Cowes Ale House, Cowes

A small wood-panelled shop conversion with a nicely-historic feel, although it clearly isn't. There is one room with a small bar at the back and a small decked area out the back. Ales on mid-Covid were restricted to Island Nipper and Goddard's Wight Squirrel, with something from Portobello due. Overall fair enough, but not great on this occasion.

Having been to the Newport Ale House almost 2 years ago and having found it packed, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from a visit to the Cowes Ale House. In fact, it was much quieter than I was expecting, with just 3 other locals indoors. Apparently there were more people in an outdoor area at the rear. Set on a pedestrianized street, it's a small and friendly place offering decent service. The 3 ales were all from island breweries - Island Wight Night, Yates's Islander & Goddard's Inspiration. I was hoping for a darker beer, but there were none on. Nevertheless, this was the only place on the island we found offering real cider on this visit. Choices were Weston's Rosie's Pig, Norcott's Mango & Lime Cider, Lilley's Pear & Raspberry Cider & Crazy Goat & Thistly Cross Original. This is clearly a place for conversation and was easily my favourite pub on this visit to the Isle of Wight.

Just a short walk from Cowes ferry terminal, following the town’s characterful High Street, this is a welcoming micro pub and sister venue to the Newport Ale House. Like most micro pubs, this is a small, single room shop conversion with limited seating options. You enter through a small porch, into a bare boarded room with high backed pews down the right-hand wall and low stools and tub chairs down the left, all serving tables made from up-turned barrels. One wall is decorated with nautical themed wallpaper and has some nice paintings and some models of steam locomotives and other such forms of transport on high shelves. To the other side, the wall is liberally covered with a collection of old black and white photos showing the town in years gone by. The servery is to the rear of the room, set at a 45-degree angle to allow you to pass by for the toilets which are further along. The bar has a plain tongue and groove counter and simple shelving bar back with four of five casks racked up to one side. On our visit, there was a bloke set up under the large frosted front window which has the pub’s name picked out on it, playing the guitar and harmonica to an appreciative bunch of locals. There were just the two ales available on my visit – Goddard’s Duck’s Folly and 1895 – with two or three other barrels set up but not quite ready yet. After a bit of a wait for the barman to show himself, I tried the Duck’s Folly, which was a decent enough drop, whilst my other half ordered a mug of tea and endured some good-natured ribbing from the locals for her troubles. We spent much longer in here than the quick visit we’d planned, such was the warm, welcoming vibe we got. The good beer, cheery locals and decent live entertainment all worked well and whilst this place lacks the character of its sister pub in Newport, its still a good micro pub and worth checking out when you’re in Cowes.

Attractive shop-conversion micro-pub, with its compact bar furnished and decorated exactly as you would expect. Rather dark inside, but there is also a tiny decking patio at the back. No handpumps on the narrow counter, with the real ales being dispensed by gravity from a stillage behind, with Goddard's Starboard!, Hanlon's Stormsay and Southwark Full Sail available when we stopped by. Well worth seeking out.