From farm to fork – the best local produce on the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is sometimes coined as ‘England in miniature’ and this extends to our relative self-sufficiency when it comes to local produce. Our 57 miles of coastline are awash with bountiful seas and the rolling fields are home to farmers growing crops and rearing livestock. So with so much local produce at our fingertips, we thought we would share with you some of the best places to dine that make the most of the Island’s wares…

Taking local produce and elevating it into award-winning food are the chefs at a local village gastro-pub in the southerly village of Niton. The White Lion is an AA Rosette-awarded venue and the food takes solid pub favourites to another level. Friday is steak night and the meat is sourced locally, sustainably and from the owner’s very own family-run farm, just a seven-minute drive from the pub. An advocate for supporting local suppliers, there is always a local beer on tap from Island Brewery, Yates’ and their beer has even made it onto the menu with Yates’ brewery rarebit soldiers. The cheeseboard at the end of the meal is also bursting with a selection of Isle of Wight cheeses. So you can eat local during all three courses while enjoying a pint of local ale or maybe a chilled Mermaid Gin and tonic.

When many people think of local produce on the Island they think of garlic. The Garlic Farm in Newchurch is renowned for its range of products showcasing this pungent bulb. Tuck in to tasty dishes at the onsite restaurant. Booking is definitely advisable. Stop by for breakfast and enjoy garlic sausages and garlic mushrooms – even the beans have a distinct garlicky vibe. Vampires beware. Desserts are packed with flavour too from sticky toffee and black garlic puddings to black garlic ice cream… and it’s not what you think. The black garlic takes on a sweet caramelised flavour with a hint of savoury, it really does work. Visit the onsite shop before you leave and recreate the experience at home with a bundle of goodies.

At the heart of the Island is the quaint village of Godshill, a holidaymaker hotspot and home to The Taverners, a pub/restaurant that is loved by residents and visitors alike. Never expect the same menu from one season to the next as the team creates dishes inspired by the wealth of fresh ingredients that the Isle of Wight has to offer. The pub is owned and run by husband and wife duo Emma and Tim and they say they stock the pub kitchen in the same way they stock their home kitchen, with hand-selected produce purchased daily. This is nowhere more prevalent than on the specials board which reflects not only the seasonally available ingredients but also the weather and even how they are feeling on the day.

If you want to get your hands on some of the best local produce the Island has to offer, then a stop-off at one of the many farm shops is a must. The Isle of Wight Farm Shop is just a short drive from Godshill and celebrates the vast range of products and ingredients the Island has to offer by stocking over 60 local producers, from salads and veggies to beef and lamb, to locally made sauces and drinks. There’s also an onsite butchery which has meat from livestock raised to the highest welfare standards.

It’s a perfect place to pick up a bottle from the Isle of Wight Gin Company. Embodying Island spirit (quite literally) the distillery creates small-batch, artisanal gins from locally grown and/or foraged botanicals and ingredients such as; locally grown lavender, thyme, lemon balm and calendula to name a few. The team’s gin designer has synaesthesia, which means two senses are joined – taste and smell. This translates into the spirits as the gins give a little more than your usual tipple.

Their ‘mood gins’ were designed to create atmosphere and enhance certain moods such as the joyful Gigglemug gin with its light citrus taste. If you are more of a traditional G&T drinker, Island Spirit is a classic gin with a hint of the Island. After a walk along the cliffs at Compton the scent and smell of the warm summer breeze were captured and converted into a taste.

Before leaving the Island via our Fishbourne route stop off at The Fishbourne pub. Serving traditional favourites with an Island flare, tuck in to the Isle of Wight smoked gammon steak from their local butcher as well as locally made sausages from Island pork. Head there on a Sunday for a proper roast where you’re guaranteed local meats, from Island beef rump, pork loin and lamb. Keeping in touch with suppliers the chefs ensure that everything is as local as possible, including the fresh fish offering which changes daily depending on the skipper’s catch of the day. So as a visitor, you have the opportunity to try an array of different fish species that swim in the waters that surround our Island.

This leads us nicely to Captain Stan’s in Bembridge and when on an Island, seafood has to be up there with some of the best in local produce. The team behind the fishery take their boat out into the Island waters every day and sustainably fish for bass, plaice, Dover sole and skate as well as lobster and crab. The fish is landed and then taken to the shop in the main high street of the village. Catches vary from day to day so follow them on Facebook for daily specials. We recommend taking the fruits de mer home to enjoy with fresh local vegetables. Also, keep an eye on many Island restaurants and pubs’ specials boards as the fisheries land makes regular appearances.

ℹ️ A version of this article by Marie Woodward first appeared in Wightlife magazine in 2023.