THE CASTLE INN, NEWPORT

Proprietors Stuart and Sarah Luke are keen to welcome Isle of Wight Real Ale fans to their historic town centre pub.  The Castle Inn is the winner of Best Premium Bar Award, South East 2007. Recently the couple attended a special awards ceremony in London where the TV comedian Rob Bryden presented them with the accolade.

The Castle Inn tempts Real Ale and International Beer fans alike. The pub has a choice of real ales - four on pumps and a stock of Goddards bottled Ales. Stuart has even created a beer menu in which he recommends which beer should go with which pub meal.

For those seeking a unique taste give the exclusive Ventnor Stable Boys Revenge a whirl. This has been brewed especially for the pub by Ventnor brewery and has an ABV of 4.4%. The ale was specially made for the Castle and is named after the pub's ghost (In the pub's distant past, a stable boy, thwarted in love, hanged himself and his ghost reputedly still haunts the back bar).

If your up for a tasting session then a spell in the pub should be in your diary for September. The pub will host beer tasting evenings and this will be your chance to get your taste buds on to something new. As well as trying some Real Ales, there will be a host of international beers to sample including Peeterman Artois which is said to be “breaking the mould in standard lager”, Leffe, Artois Bock and Moretti Beer.

Kerry

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THE FOUNTAIN INN, SANDOWN

Welcome back Wendy and Phil Harris!  This dedicated pint pulling couple have added The Fountain Inn, Sandown to their ever growing list of hostelries.  Maybe some of you remember them from the Cask & Taverners in Godshill or The Old Comical in Sandown? Well if you do, pop you head round the door at the Fountain and say hello, you can be sure of a warm welcome here.

The Fountain Inn has recently been refurbished and is due to open the kitchen for hungry visitors. Great British food will be on the menu and, for those passing through, the pub will also be offering bed and breakfast accommodation.

Kerry

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THE UNION INN, COWES

Regulars to this near waterside tavern will be greeted with a bar makeover next week. The Gales pub will be transformed magically to a Fullers pub right before the eyes. Pub boss Lee told us that everything else but the bar will remain the same just how the customers like it.

Fullers have a great reputation, and since CAMRA announced their Champion beer of Britain competition Fullers have won it five times. Watch out for Fuller’s newest beer the “Organic Honey Dew Over Ice”. In response the new “over ice” culture this bottled and draft keg beer could be appearing very soon.

First in the queue to mark the re-furb will be the lovely London Pride, with its gorgeous smell of treacle toffee and digestive biscuit flavour, this will be nudging shoulders with the light and refreshing 3.5 % ABV Cheswick Bitter. The third contender and remaining seated will be a Union favourite Gales HSB.

Lee and his lovely staff welcome customers old and new and invites everyone to enjoy his live music on Thursday and his new summer menus, who knows youmight even bump into Alan Titchmarsh or Damon Hill that have been known to pop in for pint in the past.

Kerry

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The Bugle Coaching Inn - Yarmouth

For those thirsty Real Ale seekers travelling to west Wight have a peek at the Bugle Coaching Inn. Landlords, John and Ray have been resident for some 12 years and welcome locals and tourists alike. The well stocked Real Ale bar is a prominent feature and the choice of ale changes regularly.

According to a local historian the name ‘Bugle’ is Latin for ‘Buculus’ which means  “wild bull” and the “wild bull” was a bull noise sounding musical instrument. This was a supporter of the Coat of Arms of Henry Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick, who around 1439 was the king of the Isle of Wight.

The Bugle Inn is traditional hostelry that has been quenching thirsts for many centuries. The bar area is cosy with interesting curios displayed about the pub. It’s a pub for all seasons and you can choose to sip your ale in the conservatory or on colder days enjoy the warmth of roaring log fires.

The Real Ale menu is displayed at the door and if you fancy airing your song, go along to the pub on the third Saturday every month for a session on the open mike.

Kerry