If entry to the harbour is constrained by the tide and you turn up late for lunch, a place like the Black Sheep is just what you need, says Phil Sampson
BLACK SHEEP
RYDE
Delightful though the Isle of Wight destination of Ryde is, its small craft drying harbour is only accessible for 4.5hrs of every tidal cycle. On our last visit there, a lunchtime arrival was out of the question and it was mid-afternoon before we hit the town. But that didn’t mean we weren’t hungry; we were.
Surprisingly for a seaside town on a Sunday afternoon, the options along the Esplanade appeared limited, so we decided to venture inland and try our luck on busy and bustling Union Street. But from what we could see, it was much the same story as on the seafront. We’d missed the lunchtime sessions and would have to wait several hours for the eateries to reopen.
Then, just up the hill from the Mad Haberdasher and opposite the Wonky Goat (only in the Isle of Wight…) we found our salvation – the Black Sheep Bar and Club Lounge, which was still serving food until 1600. And good on them, because in a town where most other restaurateurs were taking a well-earned break, the Black Sheep was living up to its name by being different – and judging by the number of diners tucking in at 1530, it looked like a very sound move.
The Black Sheep occupies a building on the corner of a wide pedestrian thoroughfare, overshadowed by the flying freehold of its next-door neighbour, Yelf’s Hotel. The Black Sheep, however, has colonised the walkway, leaving pedestrians to pick their way through tables, chairs and parasols.
As regards its menu, the B
