Sandown lives up to its reputation as the Island's best known and most popular holiday resort, although parts of it are looking rather down at heel these days. Still, there are plenty of sandy beaches, souvenir shops, amusement arcades, a pier, a zoo, Dinosaur Museum, an indoor swimming pool, a 3-course putting complex (probably one of the better tourist attractions in Sandown, yet, curiously, one which the local authority seems determined to build on) and other attractions which make a town worth visiting for the ardent tourist. Those preferring quieter modes of recreation might favours a walk around Yaverland, with its medieval manor and church, or a lengthy hike up Culver Down to appreciate the impressive views from the top and have a pint or two at the Culver Haven. Sandown and Shanklin frequently top the sunshine league.
List of Pubs
(click on pub name)
THE AVIATOR
THE CASTLE
CAULKHEADS
CULVER HAVEN
FLANAGANS
FOUNTAIN
HEIGHTS
LEISURE CENTRE
JOLLY SAILOR
KINGS
BAR
MARGARETTES
OCEAN
DECK INN
OLD COMICAL
ROYAL
PIER
SCRUFFY JACKS
TAP
THE
AVIATOR
Sandown Airport
01983 408741
Weekdays 12 - 11 Sat 12 - 11 Sun 12 – 10.30
(Pub Closes 5pm on Mondays)
Spitfire
Tanglefoot
Aviator Alet
This brand new addition to
Sandown Airport is already gaining a great reputation for food. Packed with aviation
artifacts including a Merlin engine, it is an ideal spot to watch the aircraft
come in and out. Excellent access for the disabled and family orientated, it is
a totally non-smoking building (so if you want a fag you have to go out on to
the patio).
THE
CASTLE
Fitzroy Street
01983 403169
Bus Route 2,3B,7,7A,7B
Off High Street
Weekdays 12 - 11 Sat 12 - 11 Sun
12 – 10.30
Gales HSB
Ventnor Gold
2 Guest
The Castle is
an excellent town free house and local’s pub with four darts teams, crib and a
petanque terrain. Always four real ales on offer including main stream and the
best from the local breweries. There is a children’s room at the back and a patio
for the warm summers. The TV is small and not allowed to intrude, but for special
occasions, its there. Happy hour is very popular as is the Sunday quiz.
CAULKHEADS
Avenue Road 01983 403878
Bus Route 7,7A,7B
Weekdays 11 - 11 Sat 11 - 11
Sun 12 - 10.30
Greene King Abbott
Boddingtons Bitter
Tetley’s Bitter
Flowers Original
Fullers London Pride
3 Guest
Whitbread pub of
the year 1999. Very large family orientated town pub with good array of real ales
from the Enterprise portfolio always found to be in good condition. Facilities
include a 180-seat restaurant tastily decorated with an indoor activity centre
for younger customers. Renowned for its food, its varied menu and interesting
daily offers, is enough to temp all tastes and the early riser breakfasts are
the talk of the town. Outside is a large garden; with children’s play area and
Wendy house. There is a baby changing room and toilet facilities for the disabled.
Soon to open is an outside bar to cater for all the outside area
CULVER HAVEN
Culver Down
01983 406107
Bus Route 1,12
A long walk
Look to the monument on Culver Down - its there.
Weekdays 11 - 3, 6-11 Fri
- Sat 11 - 3, 6-11 Sun 12 – 3, 6.30 -10.30
Badger Best
Badger Tanglefoot
Ventnor Gold
Surely one of the best views in the whole of Great Britain,
perched on Culver Down, overlooking Sandown Bay and Bembridge Harbour, this is
also the most remote pub on the Island. Nearby is the Culver Battery an impressive
remnant of the Palmerston Follies that dot the Island, and were built in the mid
19th Century to protect Portsmouth from the French. Take the road that can be
clearly seen climbing the side of Culver Down and you will find your just reward,
if it’s for a snack or a full meal, an excellent and varied menu in this cosy
restaurant and pub.
FLANAGANS
7 Pier Street
01983 408851
www.flanagansbar.co.uk
Bus Route 2,3B,7,7A,7B,43
Weekdays 10.30 - 11 Sat 10.30 - 11 Sun 12 – 10.30
No Real Ale
Restaurant Bar with an impressive position overlooking
the pier. Bought as a restaurant the owner saw the need for a bar and applied
for full on license. Closed for the winter months but opening for December and
through the Christmas period. Inside is an interesting collection of memorabilia
including signed mementoes from Mohamed Ali, Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes, David Beckham,
Emil Heskey, Sugar Ray Leonard, and a lot more. There is TV for the big games,
occasional live music and all day food.
FOUNTAIN
2 Carter Street
01983 403757
Bus Route 7,7A,7B
Weekdays 11 -
11 Sat 11 - 11 Sun 12 – 10.30
John Smiths Bitter
Ruddles
County
Friendly and hugely popular one bar pub with separate restaurant.
Two beer gardens, one with children’s playground and barbecue all week in the
summer. Entertainment 4 nights a week, winter and summer. Toilets for the disabled.
Expected to add accommodation during 2003.
HEIGHTS LEISURE CENTRE
Broadway
01983
405594
Bus Route 2,3B,7,7A,7B,43
Inside Leisure Centre
Weekdays 12
– 2, 6 - 11 Sat CLOSED Sun 6 – 10.30
No Real Ale
Situated within
the sports complex the bar and café are open with no obligation to participate
in any other activities.
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JOLLY SAILOR
Culver Parade
01983 404711
www.bogeys.co/uk
Bus Route 2,3B,7,7A,7B,43
Zoo
end of the Esplanade
Weekdays 10.30-12.30am Fri, Sat 10.30, - 1am Sun 12 –
10.30
No Real Ale
Lively seaside pub, part of leisure complex and
early evening venue for night clubbers. Food available all day during the summer.
Children allowed until 6 pm. Entertainment nightly during the summer.
KINGS BAR
High Street
01983 406445
Bus Route 2,3B,7,7A,7B,43
Mid High
Street on the sea side
Weekdays 11 - 11 Sat 11 - 11 Sun 12 – 10.30
Courage
Directors
John Smith Bitter
Really classy Bar in the middle of the
High Street. Uninterrupted views over Sandown Bay with covered and open balcony
where children are allowed. Accommodation available from the owners in the adjoining
Ocean Hotel.
MARGARETTES
Leed Street 01983 406781
Bus
Route 2,3B,7,7A,7B,43
Weekdays 10 – 11.30 Sat 10 – 11.30 Sun 10 – 11.30
No Real Ale
Snooker club in old church with a full pub licence. 10
snooker tables and 3 pool tables. Regular entertainment.
OCEAN DECK INN
50 High Street
01983
403960
Bus Route 2,3B,7,7A,7B,43
Farthest end from the pier.
Summer
11 - 11 Winter 11 – 3, 6 - 11 Sun 12 – 10.30
Badger Best
Badger Tanglefoot
Yates Undercliff
The Ocean Deck must be like an Oasis to those coming
on it for the first time on Sandown Esplanade. Although the address is High Street,
don’t be fooled, there is only access from the Esplanade. On three levels, with
an access ramp for wheelchairs, inside you will find a bar come restaurant with
an extensive menu and good selection of well-kept ale. Daily specials augment
the standing choice where local fish and lobster is a speciality. There is a carvery
on Sunday, but for the rest of the week there is always a roast available. There
is frequent live music.
OLD COMICAL
St Johns Road
01983 403848
Bus Route 2,3B,7,7A,7B,43
Off High Street and adjacent to public car park.
Weekdays 11 - 11 Sat 10 - 11 Sun 12 – 10.30
Ushers Best
Greene King
Abbott
2 Guest Beers
The old Commercial Hotel has undergone a complete
change since Geoffrey Hartridge made it the base for his 5-barrel brewery and
gave it a trendy new name. Now reverting to a more customer friendly name of the
“Old Comical” as all the locals know it. Now plenty of wood and stone floors,
benches and memorabilia. The skittle alley alas is no more, and this rare pastime
is no longer available on the Island. Outside is a large garden with kids area
and a petanque terrain. Conveniently placed is a public car park right next to
the pub. Occasional live music. Also available are two holiday cottages.
ROYAL PIER
Royal Pier Hotel
01983 405567
Bus Route 2,3B,7,7A,7B,43
Facing Sandown
Pier
Summer 11 - 11 Winter 11 – 3, 7 - 11 Sun 12 – 10.30
Boddingtons
Bitter
Hotel featuring large public saloon. Nightly live entertainment
during the summer.
SCRUFFY JACKS
Pier
01983 404354
www.sandown-pier.com
Bus Route 2,3B,7,7A,7B,43
On Sandown Pier
Summer 11 - 11 Winter 11 - 11
Sun 12 – 10.30
No Real Ale
The pub is part of a huge all day fun
show. Standing on the Pier, in what was once the theatre is an arcade to equal
the Golden Mile, and for the kids, The Lost World adventure golf, Magic Island
and 10 Pin bowling alleys along with restaurants and fast food.
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TAP
Avenue Road
01983 405783
Bus Route 2,3B,7,7A,7B,43
Opposite
the library
Weekdays 11 - 11 Sat 11 - 11 Sun 12 – 10.30
Beer Varies
Don’t be misled by the outside; this is a very large pub. Soon to be completely
refurbished you can expect massive changes for 2004. There is great interest in
pool and darts and the big screen TV must be the largest on the Island.