After our second annual trip to this incredible eating establishment, we just can’t keep this place to ourselves anymore! We travelled by car, train, ferry AND taxi to reach The Hut and we are ready to do it all again next summer.
The Hut is a laidback beachfront restaurant in Colwell Bay on the Isle of Wight. Their specialities are centered around succulent seafood and mouthwatering grilled meats. They started off in 2013 as a restaurant only known to the locals but thanks to social media, this gem landed in our laps and we had to see what it was all about.
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1. How To Get To The Hut?
Arriving from London is somewhat straightforward. We headed to London Waterloo and boarded the Weymouth train to Brockenhurst which lasted around 1hr34. Then we boarded our final 10 minute train to Lymington Pier. Upon exit, the IoW Yarmouth ferry will come into view, this 40 minute ferry will take you to Yarmouth pier on the Isle of Wight. For those who aren’t a fan of travelling by sea, we can assure you the journey was very smooth, embarkation and disembarkation is swift and refreshments served on board should you need them.
We expected to find a taxi rank when we disembarked the ferry and were surprised when there wasn’t one, we much preferred a 7 min taxi than a 54 min walk. We were directed to the ferry office where there was a list of local taxi numbers which we have shared below. We learnt from our taxi driver that there is a taxi rank but it’s hidden from view and not many taxis stand and wait for passengers like you’d expect in London.
The Hut are loud and proud about being able to arrive by land, sea and air. Yes, you can arrive by helicopter if you wish! If you’d like more information about how you can arrive, click here.
If you think our route from London would be similar to your journey. You can book trains and the ferry below:
For trains from London Waterloo to Lymington Pier, click here.
For ferries from Lymington Pier to Yarmouth Pier, click here.
2. Arrival At The Hut
As this was our second time coming to The Hut, we wanted to replicate our original feeling when we first arrived. It truly felt like we had landed in Mykonos, Greece especially as we were presented with amazing weather and good vibes on both occasions. The staff were friendly and made us feel welcome from the get go, every single table was occupied (always a good sign) and the DJ was spinning some real feel-good tracks, we just knew were in for a good time once again.
The decor is very fitting with being in Ibiza or Greece, with lashings of nautical and a hint of boho chic. We just loved it all, Melissa was particularly touched by the lovely hand-written postcard as we were celebrating her belated birthday. The complimentary branded sunglasses went down very well!
3. Dining at The Hut
Nestled right by the sea, The Hut is an idyllic location to enjoy an unforgettable lunch or dinner with chosen company. Whilst we studied the menu weeks before our reservation, we still couldn’t decide what to order – the offerings sounded truly sublime.
We started off with the Ancient Cob with demi-sel butter accompanied with a portion of mini chorizo cooked in cider, garlic and spices. This was an excellent start, the bread was fresh, soft and flaky perfect for mopping up the sauce that the flavoursome chorizo was cooked in.
Don’t judge us, this was just an appetiser for us. Of course we went on to have starters!
Melissa opted for the Soft Shell Crab with Wakame Salad, Aioli and Sriracha Mayo, this was absolutely delicious but I think my starter just about topped it! I opted for the Tacos, one which was Cochinita Pibil Pork Shoulder and another with Prawn Tempura. With the pork just melting in your mouth and the prawn tempura just beautifully crispy, we were reminded why we made the long journey to this beachfront foodie haven!
Melissa and I tend to get different main dishes so we could try each others but there was nothing that would have stopped us both from getting the seabass. I mean when it’s served with seaweed dumplings, surf clams, braised chicory, broad beans, fish emulsion AND salty fingers – it’s an absolute no brainer. To maintain that we are civilised human beings, we had to stop ourselves from picking up the bowl and drinking that emulsion, the dish was absolutely flawless. Don’t even get us started on the fries, probably the best we’ve ever had. Golden, fluffy and crispy. Perfection.
It would be a crime to leave without indulging in the desserts The Hut has to offer. The first time we visited, I was blown away by the Alaska Cone so there was no way I couldn’t get it again. It’s so unique with the tartiness of the raspberry combined with the meringue top. However, Melissa’s chocolate tart stole the show, it was accompanied with cocoa nib and salted caramel ice cream. It looks richer than it is and the portion is perfect to satisfy anybody’s sweet tooth.
The cocktails were 10/10, we recommend the ‘The Painkiller’, ‘English Garden Twist’ and ‘Pineapple & Passion Margarita’.
3. Final Thoughts
Our dining experience at The Hut is nothing short of impeccable. Our second time was just as good as, if not better, than our first time. The vibes and music had everyone in a good mood, the food was exceptional and staff were friendly and attentive as ever.
We are big fans of this restaurant and if you want to get in on all the fun, book as EARLY as possible. Due to its popularity, we booked in March for a bank holiday table in August!! You may be lucky for a midweek table without booking so far in advance and cancellations do occur but, weekends book up EXTREMELY fast so don’t leave it too late.
The current season ends on Saturday 26th October, reservations can be made here.
Stay up to date on their Instagram here.
The Hut – Colwell Chine Rd, Colwell Bay, Freshwater PO40 9NP
Opening Hours: Always check website for season openings but for now, they are open every day from 12pm-12am.
That’s All 23 Travellers! Thank you for reading. We hope you enjoyed reading through ‘The Isle of Wight dining experience that will make you feel like you’re on holiday.’
23 Travels are Personal Travel Planners who have been creating bespoke travel itineraries for many years. If you would like us to plan your trip to the Isle of Wight, or any other worldwide destination for you, please visit 23 Travels Itinerary Services
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