This is something I’m truly passionate about.
How to Make the Isle of Wight a Must-Visit Foodie Hub?
Why, you ask? Well, there are several reasons.
First of all, I love the food we already have here. I’m fortunate enough to experience a lot of what our local food scene offers through my work. As a filmmaker and photographer, I get to shoot chefs, restaurants, products, and events, and after the cameras stop rolling, I’m lucky enough to sit down and enjoy the incredible food we have on the Isle of Wight.
On my YouTube channel, we dive deep into entire menus, showing you each dish and its unique appeal. So yes, I’m doing my part to promote Isle of Wight food.
But here’s the thing, I know the passion, creativity, and talent behind the scenes, as well as the risks. It takes an immense amount of time, effort, and money to create a memorable dining experience. Let’s be real: no one goes into the food business just to make money. Sure, some do profit, but that’s not the primary motivation for most.
If you’re purely business-minded, the food industry can seem like a nightmare, challenging to scale, reliant on seasonal traffic, staff-heavy, and bound by the bricks and mortar of restaurant spaces. And if you’ve never worked in food, you can’t truly understand the pressure, the expectations, and the relentless pace.
Food is hard. It takes a certain kind of madness to dive into this industry. But that’s exactly why I have so much respect for those who do.
One thing I believe could set the Isle of Wight apart from other places is our attention to detail. This needs to be encouraged. What makes somewhere like the Isle of Wight truly stand out is that extra level of care and excellence. When we see that, we should champion it. I recently spoke with the manager of The Cow, who mentioned that they spend £12,000 a year on napkins. That might sound crazy to some, but that’s what caring about customers looks like. They could have gone for something cheaper and saved a fortune, but they didn’t—they spent the money because they value the experience. And that’s worth celebrating.
Let’s also celebrate food businesses supporting other food businesses. Pubs choosing to buy local and cutting out big distributors. Events stocking Isle of Wight’s own Wight Knuckle instead of Carling. Street food vendors at the Isle of Wight Festival staying committed to Island providence. When local businesses support one another, it enriches the entire food ecosystem. Let’s see it, and let’s celebrate it.
So, why bring all this up? Because, like many others, I love food. And if we can attract more people to come here and experience the incredible food culture we’re building, it will be easier for new businesses to take bold risks, innovate, and thrive. These businesses are already doing amazing work, creating jobs, feeding the community, and giving people something to celebrate.
The more food enthusiasts we attract, the more vibrant our food scene becomes. And that growth translates into more opportunities, more jobs, especially for young people.
Take The Hut for example. Whether you love it or not, you can’t deny the impact it’s had on the Island. Over 200 people employed in the summer alone, that’s huge! Imagine if we had ten more restaurants like The Hut, collectively supporting 2,000 families. That’s a game-changer for our local economy. Sure, recruitment might have its challenges, but if we can create that kind of magic, people will come from far and wide just to experience it.
Now, picture this: a group of friends in Brighton planning a weekend getaway to the Isle of Wight, specifically to indulge in our food. They book an AirBnb, explore our restaurants, street food stalls, pubs, and local produce, and fall in love with the experience. The food is incredible, the people are welcoming, and the vibe is unforgettable. That’s the kind of reputation we could build.
Food culture isn’t just about what’s on the plate. It’s about community, culture, and a shared experience. Our food scene is already amazing, but imagine if it were even better. Imagine the positive impact that could have on countless lives here on the Isle of Wight, and beyond.
That’s the vision I have for our Island. And I believe it’s within reach.
How I hear you ask? That is for another post but I’ll leave you with this.
Celebrating Island food is easy and doesn’t have to cost.
You can start by liking posts by the businesses, a small thing but it goes a long way.
You know your boss is planning the staff Christmas party, for goodness sake don’t go and eat in Wetherspoons, go somewhere local and enjoy the local grub.
Gifts for people, why are we still buying rubbish from Amazon when a Bottle of Wight Whiskey could be a lovely gift, or a gift card to go to the Terrace? This is an excellent way to support local.
There’s way more we can do, and in the next post, I’ll be sure to mention them. But for the time being, let’s appreciate what we have, and push to make it even better.
