King Harry's Bar, Shanklin

Picturesque thatched building nestled in the ‘pub and restaurant’ section of old town, this one is easy to miss being at the far end of the street and set back and down from the main road. However it’s well-worth popping in. Enter via a hotel (Glenbrook) lobby to a tight multi-roomer with loads of character (‘pseudo-medieval’, as mentioned below) and is actually quite small with low ceilings, wood trim, whitewashed walls, carpet, arched doorways and subtly lit. Note the muskets mounted above the bar. There is also a lovely flora and fauna garden which wraps round the rear and side of the pub and is actually the end of the chine so you can get a good view of it with your pint. Five pumps with four on and an eclectic mix of the more obvious breweries available on the Isle – Marstons Pedigree, Banks Lions Roar, Fullers ESB and Yates Sunfire (decent shape). Lady Quinno reported that the ladies loos were worth a trip on their own, with a pseudo lounge available (who needs the bar?). Worth the slog up the hill to do this one and is also very close to the Isle’s best restaurant, Pendletons.