Our Suppliers

Updated August 2007

We’ve included a bit of information about our suppliers so you can have a look at their websites, visit their shops or meet them at the markets.  Buying local food is about supporting local producers and supporting the Island economy.  If you know where your food comes from, you can ‘eat the view’ as you drive, walk, sail or ride around the Island!  And, it tastes pretty good too – many of our suppliers have won national competitions to prove that they’re the best.

Paul Murphy Dry Cure Bacon Company - Buy Online

Paul runs the Paul Murphy Dry Cure Bacon Co. and specialises in producing traditional dry cured bacon and hand made sausages, in Ventnor.  Island pork is used wherever possible, along with an absolute minimum of added ingredients. Paul has a real passion for sausages and this shows both in the quality of sausages he produces as well as the amazing selection of flavours that he tempts us with. Alongside the old favourites likes sage and onion he adds over 40 additional tantalising bangers such as sweet chilli (a favourite of ours), and apple and Stilton. Flavours are further enhanced by local ingredients, such as beer from Ventnor Brewery.   “The best sausages I have ever had in my life”  – this is what my neighbour Ted said about Paul’s sausages when he tasted them at our BBQ.  Fair enough I said. Ted is 80 so I trust his opinion.

An experienced butcher, Paul works alongside us at The Real Island Food Company preparing your meat cuts to order. The meat comes, wherever possible, from a selection of Island farms including Newbarn Farm at Shorwell for beef and lamb and Branstone farm at Arreton for pork. 

You can meet Paul at the producers market on Friday mornings in St. George’s Square, Newport, and at Brading on Wednesday mornings.

Brownrigg Poultry - Buy Online

Paul and Sue Brownrigg raise free-range chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese on their farms at Godshill and Calbourne.  Chicken and duck is available all year-round, with turkey and goose at Christmas.  They also produce free-range chicken eggs year-round.  If you drive down Sheepwash Lane, you will have to slow down to let the chickens cross the road; Sue calls them “traffic calming hens”.

Sue is a champion of the Island Farmers Market and you can buy  from them every Friday morning in St Thomas Square, Newport.  www.brownriggonline.co.uk

Calbourne Classics - Buy Online

Three Gates Farm, Shalfleet is the Cawood family dairy farm and home to Calbourne Classics.  They make a mouth-watering range of luxury desserts from milk from their own herd, and they use milk and cream from other island dairy farms. 

Island clotted cream is unique to Calbourne Classics, and is made in a pan rather than individual pots, so that you get the yummy gooey bits all the way through, not just on the top.  Clotted cream ice cream, cheesecakes, country cakes, traybakes and quiches all make your mouth water, and some have won ‘Great Taste Awards’, so don’t just take our word for it!

You can visit Three Gates Farm for their farm shop and café, and meet the team at the Farmers Market on Friday mornings in St Thomas Square, Newport and at other markets on the mainland. 
www.calbourneclassics.co.uk

The Garlic Farm - Buy Online

The Garlic Farm is the UK’s premier grower of garlic and source of all things garlic.

Established by Colin Boswell and his family over 30 years ago, the passion for garlic and anything to do with garlic has become the driving force for himself, his wife Jenny and their five children, who are all involved in the business in different ways.

Intrigued by the ancient origins of garlic and its wide range of culinary, health and mythical properties, the farm business has developed to become certainly the UK’s if not Europe’s leading authority on garlic. This passion and expertise has grown into a thriving food business providing the best range of garlic to eat, grow and learn about.  This includes a range of garlic themed pickles, relishes and chutneys produced from the on-site kitchen facilities as well as an array of chilled produce.

You can visit the Garlic Farm shop and teashop in Newchurch all year round (check their website for opening times).
www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk

Goddards Brewery - Buy Online

Goddard’s Brewery at Barnsley Farm in Ryde started brewing real ales in 1993.  Since then the company has expanded to supply 6 fabulous beers, some of which are seasonally available.  You can buy Goddards in bottles and on tap at some of the better Island pubs (see their website for a list), and they are also big ‘exporters’ to the mainland!

Goodard’s beers have won over 21 awards in national and regional competitions, and we agree – they’re great!
www.goddards-brewery.co.uk  

Godshill Park Farm - Buy Online

Godshill Park Farm is the Island’s only certified organic beef and lamb producer.  Mark and Kathy Domaille rear organic Aberdeen Angus beef and organic lamb from mule sheep and rare breed Castlemilk Moorit sheep.  No pesticides, herbicides or artificial fertilisers are used on the farm, and the sheep are guarded by llamas, which save the lambs from foxes and badgers.

Godshill Park Farm is situated in one of the most beautiful areas of the Island just outside Godshill, and the other side of the down to the Brownrigg’s Sheepwash Farm. 

You can meet Mark at the Farmers Markets in Newport on Friday mornings and Ryde on Saturday mornings.  Godshill Park Farm also provide B&B and self catering accommodation – please see their website for more details.
www.godshillparkfarm.uk.com

Island Snack Company - Buy Online

Nuala Grandcourt makes Yumbars and Nutshell Cottage specialities in Gurnard.  The Yumbars are packed with organic ingredients and make a tasty, healthy treat for adults and children.  There are no added colours, refined sugars or artificial ingredients, and they come in a range of flavours.  The company is applying for organic certification.
www.yumbar.co.uk 

Isle of Wight Cheese Company - Buy Online

Mother and son team Julie and Rich Hodgson make the fabulous Isle of Wight Soft and Blue cheeses in Queen Bower from unpasteurised Guernsey milk produced just feet from their dairy.  The Isle of Wight Blue won the 2007 Best English Cheese at the IFE food exhibition in London – we think its smashing on a slice of Market Bakery wholemeal bread, preferably with a glass of something in the other hand.  Rich is looking to expand the range of cheeses and a cheddar is eagerly awaited.

You can meet the Hodgsons at the Farmers Markets in Newport on Friday mornings and Ryde on Saturday mornings.
www.isleofwightcheese.co.uk

Market Bakery - Buy Online

The Market Bakery is a Newport institution, a traditional bakery with an amazing range of breads, rolls, cakes, buns, slices and pies.  All made ‘properly’ with traditional ingredients, these are definitely a cut above any in-store bakery.  All of the breads are made from flour from the Stoneground Flour Company in Havenstreet, and the Bakery also make a range from Island-grown organic flour.  White, wholemeal, malty and spelt loaves all made from crops grown on the Island.  Spread with Island butter and maybe a dab of Island jam or Island cheese and you have a proper lunch.

Meet Huw Ross and the team Monday-Saturday 8am to 5pm in Scarrots Lane, Newport.

Minghella - Buy Online

‘The World’s Most Delicious Ice Cream’ said the Sunday Times Style Magazine in May 2007, and we’d agree.  The Minghella family started making ice cream on the Island in 1950, and they now produce over 140 varieties of ice cream and sorbet in Wootton.  All made to the highest standards with the best natural ingredients, including Island milk and
cream.

The company has won 44 Great Taste Awards and their range includes luxury Italian-style ice creams, sorbets with more than just a dash of alcohol and even ice cream suitable for dieters (we think that’s a great idea!).  Which are our favourites – so hard to choose, but we love Raspberry Ripple Romance for a grown-up version of a childhood favourite, and the sublime Gin and Pink Grapefruit sorbet. 
www.minghella.co.uk

Rosemary Vineyard - Buy Online

Rosemary Vineyard outside Ryde is one of the biggest in southern England (bet you didn’t know that!) and covers 30 acres of south facing hillside.  The winery was planted in 1986 and now produces whites, reds, sparking and country wines – the Elderberry liqueur and Elderberry wine both won silvers at the Great Taste Awards in 2006.  Our favourite is the Island Dry White, but don’t be swayed by our preferences!
You can visit the vineyard, shop and café and even take a guided tour.  Please check the website for more information.
www.rosemaryvineyard.co.uk

Rossiters Vineyard - Buy Online

Rod Thompson started planting the 10 acres of Rossiters Vineyard in 1990 on a beautiful south-facing hill in Wellow.  The vineyard now produces very nice (in our opinion) whites, reds and a rosé.  Many of their wines have been awarded ‘regional wine status’, which means they are of a higher quality than table wine.  Look for  ‘Isle of Wight Regional Wine’ on the label.  So its not just us who likes Rossiters wine then!
You can visit the vineyard and arrange tours.  Please check their website for more details.  Rossiters Vineyard incorporates Wellow Post Office – what a great combination!
www.rossitersvineyard.com

Wheeler’s Steephill Cove Pasties - Buy Online

Crab pasties made by Jimmy and Mandy Wheeler at Steephill Cove near Ventnor.  Car-free Steephill Cove is a real jewel, and what makes the Island such a fabulous place for locals and visitors.  The crabs are brought ashore at the Cove, and are cooked and magically made into pasties by Mandy.

There are self catering cottages and a B&B at Steephill Cove, as well as the summertime Boathouse restaurant.  Please see their website for more information.
www.steephillcove-isleofwight.co.uk

Stoneground Flour Company - Buy Online

Matt Bowen’s Stoneground Flour Company is based on an organic farm on the downs above Havenstreet.  Traditional granite millstones are used in a modern mill to create a wide range of flours for commercial and home baking.  Matt grows organic certified cereals on Little Duxmore Farm for his own flours, and also mills flour for other Island and mainland producers.

You can buy organic flour for home baking and bread making, or if you don’t like DIY, Market Bakery makes bread for us from Matt’s flour.  Matt also makes organic pasta from wheat and spelt – try it with a simple sauce made from Island tomatoes and garlic.

Matt doesn’t have a website, but you can meet him and buy flour and bread made from his flour at the Farmers Market in St Thomas Square Newport on Friday mornings.

Ventnor Brewery - Buy Online

Beer has been made on the site of Ventnor Brewery since 1840, using the water from St Boniface spring.  Local boy Xavier Baker has been the brewer since 2001, and his beers are inspired by the Ventnor area and its characters.   Some beers are available year-round, others are seasonal or monthly specials.

Ventnor beers have won prizes in national and regional beer competitions – try them for yourself and see why they’re special.  Our favourite is probably Wight Spirit or maybe Ventnor Golden…  you decide!  Ventnor beers are available in the better Island pubs and from the Ventnor Brewery Beer Shack.
www.ventnorbrewery.co.uk

Yates’ Brewery - Buy Online

Brewed by the two David Yates, senior and junior, Yates’ is the Real Island Food Company’s local brewery (their office is next door!).  Brewed in St Lawrence since 2000, David has won several national and regional beer competitions with the 4 main ales, and they also produce seasonal specials. 

Our favourite is the Blonde Ale – but we would say that, wouldn’t we?  Yates’ ales can be found in some of the better island pubs and hotels.
http://www.yates-brewery.fsnet.co.uk/

The Village Nursery - Buy Online

Based in Whitwell, The Village Nursery makes the most fabulously fruity jams, chutneys, jellies, sauces and everything else you can imagine.  Specialising in preserves made from fruit grown on the Island, Caroline Brown grows the fruit and sister Maggie Ridley turns it into jam with the minimum of added ingredients.  We think the jam tastes amazingly fruity – don’t go near a jar of jam with a spoon if no one else is around, as you’ll scoff the lot before it even gets to your bread.

The Village Nursery also grows potted plants and cut flowers.