration. The coastline stops being scenery and becomes strategy.
The same applies across disciplines. Run the coastal path instead of driving it, and it doubles in size. Paddle a stretch of shoreline, and you notice details invisible from land. Ride into a headwind, and distance becomes strength training. Movement reveals truth about terrain and about yourself.
The Island is not small when you engage with it physically. It is enormous when you explore it intentionally. When you regularly expose yourself to physical challenge outdoors, your signal-to-noise ratio improves. You sleep better. You think
cleaner. You tolerate stress more effectively. Cold water, heat exposure, endurance effort, and technical skill learning all train the nervous system to stay composed under load. That carries directly into work, creativity, and relationships.
And perhaps the most encouraging part is this: you don’t need elite status or expensive gear to begin. You just need intention and repetition. The Island provides the arena freely. Cliffs, trails, tides, wind, open water, open sky. Few places offer such a dense training ground disguised as everyday landscape.
If you set yourself missions, listen to experience, stay curious like the young, and steady like the old, something powerful happens. Your world expands without you moving away. Your capacity grows without you changing identity, and your lifestyle elevates through attention to your surroundings.
tomcourt.com
@courtintheact / #theactiveisle
LIME WOOD
Tucked deep in the New Forest, Lime Wood isn’t about showy luxury or ticking off indulgences. It’s about the radical act of letting yourself be looked after.
Lime Wood is the kind of place you have to actively remember to treat yourself to every now and again. Not because it’s hard to love, but because it’s so good it almost feels excessive, just like wearing silk pyjamas on a Tuesday.
The New Forest itself already feels like a small miracle. It’s one of those places that has magic in the air — it could be the ancient trees, the wild ponies, or maybe it’s that particular quiet that isn’t silence but something softer, something like the hum of nature. So when I turn off the road and arrive at Lime Wood, tucked into all that green, my first thought is: surely this is too good to be true. It isn’t.
Lime Wood (or Lime Wood House, as it was once known) has had a vast refurbishment — the sort of eyewatering figure you read about and immediately stop trying to imagine. And yes, the interiors are beautiful. Muted oranges and soft yellows, colours that feel warm and crisp rather than loud and showy. A bar with a stunning glass ceiling that fills the space with light even on a grey day. A soaring staircase that makes you wish you were wearing a Scarlett O’Hara dress just so you could dramatically sweep down it.
But that’s not the best bit. No. The real magic of Lime Wood is the people.
From the moment you arrive, there is a sense of genuine warmth. Not a rehearsed, overly polished version of hospitality, but something more human. Smiles that reach the eyes, it’s all ease, no pretension, and no sense that you should feel grateful to be there. Just a quiet, constant desire to make sure you are enjoying yourself without it becoming overbearing.
Outside, Lime Wood really comes into its own. Jasmine-covered archways lead us to our suite, past water features that catch the light. These are paths that need to be slowly wandered down, and Piotr, the Duty Manager, allows us to do just that as he shows us the way. I remind myself to get a little lost amongst them before we leave.
Words: Rebecca Lawson
We are shown our suite, which doesn’t disappoint. There is an open courtyard for sipping morning coffee under the trees, and a curved stone staircase up to the bedroom which is straight out of Rapunzel (although thankfully nowhere near that long). At the top, a window the size of the wall opposite our bed looks out across the treetops. This is truly sleeping with the birds. The bed is a gigantic cloud — soft in a way that makes you realise you have been sleeping wrong your whole life. Everything about the room feels designed to let you exhale. To let yourself be cared for.
And that feeling isn’t just in the furnishings — it’s in the people, too. Piotr sums it up perfectly. He asks if we want turndown service. My automatic response — deeply ingrained peoplepleasing politeness — is, “Oh no, that’s fine, thank you, I don’t want to put anyone out.” He smiles and says, very gently, “You’re here to spoil yourself. My staff want to do this.”
“You’re here to spoil yourself,” he said. So I let them. And it was magic.”
So I let them, and I’m so glad I did. Later, when we return to the room, the bed is turned down just so, curtains drawn, lights softened, and the most delicious pillow spray sits just waiting to be misted around – clean, calming, faintly herbal.
One of my favourite details — and there are many — are the walking cards I find in my room. Proper little maps on lanyards with detailed directions leading you down various paths in the forest. No phones required. No stopping every five minutes to check a screen. Just you, the path, the trees. It’s such a thoughtful touch, and it says a lot about the place: they want you to be present, not documenting.
The weather has not been friendly, so I decide to borrow a pair of wellies from the brightly coloured selection neatly lined up for guests’ use. They look so welcoming, like an invitation rather than a gimmick. Borrow them. Go outside. Get muddy. Come back glowing. It’s
this type of touch that makes Lime Wood what it is.
As I stroll around the grounds, I pass a yoga class taking place in one of the estate’s covered outdoor spaces — glass, greenery, bodies moving slowly and deliberately. Nothing feels staged or set up just for Instagram. Everything feels natural and easy. Even the muddy puddles look inviting. I sneak a little jump in one, because why not?
After all that walking, I decide to leave my childlike joy behind and savour a truly adult indulgence – the cocktails. With names like Wish It Was Summer and Sky High, they are simply begging to be sampled. How can you say no to Brockman’s gin, Saint Germain elderflower, lemon, and blackberry? They arrive perfectly balanced, not fussy, not trying too hard, but dressed up enough to give this moment a little pizazz. The kind of drinks you finish and then immediately wonder if it’s acceptable to order another at 4 pm. It is, and I do.
Dinner that evening is a joy. We enter a dining room with a wonderful atmosphere—relaxed yet special — with tables full of people who look genuinely happy to be there. Not there to be seen, just there for good food and good conversation. A sommelier, knowledgeable and effortlessly charming, asks a few simple questions about our tastes, then recommends a wine that seems made for this meal. The restaurant service mirrors everything else about Lime Wood: attentive, warm, unshowy, and intuitive.
The next day, it’s time to sample the spa. Quietly beautiful with no hard edges, the soft lighting and muted colours create a calm energy. I am booked for an hour-long Ground fullbody massage. Before she begins, my therapist offers a selection of oils and asks me to choose before telling me what’s in each one. I select the sleep oil, made of chamomile, lavender, and bergamot. “You must need more rest in
your life,” she says. I don’t disagree. After the treatment, she offers a cup of herbal tea and time in the tranquil room. My instinct is to say no — I have plans, things to do, a life to get back to. Then I remember Piotr’s words. So I stay.
I lie there, tea in hand, doing absolutely nothing, and it is genuinely the best twenty minutes of my day. Possibly my week. There is something deeply revolutionary about allowing yourself to be looked after without rushing away from it or feeling like a burden.
And then, eventually, you have to leave. That’s the hardest part.
Walking away from Lime Wood feels slightly disorientating, like waking up from a very good dream. You feel sleepy. Soft around the edges. A little unsure how to immediately re-enter the real world, where no one is quietly asking what you need, or what you would like to do next.
Lime Wood isn’t about excess for the sake of it. It’s about ease. About remembering how good it feels to slow down. To accept the cup of tea. To say yes to the extra twenty minutes. To breathe in the pillow spray and sleep deeply.
And then, eventually, to promise yourself you will come back.
Getting here:
Lime Wood couldn’t be easier to get to for Islanders. Jump on a ferry from Yarmouth to Lymington, and a short 15-minute drive later you’ll be pulling up at the beautiful front gates of the property.
Long before the speeches and the cigars, the Isle of Wight had already become part of Winston Churchill’s story. From family connections and childhood visits, the Island helped shape his outlook on life and influenced the leader he would later become.
Words: Noah Warren
“The image of the ship sinking off the coast became a powerful symbol for Churchill.”
It is easy to picture Churchill only in moments of crisis, delivering speeches, broadcasting to the nation by radio, carrying the weight of Britain on his shoulders. Yet his story began in places far quieter. On the Isle of Wight, among regattas, coastal walks, and sweeping views of the Solent, the foundations of his character were already being laid.
The Island’s significance to Churchill stretches back to before he was born. During the Victorian era, Cowes Week was one of Britain’s most glamorous social events, drawing prominent figures who formed both social and political connections. It was here, at Rosetta Cottage
in August 1873, that Churchill’s parents, Lord Randolph Churchill and Jennie Jerome, first met. Their meeting tied Winston Churchill to the Island from the very beginning, placing it at the start of a life that would go on to shape a nation.
Looking further into his family history, the Isle of Wight appears again. Churchill’s ancestor, John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough, served as a Member of Parliament for the Island in the seventeenth century. Even before Winston’s childhood visits, the Churchill name had already featured in the Island’s political life.
Churchill watched as the Eurydice fought the storm off the Isle of Wight.
One moment from those childhood visits, in particular, would remain with Churchill for the rest of his life. In March 1878, he witnessed the sinking of HMS Eurydice from the coast near Ventnor. The ship capsized in a violent storm, with more than three hundred lives lost. Churchill later wrote of watching from the shore as the vessel struggled, its mast visible against the rough sea before vanishing entirely. It was a shocking sight for anyone, but for a child, it was unforgettable.
Whether remembered in precise detail or through the lens of childhood impression, the image of the ship sinking off the coast became a powerful symbol for Churchill. It represented risk, responsibility, and the human cost of decisions made far away from their consequences. The disaster was widely discussed at the time, raising questions about the dangers of pushing innovation too quickly. Decades later, as First Lord of the Admiralty, Churchill would recall the tragedy as an influ ence on his deep understanding of naval power.
Beyond dramatic events, the Isle of Wight offered Churchill something more subtle: perspective. Removed from the strict structures of school and society, the Island allowed space for
imagination and observation. The open downs and long sea views created a sense of scale, encouraging reflection and making the Island more than a holiday destination. It became a place where nature and history revealed Britain’s place in the wider world.
Churchill held a lasting affection for Ventnor. When asked later in life about his earliest memories, he is recorded as saying, “I love Ventnor.” It was here that he wrote some of his earliest
“On the Isle of Wight, among regattas, coastal walks, and sweeping views of the Solent, the foundations of his character were already being laid.”
health and recuperation. Like many Victorian families, he viewed it not only as a social retreat, but as a place
As Churchill grew older and entered political life, his connection to the Isle of Wight did not disappear. He maintained close ties with the Seely family of Mottistone Manor and visited them frequently, staying in the west of the Island around Brook. These visits were informal and social, offering respite from political pressures through rural life and coastal walks. He is even credited with helping to clear a blocked stream near Brook, creating a chine that flowed to the sea. The spot became known as Churchill Chine, a small piece of local folklore physically linking him to the landscape.
His visits were not always leisurely. As his political career progressed, the Island became part of his professional life. In 1910, while serving as Home Secretary, Churchill visited the Island to inspect Parkhurst Prison in Newport as part of his interest in social reform. He also campaigned across the Island in support of the Liberal cause, connecting with voters
on national issues. One event was even closed to women due to fears of disruption by suffragettes. These professional visits added another layer to his relationship with the Island, transforming it from a place of memory and leisure into one of responsibility and public duty.
Unlike Queen Victoria’s Osborne House, Churchill left no grand residence on the Isle of Wight. His presence is not marked by monuments or plaques. Instead, it survives through stories, letters, and memories, a quieter form of heritage with a deeply personal feel. This quietness is part of what makes the connection so compelling. The Island was never a grand stage for Churchill, but a backdrop to his private development.
It was here that his parents’ story began, where he first witnessed the power of the sea, where he walked, observed, recovered, and later returned as a friend and visitor. In tracing Churchill’s connection to the Isle of Wight, the Island emerges not as a footnote, but as an early chapter. Long before history called upon him, the shoreline and the life he glimpsed here had already begun shaping the man he would become.
Mottistone Manor, where a young Winston Churchill spent part of his childhood.
COWES
BATTERY ROAD:
Agent: McCarthy & Booker
This contemporary 3000-sq-ft home sits in a peaceful no-through road and enjoys uninterrupted Solent views. Designed and built by the current owner, it offers a high-quality finish throughout, with Corian-framed windows, reflective blinds, oak flooring, and generous ceiling heights that create a bright, spacious feel. The layout is highly versatile, with five bedrooms – one ideal as an office or additional reception room – and a seamless flow between the principal living spaces.
The ground floor centres on a beautifully appointed kitchen-dining room with panoramic sea views, Corian worktops and integrated AEG appliances, supported by a utility room and full-length boot room. A large sitting room opens to the garden via sliding doors, while a ground-floor bedroom with Jack-and-Jill shower room offers flexibility for guests or multigenerational living. Upstairs, three double
bedrooms each have their own ensuite, with the two rear rooms opening onto a full-width balcony overlooking the water.
The exterior has been designed for both enjoyment and practicality, featuring expansive composite decking, a lower patio with summer house, an outdoor bar and sheltered seating. The landscaped garden maximises the exceptional outlook, while the wide driveway, large garage with workshop, EV charger, solar PV panels, and additional under-house storage enhance everyday convenience. The result is a thoughtfully crafted coastal home that balances luxury, comfort, and stunning views.
mccarthyandbooker.co.uk
01983 300 111
BARING ROAD:
Agent: Hose Rhodes Dickson
Situated on the highly sought-after Baring Road, this charming 1930s detached home is full of character and original features throughout. Boasting captivating views of the Solent, it blends timeless charm with modern comfort, creating the perfect family home.
The bright and welcoming sitting room connects with the open-plan layout, creating a spacious, airy atmosphere. It features a beautiful fireplace and direct access to the garden. The modern fitted kitchen is thoughtfully designed, with generous storage, contrasting worktops, and an integrated oven and hob. A separate utility room and a dedicated dining area both enjoy delightful views of the beautifully maintained garden. A second reception room – currently used as a living room/study – boasts large windows, a second fireplace, and a charming bay window that floods the space with natural light.
Upstairs, the generous master bedroom features built-in wardrobes, a sleek modern en-suite, and garden views. The
second double bedroom also offers built-in storage and a bright bay window framing stunning sea views. A third double bedroom and a cosy single room provide versatile accommodation, while a family bathroom with a large bath completes the floor.
Set on a generous double plot, the property boasts beautifully landscaped gardens, perfect for outdoor entertaining or family enjoyment. A garage offers practical storage and secure parking, while a spacious driveway provides ample off-street parking.
Located in Cowes, the home benefits from the town’s welcoming community, local shops, cafés, and restaurants. With the Red Jet ferry providing fast access to Southampton, excellent schools nearby, and beautiful coastal walks and beaches close at hand, this property offers both convenience and a relaxed seaside lifestyle.
hose-rhodes-dickson.co.uk 01983 212 188
HOLBROOK HOUSE:
Agent: Spence Willard
Holbrook House is an exceptional, newly built Arts and Crafts-inspired coastal home, completed in December 2023 and designed by architect Lincoln Miles, whose work has twice been featured on Grand Designs. Drawing inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright’s Oak Park residence while taking aesthetic cues from historic local Arts and Crafts architecture, the house combines handmade brickwork in white cement, red orange clay peg tiles, off white render and olive green timber detailing to create a timeless, beautifully crafted exterior. Inside, the four-bedroom property is conceived around light, volume, and entertaining, with vaulted ceilings, raised sections, and carefully planned sightlines enhancing the sense of scale across the principal rooms.
A guest suite provides further accommodation, while the garden and grounds are designed for effortless entertaining, including a well-equipped outdoor kitchen with hot and cold water and gas BBQ connection.
With exceptional attention to detail and craftsmanship, the house has been thoughtfully designed and finished and is ready to move in. There is a particular focus on the character and fabric of the build with integration of state of the art technology, high performing systems and materials to ensure outstanding comfort and durability, delivering levels of energy efficiency rarely found in homes of this scale and quality.
spencewillard.co.uk
01983 200 880
BEMBRIDGE
PEOPLE WHO SHAPE THE ISLAND
The Isle of Wight is shaped not just by its landscape, but by the people who call it home. From quiet innovators to community leaders, there are those whose passion and vision leave a lasting mark. Among them is Mary Ellis, celebrated wartime pilot and Island aviation pioneer, who soared above expectations, inspiring generations and helping define the spirit of the Wight.
Mary Ellis, born Mary Wilkins in 1917, remains one of the Isle of Wight’s most celebrated figures, remembered for her extraordinary contributions to aviation and her enduring connection to the Island. Fascinated by flight from a young age, she earned her pilot’s licence by the time she was seventeen.
When the Second World War broke out, Mary joined the Air Transport Auxiliary
(ATA), a civilian organisation tasked with delivering aircraft to frontline squadrons. Flying solo in unfamiliar planes, often without radios, she completed over one thousand hours across seventy-six different aircraft types, earning a reputation for calm precision. Among her favourites was the Spitfire, which she regarded as a symbol of freedom.
After the war, Mary continued to break barriers. She became one of the first women to pilot Britain’s Gloster Meteor jet, later managing Sandown Airport and serving as Europe’s first woman air commandant. She founded the Isle of Wight Aero Club, shaping the Island’s aviation community through new routes, training programmes, and mentoring young
Mary’s life on the Island was
intertwined with both her work and her love of the landscape. She lived to 101, celebrating her centenary with a two-seat Spitfire flight over Sandown Bay. Modest in nature, despite global recognition, she inspired generations of pilots, engineers, and historians, embodying courage, professionalism, and quiet revolution. Through her legacy, Mary Ellis helped shape the Isle of Wight itself, fostering a spirit of exploration and possibility that continues to influence those who look to the skies today.
You can read more about Mary Ellis and other inspiring Island women in the upcoming book Women Who Shape the Wight, coming soon from Lemon Jelly Press.
Fast Facts
Mary took her first pleasure flight at around ten years old.
She reportedly preferred fast fighter planes, especially Hurricanes and Wellingtons.
A ground crewman once failed to recognise her as the pilot of a Wellington bomber she had landed alone.
She oversaw aviation training and visitor programmes at Sandown Airport for two decades
