ISLE OF WIGHT FEBRUARY EVENTS

MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE TO STAY ON WHILE VISITING ISLE OF WIGHT FEBRUARY EVENTS STAY AT THE MONTPELIER IN SANDOWN			1 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light	2 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Digital Photography – David Babsky	3 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Digital Photography – David Babsky Isle of Wight Wildlife Themed Events for Kids View All 5 Events »	4 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Digital Photography – David Babsky Family Coppicing FUN – Borthwood Copse
5 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Monday Evening Life Drawing at Dimbola	6 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light	7 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light	8 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light	9 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light	10 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Isle of Wight Wildlife Themed Events for Kids Electric Woods ‘Spirit of the Orient’ – ROBIN HILL	11 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Electric Woods ‘Spirit of the Orient’ – ROBIN HILL
12 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Electric Woods ‘Spirit of the Orient’ – ROBIN HILL Monday Evening Life Drawing at Dimbola	13 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Electric Woods ‘Spirit of the Orient’ – ROBIN HILL Yarmouth Carnival Committee Pancake Races 2018	14 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Electric Woods ‘Spirit of the Orient’ – ROBIN HILL VALENTINE’S IN THE GARDEN – Ventnor Botanic Garden	15 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Electric Woods ‘Spirit of the Orient’ – ROBIN HILL	16 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Electric Woods ‘Spirit of the Orient’ – ROBIN HILL	17 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Electric Woods ‘Spirit of the Orient’ – ROBIN HILL Isle of Wight Wildlife Themed Events for Kids	18 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Electric Woods ‘Spirit of the Orient’ – ROBIN HILL
19 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Electric Woods ‘Spirit of the Orient’ – ROBIN HILL Monday Evening Life Drawing at Dimbola	20 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Electric Woods ‘Spirit of the Orient’ – ROBIN HILL	21 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Electric Woods ‘Spirit of the Orient’ – ROBIN HILL	22 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Electric Woods ‘Spirit of the Orient’ – ROBIN HILL	23 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Electric Woods ‘Spirit of the Orient’ – ROBIN HILL	24 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Electric Woods ‘Spirit of the Orient’ – ROBIN HILL Isle of Wight Wildlife Themed Events for Kids View All 5 Events »	25 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Electric Woods ‘Spirit of the Orient’ – ROBIN HILL
26 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Monday Evening Life Drawing at Dimbola	27 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light	28 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light	1 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light	2 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light	3 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light Isle of Wight Wildlife Themed Events for Kids	4 Peter Johnstone Exhibition – Dimbola Museum Jan Ramscar – Plants in a Different Light

ISLE OF WIGHT FEBRUARY EVENTS ISLE OF WIGHT FEBRUARY EVENTS ISLE OF WIGHT FEBRUARY EVENT ISLE OF WIGHT FEBRUARY EVENTS

Jack Up The 80s has been consistent in terms of bringing feel-good pop acts to the Isle of Wight over the last 5 years and the nostalgia factor will definitely be satisfied at next year’s event when boy band 5ive (Five) take to the stage.

Backed by the same management team which launched the career of the Spice Girls, Five have enjoyed remarkable success and sold 20 million records worldwide. They achieved 11 UK Top 10 hits including Keep on Movin’; Everybody Get Up; When the Lights Go Out; Got The Feelin’; Don’t Wanna Let You Go and Let’s Dance.

In the late 90s they released a cover of We Will Rock You featuring 2 members of Queen; Brian May on guitar and Roger Taylor on drums; the song charted at Number One.

Organisers of Jack up the 80s have said:

“Jack Up The 80s is one big Summer party and that’s the essence of what people love about it. As long as the acts remain in keeping with the overall party vibe, the decade in which they achieved success pales into insignificance.

“We always like to throw in a couple of curveballs, that’s what makes our line-up quirky and unique. Fans of Jack Up The 80s are always guaranteed an incredible upbeat atmosphere which is something Sean, Ritchie and Scott – the three original members of Five – bring in abundance.

“Owing to the unprecedented success of S Club earlier this year and other show-steeling performances over the years from names such as Right Said Fred, Angie Brown and The Hoosiers at the very first edition of the festival back in 2013, we continuously listen to the demands of our audience and evolve the line-up to prevent it becoming stale and predictable.”

Jack Up The 80s volume 6 will take place over the weekend of 11th and 12th August 2018 and this will be the festival’s second year at its new home Smallbrook Stadium in Ryde.

Early Bird tickets go on sale on Monday 22nd January and will be available to purchase from www.jackupthe80s.co.uk.

One of Sandown Bay’s most fascinating spaces, Sandown Barracks Battery will be transformed into ‘The Christmas Garden’ this coming Saturday (16th December).

We are thrilled to be bringing back The Christmas Garden back to Sandown Battery gardens! After the success of last year’s event attracting over 400 people through the gates we’re back better and bigger than before.

The Christmas Garden Sand Isle of Wight

With traditional band Vectis Brass performing festive tunes, Company B singing their charming nostalgic songs and interactive theatrical experiences including immersive-storytelling! Everyone in the family loved our hands-on craft stalls and this year we will have even more available to make and do!

Not to mention the fire pits for toasting your marshmallows and warming cold hands, a 20ft tree for all to gather round in the snow (yes snow!), along with the magically illuminated barracks, thanks to the talented team at Genelec.

This community event is free and created in collaboration with Arc, Artecology, The Bay and The Common Space to celebrate the festive community spirit within the Bay area and also to re imagine spaces within the public realm.

The Christmas Garden is a free community event that will see the ruins transformed with magical lights, live music, art workshops, a giant Christmas tree and campfires in a special celebration aimed at bringing the community together and breathing new life into an under-used space.

Created in collaboration between the Ventnor Exchange and The Common Space, it follows on from last year’s inaugural attempt to highlight how spaces like the battery could be used in interesting ways for the benefit of local residents.

Mhairi Macaulay, from the Ventnor Exchange said:

“We were bowled over with the response last year when hundreds of people visited and we will be building on that this year with more activities for families, interactive experiences, storytelling, more music including a traditional brass band and of course, snow!”

Thompson’s Nursery has kindly donated a spectacular Christmas tree for the event, which will be decorated during the evening and then transported to the YMCA at Winchester House for the Christmas period.

The Christmas Garden will open as the sun sets from approximately 16:30-19:00. All are welcome and entry is free.

 

Depeche Mode, The Killers, Kasabian and Liam Gallagher have been announced as the headliners of Isle of Wight Festival 2018.

The Script, Van Morrison, Blossoms and James Bay will also perform at Seaclose Park in Newport between 21st-24th June next year – 50 years since the first Isle of Wight Festival in 1968.

Depeche Mode, one of the most influential, beloved and best-selling musical acts of all time, will be headlining Saturday night. Depeche Mode have sold over 100 million records with no less than 17 top 10 UK albums.

The Killers return to the main stage on Sunday night following the release of their latest album ‘Wonderful Wonderful’, which continued their unbroken record of Number 1 studio albums. The Las Vegas band will bring to the Isle of Wight Festival a career-spanning headline set picked from an enviable back catalogue that includes ‘Mr Brightside’, ‘Somebody Told Me’, ‘When You Were Young’, ‘Human’ and most recent hits, ‘The Man and Run For Cover’.

Formed in Leicester in 1997, Kasabian have established themselves as Britain’s biggest rock band. As well as their last 4 albums all topping the UK charts the band are no stranger to awards, receiving the NME’s ‘Best Live Band’ gong as well as accolades from the BRITs and Q magazine throughout their career.

Rising to fame as the lead singer of Oasis, and later fronting Beady Eye, Liam Gallagher will be performing on Saturday night. His debut solo album ‘As You Were’ shot straight to Number 1 with over 100,000 sales within the first week – 1 of only 3 albums this year to have sold 6 figures in its week of release.

John Giddings of Isle of Wight Festival, says:

“This year’s line-up brings together the best bands of the moment. This is a special year as it celebrates 50 years since the festival’s first incarnation so it’s fantastic to celebrate with returning artists and those appearing for the first time.”

Having sold-out venues across the globe, Irish exports The Script will return to the Isle of Wight Festival to perform on the Friday of the event.

Tickets are available now from The Price is Wight at www.thepriceiswight.co.uk.

Isle of Wight Festival 2018:

Friday

Kasabian
The Script

Saturday

Depeche Mode
Liam Gallagher
James Bay
Blossoms

Sunday

The Killers
Van Morrison

www.islandecho.co.uk

Dream of a Traditional Wight Christmas

Christmas is coming to The Needles, so expect sacks of festive fun and a twinkly, goodtime atmosphere for 2017. The Needles massive tribute to festive fun is the only place to find the ‘real’ Santa Clause in residence. Join us for another magical December with the Island’s most famous Christmas grotto returning, helping to spread cheer to families accross the Island.

 

Come and meet the real Santa Clause;

2nd & 3rd December – December 2nd, Autism and disability friendly sessions available,
please call for further details 01983 752401
9th & 10th December
16th & 17th December
Saturday 23rd December

See special guest from ‘Whoville’ arrive every morning at 10:00am. Grotto entry is only £6.00 and includes a quality gift for each child. Last Grotto entry is 4:00pm

Derek Sandy will be performing his number 1 song ‘Cos it’s Christmas’ on December 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd. The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary will be present on selected dates throughout December.

Forget presents, tinsel and turkey sandwiches. What could make Christmas more magical than meeting Father Christmas, the man himself? Once you have indulged in the free parking, free children’s rides*, free Jurassic Golf, free sweet making and glass demonstrations and free elves workshops complete your festive day and hunt down the man in red!

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, mauled wine and fresh mines pies will keep the adults entertained courtesy of ‘Taste of The Wight’ who will be offering local flavours to our families during some of the grotto dates in December.

Christmas is coming to The Needles,new for 2017 will bring more of a ‘Winter Wonderland’ atmosphere to our festival street along with some rather special guests! The Islands favourite ‘Donkey Sanctuary‘ will be present on selected grotto dates for children and adults to meet those special Donkeys and Shetland Ponies in their festive enclosure. In addition, the Needles are pleased to welcome ‘Jara Amusements’ who will be offering exciting street family entertainment games.

The Needles Christmas would not be the same without the man of the moment Mr Derek Sandy performing his Christmas hit ‘Cos it’s Christmas’ on selected dates throughout December, a real treat for anyone feeling the spirit of the season and a perfect opportunity to support a local Island Charity ‘Daisy Chains IW’, 50p from each CD sold will be donated. CD’s can be purchased from our Pier Head Shopping Emporium.

On the outskirts there lives a green Grinch another special guest for the Needles in 2017. Watch out for him over the Christmas period as he plans to put in some appearances!

As if that wasn’t enough, our 4D cinema will be half price this Christmas at £2.00 per person, fun for all the family! You can find our Santa’s breakfast special in our Marconi’s’ Restaurant along with Santa’s favourite winter warmer meals plus festive mince pies and speciality coffee.

Looking for something special for your loved one this Christmas? Our unique handmade Alum Bay Glass makes for the perfect gift and our extensive showroom displays a myriad of exquisite glassware in a variety of different colours and shapes.

Our Isle of Wight Sweet Manufactory is a must too! Watch our sweet makers create treats you’ll find nowhere else and then sample the results. We make hard boiled sweets in every imaginable flavour, perfect gifts for all the family!

Visit our Pier Head Shopping Emporium for a wide selection of gifts for all tastes and budgets , from stocking fillers to beautiful handcrafted items. Our Taste of the Wight outlet will also be ideal shopping for those all important local flavours, a must visit whilst at the Needles!

*All rides are free however not all will be open at one time, unlimited rides will be limited by ride closing times, inclement weather and demand.

Need somewhere great to stay on the Isle of Wight then look no further, The Montpelier in Sandown a great place to stay. Check out our special ferry inclusive deals.

The Island’s MP has welcomed the Government’s new rail strategy that will consider reopening previously closed Island Line rail routes.

Bob Seely has said the strategy could help the case for extending the Island Line from Ryde to Newport and possibly even from Shanklin to Ventnor.

Speaking about this week’s news, Bob said:

“I am delighted at this announcement. This new rail strategy is very helpful. It makes clear lines closed in the 1960s could be opened again”.

Prior to the publication of the current South Western Railway consultation on the future of Island Line, Bob urged the operator to include questions about whether the line should be extended either to Newport or Ventnor.

“I am delighted that SWR accepted my suggestion and put in a question in the consultation about extending the line. I am talking now to transport and rail stakeholders on the Island about whether they would support extending the Island Line.

“I believe there is potentially a strong case to extend the railway to Newport, to link the Island’s two biggest towns and help ease traffic congestion, and also to link Ryde with Ventnor, supporting Ventnor’s regeneration. However, both possibilities are not without difficulty.

“The route to Newport would require greater integration with the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, and I recognise that their principal objective is to maintain a popular heritage route for visitors. However, the Steam Railway have long-term aspirations to extend both into Ryde St Johns and closer to Newport, so there is certainly the potential for closer working and the extension of existing lines, subject to the current services provided by both Island Line and the Steam Railway continuing, as a minimum.

“Regarding Ventnor, getting the train back into the town would help the town and help connect it better with the east of the Island.  However, there will be issues about potential routes through or around Wroxall, as well as access to the tunnel.

“The important thing is that, if there is a desire to see the routes extended, we should look to secure a feasibility study to offer an up-to-date assessment of the potential costs and opportunities of either extension.

“I have already made my ambitions for Island Line clear to the operators, South Western Railway, and to the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling in several meetings and I have had with them.”

Bob is urging all residents who are interested to attend a public meeting on the future of Isle of Wight railways at Shanklin Theatre on the 14th December at 19:00.

The Christmas Lights Tour is back!

JACK UP THE 80s FIRST LINE UP ANNOUNCEMENT CONFIRMED

British pop group T’Pau, who had a string of Top 40 hits in the late 1980s including the Number One ‘China in Your Hand’ are the first eagerly anticipated name out of the hat for next Summer’s Jack Up The 80s festival.

The band, led by flame haired 80s sensation Carol Decker will be transporting audiences back to their youth by performing tracks such as Heart and Soul, Secret Garden, Valentine and many more.

T’Pau played the Isle of Wight Festival in 2013 and packed out the big top with their energetic set. They can’t wait to make a return visit to the Island for their first ever Jack Up The 80s appearance in August 2018.
Back for a sixth year, this will be the retro pop festival’s second year at Smallbrook Stadium in Ryde. Owing to the success of the event earlier this year which saw sell-out crowds, organisers have advised that 2018 tickets will be strictly limited.

Event organisers have said:
“We’ve listened to who you want back but have also booked a number of superb fresh names. We’re excited to be revealing details of next year’s line-up in the coming weeks and months, all great household names guaranteed to get you up on your feet reliving the good times.

 

Grammy Award-winning and international chart-topping British music legend Leo Sayer has been announced as the second artist to perform at next year’s Jack Up The 80s.

Leo and his band will be playing a set crammed full of his numerous Top 10 hits including ‘Thunder In My Heart’; ‘You Make Me Feel Like Dancing’; ‘The Show Must Go On’; ‘More Than I Can Say’; ‘How Much Love’ and many, many more.

A larger than life personality, Leo says he’s thrilled to be performing at Jack Up The 80s;

“Stay tuned for a superb mix of upbeat party bands and feel-good favourites.”
Jack Up The 80s

Early Bird tickets go on sale on Monday 22nd January and will be available to purchase from www.jackupthe80s.co.uk. A limited number will also available at over the counter from outlets on the Isle of Wight.

If you need somewhere to stay there’s no better place than The Montpelier in Sandown. Your own key to come and go as you please and an all day breakfast, ideal for festival goers.

Red Funnel, formally the Southampton Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Limited,^[3] is a ferry company that carries passengers, vehicles and freight on routes between the English mainland and the Isle of Wight. Red Funnel high-speed foot passenger catamarans, known as Red Jets, run between Southampton and Cowes, while vehicle ferries run between Southampton and East Cowes.

Red Funnel’s main competitor is Wightlink whose services operate from Portsmouth to Fishbourne and Ryde, and from Lymington to Yarmouth. The other major Solent ferry company, Hovertravel, operates between Southsea and Ryde. Both provide a frequent service to the Isle of Wight, but neither normally serve Southampton, Cowes or East Cowes.

The origins of Red Funnel date back to 1820, when the Isle of Wight Royal Mail Steam Packet Company was established by Cowes interests to operate the first steamer service from there to Southampton. In 1826, the Isle of Wight Steam Packet Company was formed in Southampton, and by the following year the two companies had started co-ordinating their operations. In 1860, the Southampton, Isle of Wight & Portsmouth Improved Steamboat Company was created to compete with the two established operators, and the threat posed caused the two older companies to merge. They subsequently acquired the assets of the Improved Steamboat Company in 1865.^[5]

Formed in 1861, and called The Southampton, Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Limited, the merged company’s name remains the longest for a registered company in the United Kingdom.^[3] The shortened name Red Funnel was adopted after 1935 when all the company’s ships had a black-topped red funnel. The longer name remains the company’s formal name.

The company originally operated a paddle steamer ferry service between Cowes, Isle of Wight and Southampton. During its history the company has operated other routes connecting the Isle of Wight and the English mainland, together with a sizable excursion steamer business along the South Coast of England including day trips from the Isle of Wight to France, but today services are concentrated on two routes. In 1931 it introduced its first diesel ferry, the MV Medina. Ferries have steadily increased in size to the current Scottish-built Raptor class operated between East Cowes and Town Quay in Southampton. Between 1969 and the 1990, the company also ran Italian-built hydrofoils between Town Quay and Cowes. This route is now served by high-speed, passenger-only catamarans.

In 1867 Red Funnel instituted a service crossing the River Medina between Cowes and East Cowes. This service was operated by a series of small launches over the years. The service ceased on the outbreak of war in 1939 when the vessels involved were requisitioned by the Admiralty. In 1868 the company took over the Cowes Floating Bridge Company and operated the floating bridge until 1901.^[6]

FERRY INCLUSIVE & ROOM ONLY AT OUR BED ANDBREAKFAST ISLE OF WIGHT FROM SOUTHAMPTON