Highdown Inn, Totland Bay

Nice country pub near path to Tennyson Monument. Large outdoor space partly covered, could do with removing the shipping container. Smaller inside but traditonal and well kept. Not over friendly but the beers are well kept and its a nice out of the way choice.

Official site of Highdown Inn - highdowninn.com

Official site of Highdown Inn - highdowninn.com

Well, what can I say about this place. On the positive side, it enjoys a lovely secluded location, not even on any bus routes. Most times, it's probably a quiet and cosy village local. Our visit yesterday was far from quiet and cosy. Seemingly the world and his wife had descended upon the Highdown. Our first problem was parking. The small car park has an overflow at the rear. But both areas were full. Whilst trying to reverse back out of the overflow car park, another car left from the lower one, only for that to be taken by the time we navigated out. By the time, we'd parked up on the lane, another car had gone and been replaced. Both car loads jumped ahead of us in the queue to be served. After 10 minutes of waiting at the bar to be served, we were finally informed that it was table service only in the rear garden. After a further 10 minutes of waiting for somebody to come out and serve us, I went back in the pub asking if I could order, especially as I'd seen locals emerging from the pub with pints. I was once again told that somebody would be out shortly. Our order was finally taken along with around 4 or 5 other tables, meaning it was another 10-15 minutes before we finally got our drinks. In the meantime, more locals were emerging with drinks ordered at the bar. Even when drinks arrived, there was real confusion as to which table had ordered what. My Pennine Black Forest was consumed in just 10 minutes, but wasn't worth the 40-45 minute wait. Other choices were Wychwood Hobgoblin Gold & Wantsum Montgomery. Moreover, £7.80 for a half of ale, a half of coke and a Fruit Shoot seemed to be really extortionate. But seeing that we'd already been there for 1 hour and we still had 3 pubs to do and a ferry to catch, I didn't fancy hanging around to argue the toss. A pub with great potential, which could well be fulfilled at quiet times. But the organisation here was the worst I have experienced in a long time. I don't think I've ever waited 45 minutes to get served in a pub previously. So, the pub clearly needs to re-think its strategy.