Hannah Rochell's Local Produce Guide to The Isle of Wight

There’s something about being surrounded by a body of water that makes your locality feel even more….well, local. And you’d be hard pushed to find anywhere in the UK where the residents are more proud of their local produce than the Isle of Wight. At just 147 square miles, this jewel off the south coast of England has it all, from farmers and food producers, to sustainable fashion studios and wellness brands. For many, The Island, as locals call it, is now more famous for its tomatoes and gin than it is for Alum Bay’s coloured sands and scary chairlift.

The Isle of Wight is a fabulous place to live, as I do, after a 20-year stint in London. It’s also an ideal holiday destination, with miles of beaches (many of them dog friendly year-round, others with genuine dinosaur footprints embedded into rocks), acres of country walks and bike rides, and historical sites like Carisbrooke Castle (King Charles I was imprisoned here) and Queen Victoria’s pied-a-terre, Osborne House. Meanwhile, the fabulous food scene embraces local, seasonal produce like crab, sweetcorn and asparagus; it’s proudly served at top restaurants including Thompson’s, Forester’s Hall and Heron.

Having spoken to many of the producers on this list, I know that our Island’s beautiful surroundings are the inspiration for them doing what they do, the way they do it. For them, protecting the local environment is paramount to their businesses; the Island is a designated UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, after all. So if you want to cook some Isle of Wight produce at home locally or take it back across the water as a souvenir, you’ll be spoilt for choice with a clear conscience. Why not order a pair of handmade sustainable trousers while you’re at it, or treat yourself to a luxury botanical facial oil….

You can pick up Isle of Wight produce all over the Island at establishments including Harvey Browns, Salt, Quarr Abbey and The Garlic Farm, or order directly from the producers listed here.

Isle of Wight Tomatoes Marrying age-old traditions with innovative new growing techniques, Isle of Wight Tomatoes offers over forty different varieties of “red, green, and everything in between”, which it has been growing in the fertile soil of the Arreton Valley for the past fifteen years. The moist sea air and the fact that the Isle of Wight is actually the sunniest place in Britain makes it the perfect spot for the humble tom to thrive. In fact, Island tomatoes are so revered by chefs and foodies alike, that you’ll find them served at top restaurants and available at farmers markets nationwide. iowtomatoes.co.uk

Briddlesford Farm Dairy All of the cows at Briddlesford Farm Dairy are direct descendants of the first 15 Guernseys that arrived in 1923 with the great-grandfather of the present owners. Now, 140 cows contribute to the range of delicious products on offer, including milk, cream and butter. I’m a particular fan of the cheese, specifically the Briddlesford Fetter, which is a unique take on Greece’s favourite export, being slightly more moist and deliciously crumbly. The farm also rears all of its bull calves on the farm, either for veal (which it serves in its cafe) or to sell as studs. www.briddlesford.co.uk

Nunwell Home Farm Run by childhood friends Francesca Cooper and Holly Fallick, this regenerative farm is on a mission to use its livestock to holistically improve the soil and biodiversity of the historic 125 acre Nunwell House Estate, which was formerly arable farmland. They employ “mob grazing” with their Belted Galloway cattle, a practice that allows grass to keep regenerating and absorb more carbon, while their native breed pigs are doing their bit to turn over soil and disturb wild seed banks. Nunwell meat and eggs are available to order online and are delivered to your doorstep in reusable insulated bags. www.nunwellhomefarm.co.uk

The Isle of Wight Distillery Gin connoisseurs may already be familiar with Mermaid Gins, the delicious tipples that are made at the Isle of Wight Distillery and come in three flavours (Zest is my personal favourite). Ingredients like samphire, elderflower and strawberries are sourced locally, and Mermaid’s vodka is shot through with a pinch of locally sourced sea salt. This B-Corp sells its wares in certified plastic-free bottles, which are really beautiful to boot (many restaurants use them to serve tap water when they’re empty). Spirit Taster boards are available in the adjoining Mermaid Bar, which has a glass wall so that guests can view the distillery. isleofwightdistillery.com

Wight Knuckle Brewery This award-winning family-run microbrewery has pioneered bringing craft beer to the Isle of Wight, which was previously well-catered for with ale but little else if you wanted to try a local pint. In 2021, brothers Fergus and Edward set about brewing in the back of their dad George’s pub, the Pilot Boat, where you can still sample all of Wight Knuckle’s core beers and seasonal brews, as well pizzas with locally sourced toppings (naturally) from its Hotbox kitchen. The microbrewery itself has moved to New Farm on the Nunwell Estate; props to the estate owner Rob Oglander for facilitating multiple great things on his land. www.wightknucklebrewery.com

Isle of Wight Cheese Company Gallybagger is an old Isle of Wight word for a scarecrow, but younger generations will more likely be familiar with it as a type of cheese. It’s a tasty cheddar-style, made in small batches that very rarely leave the Island. The Isle of Wight Cheese Company is another award-winner, and has been making its cheeses at Queen Bower Dairy since 2006. It boasts more cheese in its repertoire, too: Isle of Wight Soft falls somewhere between a brie and a camembert, while Isle of Wight Blue is so good it won Best English Cheese at the World Cheese Awards. Great on a cracker with a drizzle of Isle of Wight honey. www.isleofwightcheese.co.uk

Isle of Wight Mushrooms This UK pioneer was the first in the country to produce medicinal mushroom tinctures: daily supplements that can be taken for health and wellbeing purposes. The Island-grown mushrooms are dual extracted using locally-made alcohol and freshly distilled water; the resulting liquid then contains a greater concentration of the beneficial compounds than could be obtained simply by eating the mushrooms. If eating mushrooms is your thing though, you might be interested in the grow-your-own kits, which are available in eight different varieties and are more fun to do than you might have expected (I speak from personal experience). www.iwmushrooms.co.uk

Roake Studio Originally founded in Devon by Islander Rosie Drake-Knight, Roake Studio moved to the Isle of Wight when Rosie and her family came back in 2021. Its small studio also acts as a shop, so customers can come in and see the sewing room in action while they’re browsing the collection of zero-waste neckerchiefs, leather belt bags and brass jewellery. Clothing is either made-to-order or produced in limited, small batches from natural materials like linen and organic cotton. Rosie places a focus on adaptable designs that work on multiple shapes and sizes, like clever wrap trousers, dresses and jumpsuits, and comfortable quilted jackets and jumpers. roake.studio

Honeybourne Jewellery Sophie Honeybourne’s designs are inspired by nature, like the deserted beaches and ancient woodland that is abundant on the Island, especially near Ventnor where her shop and workshop is based. Working mostly in silver and her signature enamel, her trinkets feature charms such as clam shells, bees and butterflies. You could even pick up the most chic of souvenirs; choose from enamel studs in the shape of the Isle of Wight or a bangle stamped with the Jane Austin line “she thinks of nothing but the Isle of Wight and she calls it the Island, as if there’s no other”. honeybournejewellery.com

Duxmore Botanics Char Legge, the founder of Duxmore Botanics, is an aromatherapist, cosmetic scientist and holistic massage therapist, so she knows her stuff when it comes to beautiful essential oils. Handmade on her farm in the middle of the Island, Char’s Duxmore products feel (and smell) indulgent and luxurious, but won’t break the bank. I swear by the face and body oil (which I have used every night since the first time I tried it) and the reed diffusers, which last around six months. These, as well as candles, garment sprays and a whole collection of Island-inspired scented products, are widely stocked at local businesses. duxmorebotanics.co.uk

Soap & Anchor Is there anything better than a good old-fashioned bar of soap? Even better if it’s made in small batches using a traditional cold press method, cut by hand and fragranced using essential oils. Meet Soap & Anchor, which does exactly this in Bembridge, just 200 metres from the sea. Choose from scents including Peppermint and Rosemary, Orange and Clary Sage and Eucalyptus and Bay; anyone visiting because they love a dip should wash with the award-winning Sea Swimmers soap. And if you just can’t decide, try a few of the Guest Soap Sticks (just £2) or a tin of samples that come in a handy travel tin. www.soapandanchor.com