Island pubs unite to bring out the ‘Spirit of Carnival’
Four of the Island’s leading pubs have collaborated to support four of the Island’s traditional carnivals. The ‘Spirit of Carnival’ awards aim to recognise and encourage participation in these much-loved community events. Isle of Wight carnival is steeped in heritage and vibrant tradition with some of the UK’s favourite and longest-running carnivals. The Spirit of Carnival Award was founded in 2017 by Neil, Andrew and Jane Gibbs with the aim of rewarding those people who make the best effort to get involved. Especially if it’s for the first time.
Awards, kindly sponsored by The Bargeman’s Rest, The Spyglass Inn, The Steamer Inn, and The Dairyman’s Daughter, will be presented throughout the carnival season in Newport, Ryde, Sandown, and Ventnor. Certificates will be awarded to winners alongside cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, honouring their outstanding creativity and contribution. Andrew and Jane Gibbs, sponsors of the Spirit of Carnival for Ryde, Newport, and Sandown, shared their enthusiasm:
“We’ve been proudly supporting local carnivals since 2017, and we’re passionate about keeping our Island’s vibrant tradition of community and creativity alive.” Jane further commented: “Every year, we’re blown away by the incredible creativity and resourcefulness displayed. It’s always exciting to see what the talented community brings to the carnival. We warmly encourage more local businesses to join in and support this brilliant cultural tradition.”

The Gibbs family actively participate each year, most notably The Spyglass Inn’s iconic pirate ship float which is a regular at Ventnor Carnival.
This year’s main carnival events are:
- Sandown: 26th July
- Newport: 2nd August
- Ventnor: 13th August
- Ryde: 28th August
