ANCHORING IN NATURE

By Emma Roberts

Photos by Sam Scadgell

One of our top holiday destinations on the Island and everything you would expect from a proper seaside town, Shanklin boasts all you need for a memorable staycation, or a lovely spot to visit with friends or as a couple. From the stunning, long sandy beach to the towering waterfalls and lush undergrowth at Shanklin Chine, and the picturesque Old Village with traditional pubs and plenty of incredible independent shops, you won’t be short of something to do.

The Chine’s stunning tearooms are open, serving some of the more scrumptious homemade cakes, cream teas, and light lunches — all while enjoying views out across the extraordinary landscape. You’ll also catch a glimpse of the sea from the outside seating area.

If you are looking for something a little more substantial, make your way to The Fisherman’s Cottage Inn at the base of the Chine. The Island’s ‘pub on the beach’ has a new menu and the team is dishing up favourites from gourmet burgers, classic fish and chips, and fresh salads alongside fresh seafood dishes from sea bass to mussels. If you’re enjoying a stroll along the esplanade, drop in for a drink and enjoy the views out across the channel.

The team at the Chine is really investing in the attraction as they, like us, want to ensure it stays as an attractive offer for years to come. 2023 is a busy year, with events such as live summer music shindigs as well the popular Halloween Spooktacular, aimed at little ones. New events include an Adults Only Halloween Party; an after dark event with DJ, drinks, and dancing. Plus… as we head towards the end of the year the Chine will be transformed into a Winter Wonderland.

Nestled in Shanklin Old Village, with its pretty thatched cottages and history, you’ll find The Village Inn, an independent family-run pub serving traditional homemade food and real ales. Dishes you can expect to see on the menu include Slow Roasted Belly of Pork in an apple, cider and thyme sauce, and the 10oz Flame grilled Homemade Beef Burger with herbs and spices, in a toasted gourmet bun. There is a lovely courtyard garden to the rear of the pub, which is perfect for enjoying the famous seafood platter for two with a crisp glass of Sauvignon or refreshing ale.

The Village Inn is open daily for lunch and dinner, plus keep an eye out for when they have live music from local talent to enjoy. Upstairs, you’ll find their restaurant with table service, which can also be booked for private functions.

With so much to offer, it’s not surprising that Shanklin has a variety of great places to stay and has a reputation for high-quality B&Bs and guesthouses as well as hotels and self-catering options.

The Luccombe Hall Hotel, Winner of the ‘Best Hotel Experience on the Isle of Wight 2022’, is undoubtedly the Island’s most beautifully located cliff-top hotel, situated on the edge of Shanklin Old Village. Wake up slow, listen to the sounds of the sea and early morning birdsong as the sun gently rises and floods the hotel with its soft golden light. Take your time to savour the delicious freshly prepared meals in the Grand View restaurant as you admire the mesmerising vista of the sea and watch the boats pass by.

In partnership with Shanklin Chine, the hotel offers residents unlimited free access through the historic and beautiful chine to Shanklin seafront during the months of April to October.

The hotel is open to non-residents too, for lunches and indulgent afternoon teas, which can be enjoyed in the grand view gardens with panoramic sea views. Cream teas are from £8.95 per person or, if you want to enjoy the full afternoon tea experience, you can opt for a ‘Sparkling Afternoon Tea’ at £20 per person. Gift vouchers are available and can be used towards lunches and afternoon teas – a perfect way to treat that special somebody. Moving into the town and heading down the High Street you’ll find plenty of independent shops, a fabulous deli, a butchery, a gallery… and so much more.

You must stop at Deli-cious delicatessen when shopping in Shanklin to pick up a coffee and a typical Polish pastry. You’ll be sure to find a tempting selection of cakes, doughnuts, custard-filled delicacies, and fruit-stuffed pastries. You’ll see their shelves filled with Eastern

European specialities including Polish cheeses, fruit teas, Romanian chocolate, and jars of Sauerkraut.

Typically, customers come from the Hungarian, Polish, Bulgarian and Romanian communities, however many locals visit regularly for their bread, cakes and pastries. Owners, Piotr Banachowski and wife Justyna also have a bakery unit nearby, which allows them to supply the Deli as well as other local businesses and farm shops, including butchery & deli ‘It’s About Thyme’

Paul Murphy from It’s About Thyme has been Shanklin’s butcher for over eight years and it’s easy to see that the butchery and deli work closely together to come up with fabulous new ideas. We love the lamb and mushroom croquette, also the Jalepeno poppers, which are a perfect appetiser to throw on the BBQ. With in-house dry-aged local meats, handmade sausages and ready-to-cook foods it’s easy to see why the butchers are proud of their produce.

The deli offers a fabulous selection of local produce, and it really is hard not to be tempted inside by the wonderful fresh vegetables decorating the entrance. When visiting Shanklin be sure to pick up one of their homemade antipasti picnic box selections to take away; we had the pleasure of trying one and will most definitely be back!

If homeware shopping is on the cards, a visit to Acacia Bay must be our top recommendation — a true emporium of high-quality, boutique home furnishings and accessories. With stunning new spring/summer ranges flowing throughout the store, you’ll find everything you need to give your home a seasonal refresh!

We particularly loved the stunning Costa Nova Portuguese pearl plates, made by the hands of skilled artisans. Each piece is unique and sustainable, made from the best natural resources in Portugal. You can’t miss the beautiful Au Maison cushions and bedspreads either, all high-quality liberty-inspired cotton from Denmark and crafted with attention to detail.

A little further along the High Street you’ll find Victoria Antiques, which has been based in Shanklin for 20 years and maintained a high standard throughout. This remarkable antique store buys and sells collections of UK and world coins, bank notes, jewellery, gold, silver, small collectibles, oriental antiques, and more.

John Wright, owner of Victoria Antiques, has been in the Antique trade for many years and has remarkable knowledge, with his favourite subject being rare coins. This started as a hobby and has grown from there.

You’ll often find Sally Bullard behind the counter too, who has worked with John for many years and become an integral part of Victoria Antiques. Sally took pleasure in telling us the shop has been featured several times on national television in the BBC’s ‘Antiques Road Trip’.

If you’re looking to sell your old treasures or are interested in finding fascinating items, then Victoria Antiques is the place to go.

Cross the road and you’ll find Babushka Books, a true haven for any reading enthusiast. The shop is stacked from floor to ceiling with a remarkable selection of books, from old to new, including signed copies and first editions. This bookshop even has a popular bespoke picture framing service too.

Take the winding wooden staircase upstairs to find the most charming area with hand-built bookcases and a comfy chair to sit and relax whilst looking through some of your favourite finds. The upstairs area hosts small, intimate events, from story-telling to poetry — be sure to keep an eye on their Instagram page for updates.

Our final top pick in Shanklin is the Steamer Gallery, a unique art gallery decorated in graphic ‘dazzle’ artwork located just off Regent Street.

The dazzle items at the gallery include constructions, reliefs, screen prints, and graphic art influenced by ships with a contemporary multi-colour dazzle camouflage theme.

You’ll find an impressive selection of paintings including works by Ken Howard, Fred Cuming, Mary Fedden, Deryck Foster, Mervyn Pearson, Cavendish Morton, Frank WatsonWood, Norman Wilkinson, Martin Swan, Richard Grant, Malcolm Winter, and Hugh Boycott-Brown. Limited edition, out of print and rare art books on 20th Century British artists adorn the gallery shelves, including Elisabeth Frink, Mary Fedden, Mary Newcomb, Winifred Nicholson, Henry Moore, Lynn Chadwick, Terry Frost, and many more.

Make sure you browse the interesting range of collectibles too, including trench art and vintage items.

SHALL WE CALL IT A DRAW DAVE?

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