The Pilot Boat Inn

Pub

The Pilot Boat Inn in Bembridge is a traditional harbour-side pub near the lifeboat station and the eastern tip of the Isle of Wight. The pub takes its name from the pilot boats that once operated from Bembridge, guiding ships safely through the eastern Solent approaches and into Portsmouth Harbour beyond. The building is old and has the low-ceilinged, slightly uneven character of a genuine coastal pub that has served its community for generations. There is a bar with real ales from island and mainland breweries, a dining area serving pub food with a seafood emphasis that makes the most of the local catch, and outdoor seating overlooking the harbour and its boats. The pub is popular with sailors, fishermen, and the local community, and it maintains a convivial, unpretentious atmosphere that makes newcomers feel welcome. Bembridge itself is an attractive village with a natural harbour, a sailing club with a long history, a windmill (the only surviving windmill on the island, managed by the National Trust), and good beaches at Whitecliff Bay and the harbour approaches. The Pilot Boat is a good base for exploring the eastern end of the island and a natural stopping point for walkers on the coastal path between Ryde and Sandown.