The weather was perfect and we were looking forward to a long weekend on the Isle of Wight. Lockdown wasn’t quite over thanks to Boris’s extension, but no matter; we were in Bembridge, intent on a good time.

It’s been a couple of years since we last visited the Duver Marina and my recollections were of a relaxed spot where the clock was in no hurry to tick. So encountering Steve’s Bar came as something of a very pleasant surprise.

Steve’s Bar – the delightfully quirky premises of which are perhaps best described as part shipping container and part packing crate – has been built to enhance the Bembridge experience.

Article continues below…

Shell Bay Restaurant and Bistro, Poole Harbour - seaside restaurant review

The Terrace at the New Holmwood Hotel, Cowes - seaside restaurant review

Throughout our stay it was well patronised by appreciative boaters chilling to the soft music emanating from the bar and enjoying a fine selection of beers, wines and spirits, all of which are produced on the island.

Following a pint of Goddard’s Fuggle-Dee-Dum for me and a generous glass of Adgestone Oaked White for Mrs S, we crossed the Duver’s causeway and strolled up the hill for a meal in 33 St Helens, another popular venue for visiting boaters.

In midsummer the evening sun streams into the restaurant’s light interior, and bathed in a golden glow we feasted on asparagus risotto with parmesan and pancetta crumb, and battered monkfish tail with yuzo mayo, pea shoots and capers. Both were delicious and beautifully presented.

For mains, Mrs S chose bream fillet with basil mash, fennel and orange salad, while I opted for an Isle of Wight sirloin steak. Both were cooked to perfection. 33 St Helens is run by a young couple, Tom and Clare, chef and front-of-house manager respectively, who despite their tender years (by my standards, at least) each have 20 years’ experience in the hospitality sector.

They’ve previously worked as far afield as London and Thailand, and their enthusiasm and professionalism shines through, both in their menu and the restaurant setting they have created in premises of decidedly modest proportions.

Visit Bembridge and I’ll wager you’ll want to visit Steve’s Bar and 33 St Helens, too. But do remember to book the restaurant well in advance. At the time of writing, Steve’s Bar is only open three days a week – so make sure you plan ahead to share in what for us was a hugely memorable experience.

Getting to 33 St Helens by boat

Bembridge is approached via a narrow channel with a harbour bar limiting access to vessels drawing 1.5m to High Water, plus or minus three hours. Visitors’ berths at the Duver Marina, (Ch 80, Tel: 01983 872828), which is a popular venue for weekend events and rallies throughout the season – so just like 33 St Helens, advance booking is essential.

Cost: £100 for two, based on a three-course dinner and a bottle of wine. The cost at Steve’s Bar depends on how long you stay there!
Times: Steve’s Bar is open Friday – Sunday 1200-1900 (1600 Sunday), while 33 St Helens is open Wednesday – Sunday 1800-2300 (1500 Sunday)
Verdict: Try having a drink at Steve’s Bar and not smiling as you watch the sun go down over the Duver – impossible! Follow with a meal at 33 St Helens to finish a perfect night.
MBY rating: 5/5 (based on food/drink, ambience and value for money)
Contact Steve’s Bar: 01983 872828; www.bembridgeharbour.co.uk
Contact 33 St Helens: 01983 872303; www.33-st-helens.co.uk

This article Steve’s Bar and 33 St Helens, Bembridge - Seaside restaurant review appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

Once in a while you discover a restaurant you’d like to shout about from the rafters. Then on second thoughts, you’d rather selfishly like to keep it to yourself for fear of never getting a table there again.

Les Enfants Terribles, situated on the quayside a step or two from Weymouth’s Harbour Master, is one such venue. Discreet, understated and serving a predominately seafood menu to die for, the place is a dream.

The man responsible for realising this particular reverie is chef Eric Tavernier, a born-and-bred Frenchman who learnt his trade in Lille and whose CV includes spells working as personal chef to Rupert Murdoch and the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi.

Article continues below…

Shell Bay Restaurant and Bistro, Poole Harbour - seaside restaurant review

Dylan’s Restaurant, Menai Bridge - seaside restaurant review

Eric has also run a number of restaurants in London, but it was in the French Alps that our story has its origins. Eric was employed at the upmarket Mont Blanc hotel in Megève, whose restaurant goes by the name of Les Enfants Terribles.

In creating his UK version, Eric applied the culinary skills and values of quality and service he gained in Megève and around the world.

As regular readers of these reviews will know, over lockdown we sought restaurant recommendations from MBY forum users. Having visited Les Enfants Terribles in 2019, it came as no surprise to see its name put forward by several forum users, who couldn’t have been more effusive.

For anyone with a taste for fish, I would go as far as saying I think it would be very difficult to come away from Les Enfants Terribles disappointed.

It may have been a while ago, but both Mrs S and I remember the experience as impeccable from start to finish, with beautiful fresh produce cooked, presented and served with utmost care.

We very much appreciated the saloon’s relaxed bistro-like feel, and a special touch was that Eric appeared front of house two or three times during the evening to personally check everyone was happy.

We both made mental notes to return as soon as possible. In the event, the weather turned and we were forced into an unplanned extended stay in the town’s marina.

We decided to try for a second visit to the restaurant but – sacré bleu et zut alors – word must have already leaked out because the place was rammed for the rest of the week.

A second mental note was made to return the following year, but the pandemic got in the way. As I write, we are hoping it will be third time lucky – Eric is on standby to expect our call!

Getting there by boat

From the west, Weymouth requires you to round Portland Bill, and from the east, there’s the gauntlet of the Lulworth Firing Ranges to run – so in terms of hazards, take your pick! Once safely into Weymouth Bay, the harbour is entered between two piers.

Moorings are available in the harbour channel but many visitors will stay upriver of Town Bridge. Smaller craft can squeeze under at low tide, but larger vessels have to wait for the bridge to lift every two hours. Contact the Harbour Master on Ch 12 for full details.

Cost: £100 for two, based on a three-course dinner and a bottle of wine. Lunch for two, again with wine, comes in at around £70.
Times: Varies by season, check website for current information.
Verdict: Despite its name, there is nothing terrible about this restaurant, just the opposite in fact. And, despite its name again, children are welcome – they even have their own menu.
Contact: 01305 772270; www.les-enfants-terribles.co.uk

This article Les Enfants Terribles, Weymouth - seaside restaurant review appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

Tucked away deep within Chichester Harbour in a spot where the average house costs in excess of £1.1m, Itchenor is a well-heeled place indeed. A stone’s throw from England’s oldest marina, Birdham Pool, the area claims another type of Stone as one of its own – long-time resident Keith Richards who, legend has it, has been known to frequent the village local, the Ship Inn.

So it was with great expectations of spotting Keef and the boys playing dominoes in the snug that we visited for a meal one fine evening.

To our great surprise, they weren’t there. Equally surprising – given the area’s uber-upmarket reputation – is that the Ship Inn is a very ordinary kind of pub. That’s not intended to be a disparaging comment, but with its mock Tudor façade and dark wood- panelled interior we could have been almost anywhere… except, perhaps, swanky Itchenor.

Article continues below…

The Nook & Cranny, Warsash - seaside restaurant review

The Terrace at the New Holmwood Hotel, Cowes - seaside restaurant review

Post-lockdown rules involved waiting to be seated by a masked server, apart from which the overall experience was pretty much as per any normal pub visit. Being a relatively quiet midweek evening, our orders were taken quickly. Unfortunately, the restaurant then dropped the ball by committing the cardinal sin of delivering one starter several minutes ahead of the other.

A bit like Mick turning up halfway through Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Keef, I am sure, would not have been amused and neither were we – there’s nothing worse than sitting watching one starter get cold while wondering if the other is ever going to arrive.

The Ship Inn offers two menus – Bar and Restaurant – which can be mixed and matched and feature tried and tested favourites rather than gastropub spectaculars. I opted for the restaurant menu throughout, with crab cake to start followed by a rib-eye steak with peppercorn sauce. My co-diner chose the restaurant’s smoked haddock and barley starter with a burger from the bar menu to follow.

While the crab cake was perfectly acceptable, I have to say I wouldn’t have known it contained crab had I not been told so. On the other hand, the smoked haddock starter was delicious and plentiful – a meal in itself. The main courses were also generously proportioned, tasty and good, ensuring we left happy and content – who says you can’t get no satisfaction…?

Getting there by boat

With entry to Chichester Harbour restricted by a bar, mariners are advised to enter between HW -0300 and HW +0100. It’s also a notoriously dangerous approach whenever a strong offshore wind pushes against the ebb tide. Aim for the Fishery south cardinal buoy before turning eastwards towards the Itchenor Reach.

If your luck’s in, you can tie up to one of the public mooring buoys by the Itchenor Sailing Club, and if you’re even luckier, the water taxi will be running. Alternatively, Birdham Pool and Chichester Marina are a stroll away along an attractive coastal path from where you can drool at some of the local residences.

Cost: £85-90 for two, based on a three-course restaurant meal with a bottle of house wine
Times: Food: Mon-Sat 12:00-14:30 and 18:00-21:00, Sun 12:00-20:00. Bar: Mon-Sat 12:00-22:00, Sun 12:00-21:00
Verdict: In a location where you might expect to have to dig deep into your wallet, the Ship Inn offers a square meal, good value for money and a traditional pub experience.
MBY rating: 3/5 (based on food, ambience and value for money)
Tel: 01243 512284 / theshipinnitchenor.co.uk

This article The Ship Inn, Itchenor - seaside restaurant-review appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

Ocean Village is a gem. A deep-water basin in the heart of Southampton bounded by a striking postmodernist development on one side and the city’s only five-star hotel on the other, this marina epitomises – if such an expression exists – urban boating chic.

If it were not for the fact that Ocean Village is situated some seven nautical miles from the entrance to Southampton Water, it would surely be more of a mecca for visiting boats.

The issue of location, however, has done nothing to deter local restaurateurs – after all, Ocean Village is just as easily accessed from land as it is by water. Consequently, a plethora of eateries have sprung up around the marina. Our choice for this review is the bright and airy Banana Wharf.

Article continues below…

Shell Bay Restaurant and Bistro, Poole Harbour - seaside restaurant review

The Nook & Cranny, Warsash - seaside restaurant review

Pre-Covid 19, the Banana Wharf brand existed in three waterfront restaurants, the others being in Port Hamble marina and Dolphin Quays, Poole. Now, they’re down to two, with the seasonally-dependent Poole sadly having fallen victim to the virus.

Funky is not a word I use often, but in this instance it serves well to sum up the ambience of Banana Wharf Ocean Village. There is a buzz about the place and on the hot summer’s day we visited, gazing out over the marina from beneath an oversized yellow parasol on the potted-palm-fringed terrace, it was easy to imagine being in the Caribbean rather than deepest Hampshire.

There’s some great attention to detail too, with wooden-topped bistro-style tables and orange windbreaks complementing the parasols and adding to the tropical fantasy.

And then there’s the menu. While there are plenty of yummy options from burgers and pizzas to Asian bowls and Tex Mex fajitas on the regular card, it was the seafood specials for us. King prawns with garlic butter, chopped chilli, parsley and a salad garnish with a portion of skin-on fries on the side did for me, while my fellow diner plumped for a half-lobster grilled in garlic butter with fries and a mixed salad.

Fresh, hot and elegantly presented, both dishes were mouth-watering; at just £9.95 (plus £3.95 for the fries), and £24.95 respectively, they were excellent value too.

Our only grump was that, warm and attentive restaurant hosts aside, the table service could have been a little more efficient. But it may just have been a case of staff limitations imposed in the wake of coronavirus, and we were happy to give them the benefit of the doubt – the food more than made up for it.

In fact, we were so pleased that the following day we visited Banana Wharf, Port Hamble, to check it wasn’t just all an illusion. It wasn’t, and this time we filled our boots with some of the finest mussels we’ve had this side of the English Channel.

Getting there by boat

From Calshot North Cardinal, a series of ten starboard hand markers lead to the Weston Shelf buoy, at which point the River Itchen branches off to starboard and a six-knot speed limit for small craft comes into effect. After one nautical mile along the Itchen, the entrance to Ocean Village marina is on your port side. While transiting Southampton Water, keep your radio tuned to Southampton VTS on VHF Ch12, and play it safe by steering clear of the shipping lane.

Cost: £90 based on a three-course meal for two with a bottle of house wine
Times: Monday-Thursday 1200 till late; Friday 1000 till late; Saturday and Sunday 0900 till late
Verdict: Something of a slog for anyone but local mariners, but as a fun restaurant offering high-quality food at reasonable prices, well worth the trip.
MBY rating: 4/5 (based on food, ambience, value for money)
Tel: 023 8033 8866 / bananawharf.co.uk

This article Banana Wharf, Southampton - seaside restaurant review appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

When rounding Egypt Point I’ve often wondered where the inhabitants of Cowes Castle – those “gentlemen actively interested in yachting” as the Royal Yacht Squadron once described its patrons – nip out for a bite. I couldn’t imagine the likes of the King of Norway, telly magnate Lord Grade and cyclonic vac-whizz Sir James Dyson popping out to downtown Cowes. But what if they turned the other way and headed along the coast towards Gurnard instead?

A brisk walk along the promenade would bring them to the New Holmwood Hotel, which on the surface is a pretty standard English seaside affair with three stars to its name. But look more closely and they would notice an elevated terrace rising discreetly above the car park.

The Terrace is the hotel’s outdoor restaurant, and if it’s a good meal and a fabulous view of the Solent you’re after, then look no further. Not being a member of the RYS, I stumbled upon the Terrace restaurant from photos I found online. Despite being a regular visitor to Cowes, I’d never heard of the place – like many others, I guess, my knowledge of the town was previously largely limited to the High Street tourist trap of West Cowes.

Article continues below…

Shell Bay Restaurant and Bistro, Poole Harbour - seaside restaurant review

The Nook & Cranny, Warsash - seaside restaurant review

The photos revealed the Terrace to be a small wooden deck equipped with five glass-topped circular tables bounded by an attractive balustrade. The setting looked well kept and appealing with good quality throughout, so we decided to give it a go – and how pleased I am that we did.

Firstly, the service was impeccable. It is said that the best customer service is invisible and that was certainly the case with our waiter at the Terrace – he was always there when we needed him, but otherwise unobtrusive to a fault. We concluded he must be blessed with a sixth sense capable of sniffing out exactly when, and when not, to appear at the table.

The menu was joyfully limited to five starters, six mains comprising two fish dishes, three meat and one vegetarian, and five desserts. I have always been of the opinion that restaurants need to do fewer things better rather than many things less well, and the Terrace was a case in point.

Between us, my party of four opted for three of the mains on offer and everyone was absolutely delighted with their meal. The pan fried sea bass was fresh and beautifully cooked, the chargrilled chicken and prawn skewers were piping hot, the fries were crispy, the waiter excelled, and the sun shone for the duration of our visit, illuminating the Solent and adding immensely to the ambience of the occasion.

Getting there by boat

The marinas in Cowes all lie on the River Medina, which splits the town in two. When approaching, the main hazards can be a fast-running tide (up to 4kN on spring ebbs) and the sheer volume of traffic using the river – especially if a rally or event happens to be in progress. Beware the Red Funnel ferry, the high-speed Red Jet catamarans and the floating bridge which links East and West Cowes – it has right of way, and once its quick yellow light starts flashing it won’t give way to anybody!

Cost: £85-90 based on a three-course meal for two with a bottle of house wine
Times: 1200-2030 seven days a week
Verdict: Something of an appetite-building trek from the marinas of Cowes, but a great find nonetheless.
MBY rating: 4/5 (based on food, ambience and value for money)
Tel: 01983 292508 / newholmwoodhotel.co.uk

This article The Terrace at the New Holmwood Hotel, Cowes - seaside restaurant review appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

With its intricate pagoda design and massive entranceway guarded by a pair of stone lions, Kam’s Palace certainly lives up to its name. What Kevin McCloud would make of it is anybody’s guess, but this all-you-can-eat confection of Chinese architecture has to be a grand design by any measure.

The inside is just as impressive as the out, with intricately patterned dark rosewood pillars and decorative tracery arches dividing the super-size restaurant area into bite-sized chunks. It needs them too for, as manager Tom explained to me, the main restaurant provides no fewer than 200 covers.

Then, he added, there’s the upstairs function room which caters for a further 70. Oh, and did someone say “takeaway”? Well, of course, they do those too – in seemingly unlimited numbers. Add to this little lot the 120 or so dishes on the menu and the number of meal combinations takes on lottery-odds proportions. But perhaps the most mind-boggling stat of all is that to manage all of this takes just 12 kitchen staff and eight servers.

Article continues below…

Shell Bay Restaurant and Bistro, Poole Harbour - seaside restaurant review

Cinnamon Bay, Hamble-le-Rice - seaside restaurant review

My visit to Kam’s Palace coincided with the annual two days of boating misery known as hull polishing. Most years I am joined for this by a couple of friends, who in return for copious amounts of food and wine help out with this thankless task. But coronavirus put a halt to all that, so this time I was eating alone, which left me exposed to having to select from the menu rather than go for my usual coward’s way out – the set meal.

Manager Tom came to my rescue by recommending the Ho Fun. This dish of stir-fried mixed meat or seafood served with white rice noodles is a meal in itself, but in the great mix-and-match tradition of Chinese dining I felt compelled to add a portion of chilli king prawns and a side of egg fried rice.

Still suffering the chill of a day spent up a scaffold tower with only a polishing bonnet for company, I decided to warm up first with a bowl of chicken and sweetcorn soup. This was accompanied by prawn crackers, on the house. The result was a mini-banquet for one, more than I could ever consume in one go. There was only one thing for it – a doggy bag.

Taking everything into consideration, Kam’s Palace does a fine job. While not exactly fine dining, the food is good, plentiful and served quickly. How they do it with such a large menu and relatively few staff, I’ll never know.

But what I do know is that at the end of the first day of boat polishing, there’s nothing better than a hearty Chinese to lift the spirits and prepare you for the second day of hard labour to come!

Getting there by boat

For those prepared to walk for 20-30 minutes, Kam’s Palace is within striking distance of the marinas of Lower Swanwick. These are accessed via the upper reaches of the Hamble, where all the usual warnings of fast-running tides and unpleasant currents apply – it’s always best to time your Hamble journeys to arrive and leave on the slack. And in summer, beware the armies of paddleboarders in the vicinity of Premier’s Swanwick Marina, many of whom are blissfully unaware of the rules of the boating road.

Cost: £80-£85 based on a three-course (starter, intermediate and main) set meal for two with a bottle of house wine
Times: Every day: 1700-2200. Saturday, Sunday and Monday lunchtime: 1200-1500
Verdict: Good value, fast and friendly service, and an extensive choice – what’s not to like about Kam’s Palace?
MBY rating: 3/5 (based on food, ambience and value for money)
Tel: 01489 583328 / kamspalace.co.uk

This article Kam’s Palace, Park Gate, Southampton - seaside restaurant review appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

There is nothing like a French chef to get the culinary juices flowing. Flamboyance, flair, finesse, gastro-skills – they’ve got the lot. Some of them even do humour; superstar Raymond Blanc once told me, “It was not until I came to England that I learned fish have fingers,” (I’ve been waiting years to retell that one…!)

Having discovered the Nook & Cranny now has a French chef – the same one who used to serve fabulous fish dishes at the now-defunct Ferry Restaurant in Old Bursledon – it was with high hopes and a resounding cheer of bon appétit that we headed off to the back lanes of Warsash for dinner.

The Nook & Cranny appears modest from the outside, but in reality is something of a Tardis, with two dedicated restaurant saloons and a seating area for casual drinkers.

Article continues below…

Shell Bay Restaurant and Bistro, Poole Harbour - seaside restaurant review

Dylan’s Restaurant, Menai Bridge - seaside restaurant review

On arrival, we were ushered into the rear saloon, which is situated in a sunken area a couple of feet lower than the rest of the building. In keeping with our French aspirations for the evening, the table we were offered was what restaurateurs refer to as “bistro style”. Unfortunately, I find the alternative description “too small” rather more appropriate.

So we asked to be relocated and were duly accommodated on a larger table abutting the bar lounge area. This was fine, except the difference in floor levels between us and the bar meant our table top was positioned at the perfect sniffing level for visiting dogs. Happily, their owners kept them in check.

Watched over attentively by a pair of doe-eyed fidos, our food was every bit as good as we had hoped. In particular, the Roquefort cheese soufflé with celery, apple and roasted walnut dressing starter was exceptional. Knowing the chef, the mains had to be seafood and here we were spoilt for choice:

Swordfish Siciliana (served with tomato, raisins, onions, capers, pine nuts and olive oil); skate wing with an almond, lemon and parsley butter; or moules marinière with frites. We opted for the swordfish and the skate, a decision we did not regret for one moment as both were delicate and full of flavour.

To round the meal off, the Nook & Cranny offers a selection of industrial- strength desserts. Feeling brave?

Why not try an Affogato – a shot of espresso coffee with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and the liqueur of your choice. We were driving, so instead opted to share an Oh So Caramel sundae, a magnificent beast large enough to feed a coach party. Or in this case, and with due deference to our French host, a charabanc.

Getting there by boat

Located east of the river Hamble, the nearest marina to the Nook & Cranny is Universal. For those mooring up on the west bank, although being only around 1.5 miles from Hamble Point as the crow flies, it’s an 8.5-mile trip by road. For anyone not used to the Hamble tides, timing your arrival and departure times either on the slack or during the young flood stand is advised. The river looks a picture but is full of nasty surprises when the tide is running.

Cost: £85-95 based on a three-course meal for two with a bottle of house wine
Times: Tuesday – Saturday 1200-1500 and 1800-2100. Sunday 1200-2100 (Sunday roast served until 1700) Bar open Tuesday-Sunday 1200-2230.
Verdict: The remote location will make this a cab hop for most visiting boaters, but it’s well worth the fare, especially if you like seafood.
MBY rating: 4/5
Tel: 01489 807250 / nookandcrannyrestaurantbar.co.uk

This article The Nook & Cranny, Warsash - seaside restaurant review appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

Lockdown – it hasn’t done restaurants any favours and has left critics like me weeping into the non-existent plates of food we are supposed to be reviewing. So a big shout out goes to the many MBY forum readers who responded to Boat Cuisine’s call for help by recommending their favourite dining spots. Thank you one and all, we look forward to running more of your suggestions in future editions.

We begin with a trip to Dylan’s Restaurant, Menai Strait, the pick of Formula 34PC owner, Bruce Kennedy. Apparently, Dylan was a Welsh Sea God, although according to godchecker.com (oh yes, godchecker does exist) he didn’t make much of a splash.

Dylan’s eponymous restaurant, however, fares rather better. Bruce tells us he regularly steers a course to this light and airy destination, which boasts both indoor and outdoor seating, from his home port of Conwy. “It’s a delight to eat there,” he says. “Nothing outrageously fancy, but what they do, they do exceptionally well. It has a great ambience and the experience is always enjoyable.”

Article continues below…

Shell Bay Restaurant and Bistro, Poole Harbour - seaside restaurant review

Cinnamon Bay, Hamble-le-Rice - seaside restaurant review

Located on the waterside a few hundred metres from Thomas Telford’s landmark suspension bridge, Dylan’s is a magnet for boaters, tourists and locals alike – 250 covers on a lockdown-free Saturday summer’s evening is typical, so booking is essential. Manager Karen McConnell tells us throughout lockdown they’ve been concentrating on takeaways and marketing their retail products.

A glance at the Welsh/English dual-language menu confirms that Dylan’s offers something for everyone; a dazzling array of takeaways and, pandemic permitting, a multitude of eat-in choices, which this critic might suggest is too many but Bruce assures me is fine. “The food they serve is always good,” he says.

Of all the dishes on offer – which span tried-and-tested favourites like Cyw Iar Mewn Basged Fegan (chicken in a basket) to Cawl Pysgod (seafood chowder) and world foods including tacos and pizzas, Karen tells us none is more popular than the shrimp and crab linguini. There’s also a charity pizza, with a 50p donation from each one going to the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team.

Boaters familiar with the area will be acquainted with the Swellies – the notorious stretch of water between the Menai Strait’s two bridges. “For those travelling south-west, Menai Pier – which lies ahead of the suspension bridge – is an ideal spot to wait for the tide before transiting the Swellies,” says Bruce. “The pier isn’t large, so boats often raft up. There are also some mooring buoys and I’ve never been unable to find a place to tie up.”

Getting there by boat

Approaching from the north-east, the journey to Menai Pier is straightforward. But come the other way and it’s all about the last-running tide of the Swellies. The slack lasts for just 10 to 20 minutes at Liverpool HW -0200 and LW -0200. Adding to the hazards, the channel past Swelly Rock is just 30m wide at low water, so beware. If you’re unfamiliar with the area, call the Menai Bridge pier master on 01248 712312 for advice.

Cost: £55-65 based on a two-course dinner for two with a bottle of house wine
Times: Every day, 1100 until late
Verdict: Dylan’s is far from the only restaurant in the area but the sheer volume of visitors it attracts speaks for itself.
MBY reader rating: 4/5 (based on food, ambience and value for money)
Tel: 01248 716714 / dylansrestaurant.co.uk

This article Dylan’s Restaurant, Menai Bridge - seaside restaurant review appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

Spicy food has always been a favourite of mine so I always look forward to a visit to an Indian restaurant. Whether it’s to eat in or, as in this case, pick up a takeaway, the promise of a meal I’ll probably regret the following morning keeps me coming back time after time. The only reservation I have is that all too often the food from one Indian restaurant looks and tastes like that from so many others.

While I have no problem that every slice of naan bread I’ve ever seen appears to have been modelled on the same bicycle saddle, I do like a bit of individuality when it comes to the main dishes. So for this visit to Cinnamon Bay, which describes itself as a friendly long-standing restaurant serving traditional Indian cuisine, I decided to go a little off-piste in my usual menu selection and choose something I’d never had before.

That something turned out to be a Jalaiya Agnipath. Not only had I never had it before, I’d never heard of it either. If I’d looked it up beforehand, I might have been slightly more circumspect. For ‘Jalaiya’ is a name of Hindu origin which means, ‘One who ignites change’ while ‘Agni’ is a Sanskrit word for fire.

Article continues below…

Secret South Coast cruising: Discovering the hidden gems of Sussex and Kent

Shell Bay Restaurant and Bistro, Poole Harbour - seaside restaurant review

I didn’t look up the ‘path’ bit, but having now experienced this extraordinarily hot meal – which I presume they store bolted to the floor in locked lead boxes – the remains of my frazzled taste buds tell me it has to be somthing akin to the ‘path’ in psychopath.

Prior to this episode of self-inflicted (but rather tasty) torture, I opted for that tried-and-tested starter, the Tandoori Chicken Quarter. This dish takes me back to my point about
similar looking and tasting meals. Somewhere must roam hoards of identical mini-chicks, all destined to be chopped into four with their little legs ending up in a starter replicated by every Indian restaurant in the land.

It is said that you should never judge a book by its cover, and Cinnamon Bay is certainly a case in point here. Housed in modest premises, it’s the sort of place you could easily pass by without a second glance. The mid-week, out-of-season evening I visited was bitterly cold and the restaurant deserted.

However, judging by the number of order slips hanging on the wall, takeaway business was brisk. I doubt there were many boaters around that particular evening, so my guess is that the restaurant is popular among the locals – which comes as no surprise for their food is very good, albeit a tad explosive in the case of the Jalaiya Agnipath…

Getting there by boat

Whether approaching from Southampton Water or the Solent, the Hamble Point south cardinal is the mark to aim for. From there, the entrance to the River Hamble is visible and well marked. Cinnamon Bay is located just a minute or two’s walk from Port Hamble. If berthing here, be mindful of the pink ferry which runs between Warsash and Hamble-le-Rice, crossing the river every few minutes at peak times.

Cost: £55-60 based on a two-course takeaway plus sides and a bottle of wine
Times: 1730-2300, seven days a week
Verdict: If you like your curry hot, this is the place to go!
MBY reader rating: 3/5 (based on food, ambience and value for money)
Tel: 02380 452285 / cinnamonbayhamble.co.uk

This article Cinnamon Bay, Hamble-le-Rice - seaside restaurant review appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

Boat owners who frequently visit the Solent will almost certainly have heard of The Hut on the Isle of Wight. It has become the restaurant destination of choice for anybody with access to a boat. It’s got a great vibe, it serves good local seafood and its massive bottles of chilled Rosé have taken on an almost mythical status.

But arguably the main reason it has done so well is because of the experience it offers; you can arrive in your own boat, drop anchor, get picked up by one of The Hut’s tenders and eat your meal while enjoying the best view in the world (i.e. your own boat at anchor).

However, after the dinner I’ve just had at Shell Bay Restaurant and Bistro in Poole Harbour, I reckon this might just top it, at least for owners of smaller craft. Allow me to explain.

Article continues below…

Cruising the South West of England: Fairline owners share their highlights

Secret South Coast cruising: Discovering the hidden gems of Sussex and Kent

It’s location on the west side of the harbour entrance has an even better view than The Hut’s because you can still have your boat in frame but with the magical backdrop of Brownsea Island and Purbeck behind it, rather than the Solent. And when the sun sets, the scene is bathed in a fiery glow that melts the heart of every living being.

The restaurant is ideally set up to make the most of this with multiple terraces, sliding glass doors and heaters that can adapt to the weather and changing restrictions. It did get cold when temperatures dropped close to freezing at the end of April but in any “normal” year this wouldn’t be an issue.

Then there is the food, which is quite simply sensational. My 18-year-old son is a man of few words and many grunts whose diet consists largely of beer, crisps and pasta. As soon as the first forkful of his starter (sea bass ceviche with pink grapefruit, tequila, smoked chilli and green tomato) entered his mouth he transformed into a Michelin food critic raving about its delicate mouthfeel, subtle piquancy and perfect balance of sweet and sour.

My own starter of beetroot gazpacho with avocado and cucumber chilli yoghurt was just as good, elevating this humble root vegetable into a near cosmic experience. The mains of chargrilled monkfish and sea bream fillets cooked on the wood fire at the entrance to the restaurant were just as memorable.

I have to admit it was the first restaurant I’d eaten in since lockdown ended and like the thirsty man in the desert proclaiming his first sip of water to taste better than Champagne, there may be an element of elation involved. But even taking this into account, I have not had this good a meal for many years, The Hut included. It wasn’t cheap but it was worth every penny. If you’re coming to Poole this summer book now before word gets around!

Getting there by boat

Shell Bay restaurant is located 100 yards from the Studland side of the chain ferry inside the entrance to Poole harbour. At high tide boats up to 35ft can pick up a buoy in front of the restaurant while tenders from larger craft anchored in the harbour or in one of the marinas can come alongside the floating pontoon or arrange for a water taxi. In all cases call Shell Bay Marine first.

Cost: £100–£120 based on a two-course dinner for two with a bottle of house wine in the main restaurant. During the summer the Bistro offers light meals and drinks without the need to book.
Verdict: The place to eat this summer if you’re visiting the area by land or sea, with food to die for and one of the finest views in the country.
MBY rating: 5/5 (based on food, ambience and value for money)
Contact: +44 (0)7834 492987 / shellbay.net

This article Shell Bay Restaurant and Bistro, Poole Harbour - seaside restaurant review appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.