Pier View, Cowes

A high street pub consisting of a traditional corner pub building with a shop-front restaurant tacked onto one side. The latter was closed when we visited. The pub part has wooden floors and consists of a main bar, with a cosy seating area with log fire down a couple of steps. There is a flat-screen tv and pictures of yachts on the walls. There were very few customers in, possibly due to the attitude of the staff which was hostile, resentful and unwelcoming. Two ales on, Doombar and London Pride. The Doombar was in good condition, the Pride less so. We really didn't enjoy the experience despite the beer and the ambiance, and I shall not be returning in a hurry.

The Pier View dates back to the early 19th Century and is situated in the town centre near to the Red funnel ferry terminal. Until 2007, when it was enlarged into an adjoining shop, the pub consisted of just the barrel cornered building. The join between what is now 2 bars is very apparent inside with the floors being different levels. The pub has a traditional pubby feel albeit does feel a little fake. Everything is neat and tidy with bare floors, tongue and groove walls, solid furnishings and nautical pictures but it generally lacks the character that you would expect in such a pub in a seafaring town. Just the 2 ales were on offer (the same in bioth bars), a fairly mundane brace of Doom Bar and London Pride and at £3.40 for the former, not particularly good value although quality was decent enough. I found it friendly enough and it’s worth popping in for a quick pint but it doesn’t really fulfill its potential and I was expecting a bit more from the place.