please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Has the feel of a glorified Wetherspoons.
Quite a nice old style interior, ruined by fruit machines.
Worth a visit if passing for the massive beer garden.
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I have known this pub through its many incarantions. I first visited in the 1970s with my parents as it was one of the few family friendly pubs on the island (or anywhere else for that matter) that allowed children in. It was nice to not be stuck out on a step somewhere with a bottle of coke and a packet of Salt and Vinegar because you weren't allowed in (yes it really was like that). I visited again in the 1990s when I was in my late twenties. I was with my girlfriend (now my wife) and we stayed for a few nights and could not fault the pub and service. This was in the Whisky pub era and had fun trying the many (I think it was 400+) Whiskies on offer. We have been back to the Island a few times, most recently 2010 , and now with two children and always have at least one meal at the Wight Mouse. In my opinion, the pub had more charm when I visited as a child in the 70's and as a twenty something in the 90's, but it still retains it child friendliness now.
We are going to be back on the Island for Easter 2012 and this is a pub we will definitely be revisiting during our week long stay
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Lovely pint of ale and nice venue for a family lunch, ace garden for the kids and food not bad at all, yes its a chain, but if on hols the beer is good and what a view!!!! Two visits over Easter week can't be bad.
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Not sure what all the negative comments are all about. I went on a day trip to IOW, and found this place randomly driving around the island. agreed it is a chain pub now (hall and woodhouse) but i thought it was marvellously tastefully decorated, the staff were freindly and the beer was good. food was average but you cant win them all :) overall i would pop back if i ever visit the island again.
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Went there last week. Vast, impersonal place with great beers, excellent food and the Beef & TANGLEFOOT pie was excellent (HSBplease please note ;-) ) and well served. Didn't stay so can't comment on the accommodation. Recommended for those with kids.
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We have visited this pub several times over the past couple of years and have eaten there each time, the food is great, tasty and reasonably priced, this has become our favourite eating place on the Isle of Wight and we highly recomend it to families or anyone fancying some great nosh...
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Big pub catering, very efficiently and a little expensively, for the family trade. Huge beer garden and indoor kids play area, all immaculate. I ordered food and then went straight to the bar for beers, all from Hall & Woodhouse and well kept. As I returned to my seat the food was already being served at the table. If the food was cooked fresh in that time the chef must be a genious! No complaints on quality though.
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Had a pint of delicious Fursty Ferret here whilst on a coastal walk. Sat in the large garden overlooking the sea - a beautiful setting. Could have stayed there all afternoon. The pub was geared up for Summer trade and the service was efficient and friendly. Inside was comfortable 'chain pub' seating and decor -individuality in pubs is now mainly a luxury so that's just a quibble in an otherwise excellent visit.
chick - 27 Jul 2008 12:04 |
We went there in April 2008 whilst doing the coastal walk.
Positives first - Very friendly, some good real ales, knowledgeable people. The room was the best we had in the IOW, and very reasonably priced at �50 per night.
Negatives - well it has been turned into one of those vast places where they can turn out about 600 meals per day (guessing) so what can you expect? We went for the Spitfire and beef pie. It was really awful, will leave it at that. As a result we were looking forward to breakfact (had a 20 mile walk in front of us that day), waited 40 minutes only to get cold toast and coffee (just the one cup). There seemed no urgency with only the one girl waitress but quite a few guests. When I complained to the manager things happened and we got sorted. However, the breakfast was still the worst we had on the island. When it came to paying the bill the manager apologised and did everything to put things right (reducing the bill) but the damage had been done and we had been severely delayed. Next time we would be happy to go for a Spitfire beer but try and find somewhere else to eat and sleep.
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First went there in the early eighties, and have seen it ruined and turned into another big brewery pub since. real shame, as used to be great. has lost it's individual identity - the same as anywhere else
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First time of visiting this pub so only had these reviews to go by. And couldnt have been more surprised. What a friendly, well run pub. Very good for families. Badger beer was excellent (barman very knowledgeable) - as was the food, good selection, reasonably priced and very efficeient service. We stayed for 2 nights @ �50/night (Breakfast extra & worth it!). Dog friendly in garden, bar and bedroom! Nice local photos on walls - even a 'Walkers Log' on display (as expected minus the spinner).
We would have no hesitation in recommending this to anyone - and will certainly call in again when in the area.
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Like a few others, reading this made me feel really sad. First went here in 1997 and remember it well as it was the first holiday we took my eldest daughter on. It was a great place decent ale, food and whiskey (and was really family friendly.) went back a few years later and it was in the process of changing (I gather that in the meantime the family who built up the business retired, sold it to someone who had never run a pub who subsequently ran the business into the ground and went bust.)
It was then taken over by H & W who have changed the layout and character of the place beyond all recognition. This is really sad as H & W as a firm have a history of maintaining and enhancing old pubs.
Not sure now if I want to go back, but there will always be a place in my heart for the Wight mouse Inn
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It's an real shame, this used to be the most fantastic place. Especially on a winter sunday lunchtime, with locals at the bar, but still plenty of room for us tourists and diners. As well as the whiskey collection, there was also a collection of musical instruments on the ceiling, and lots of white china mice climbing the chimney breast in one of the dining areas. I don't think I have the heart to go back now.
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I remember going to this pub back in 1999 with an ex-boyfriend and trying some of the Whiskys.
I am now due to marry next year and I am taking my future husband over to the Isle of Wight for his Birthday in December. I told him about this pub and the Whiskys and he was really excited. Now I've read that it has changed hands and they dont do the Whiskys anymore!! We are both upset and will not be going there. I can remember seeing the old land lord of the White Mouse once, he looked like Father Christmas. I really Great guy. What happened to him?
anonymous - 9 Aug 2006 19:24 |
I used to say that this was the best pub I'd ever been in,(70's/80's)
Sounds like another one bit the dust.
anonymous - 3 Aug 2006 14:25 |
I know this isn't a current review, but browsing through this site chanced me upon this pub which reminded me of a crushingly disappointing experience here.
I first stayed here in around 2001, at which time the pub/hotel was still privately run and excellent in every way, most importantly including the incredible collection of nearly 400 whiskies, all available for consumption. It was, at the time, the sole reason we chose to stay at the hotel, but inevitably looked forward to the time when we could return to continue acquainting ourselves with the collection.
As it was, we didn't return until May 2004 at which point the pub had changed hands, had been completely redecorated and the interior altered radically. They had subdivided the rooms with walls composed of shelves of the whisky bottles with glass on both sides - how clever to present them in that way, we thought. However, upon inquiring on the range still available, we were told that the new owners had bought the collection as part of the sale, but didn't want to sell them any more, so chose to integrate them into the decoration of the room! Thus, dozens of half-drunk bottles were displayed tantalisingly out of reach and unavailable for drinking. What a huge letdown and such a shabby treatment of such fine whisky!
It was still a comfortable place to stay and the food was good, but I fear we may never return there again...
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Great food, great location and decor
beth - 10 Oct 2004 23:21 |
Wonderful food, setting, decor
beth - 10 Oct 2004 23:17 |
