Blackgang Chine Needs Your Vote to Win Big at the UK Theme Park Awards
Blackgang Chine, the UK’s oldest theme park and key contributor to the Isle of Wight tourism, has been shortlisted in four major categories at the 2025 UK Theme Park Awards – and now it needs your vote to bring the trophies home. Celebrated for its creativity, charm and multi-generational legacy Blackgang Chine has been recognised in the following categories: Best Customer Service – backed by an outstanding 98% score in its most recent VisitEngland Quality Assessment. Best Reimagined Ride – for the brilliantly reinvented Jolly Robin, which incorporates a great use of an old Blackgang Chine favourite Jonah’s whale. Best Seaside
A Summer of Non-Stop Fun at Tapnell Farm Park
Tapnell Farm Park is dialling up the fun this summer with an action-packed programme of daily animal encounters, all-weather adventures, and two showstopping weekly events – all included with Farm Park admission. Here’s what you can enjoy at Tapnell Farm Park this summer: Find endless ways to keep your little adventurers entertained at Tapnell Farm Park with the perfect blend of indoor and outdoor fun for families, whatever the weather. When the skies turn grey, children can enjoy hours of excitement in the undercover Adventure Barn, featuring trampolines, pedal go-karts, and impressive Tower Slide. For younger visitors, the three-story Indoor Soft Play
Robin Hill Launches Charitable Fund to Support Isle of Wight Families in Need
Robin Hill is proud to announce the creation of the Robin Hill Fund, a new charitable initiative facilitated by WightAID, set up to support families on the Isle of Wight who are experiencing hardship. Administered through local grant-giving charity WightAID, the fund will provide vital assistance to those most in need across the Island. The Robin Hill Fund is available for families facing challenges in meeting daily food needs and requiring support with school uniforms and more general clothing. It will also help to access meaningful family outings. Families will be able to apply for support through their local schools, making
Aspire Brings Back ‘Summer Food & Fun’ Programme to Ryde, Lake and Shanklin
Free activity days for children on free school meals return this August across four community venues Aspire Ryde is excited to announce the return of its free “Summer Food & Fun” sessions this August, welcoming eligible children across four community venues in Ryde, Lake and Shanklin. Running throughout the summer holidays, Summer Food & Fun offers creative play, nutritious meals, and a welcoming space for children who are entitled to free school meals. Sessions will be held at the Aspire Soft Play and Café in Ryde, the Aspire Creative Hub in Ryde, the new Aspire Creative Hub in Shanklin and Wightwater Adventure
School’s out! Your guide to summer on the Isle of Wight
Summer on the Isle of Wight has a laid-back, fun vibe that makes it the perfect place to unwind. The beaches are busy with families building sandcastles, people swimming in the sea, and others just soaking up the sun. There’s always something going on—whether it’s a carnival, a food market, or just a cozy pub garden buzzing with chatter. You can take scenic walks along the cliffs, hop on a bike and explore the countryside, or chill with an ice cream while watching the waves. It’s the kind of place where time slows down and everything feels a bit brighter. With
Blackgang Chine Announces Brand New Family Train Ride for 2026
Former Robin Hill favourite, the Cows Express, is set for a magical Blackgang revival Blackgang Chine, the UK’s oldest theme park, has announced. The exciting new attraction set to launch in 2026 reimagined with all the quirky charm and imagination the Isle of Wight attraction is famous for. The ride will be familiar to fans of the Island’s sister park, Robin Hill, where it previously operated as the Cows Express. Now, the much-loved train has undergone a full refurbishment, has a new colourway and will have a whole new theme. Whilst details of that remain unknown, Blackgang Chine have exclusively confirmed to
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,
Red Funnel teams up with WRS to elevate onboard ReFuel café experience
Red Funnel, the Isle of Wight ferry operator, has announced a new partnership with Newport-based technology provider WRS, marking a significant step in enhancing the onboard customer experience across its vehicle ferry fleet. As part of the partnership, Red Funnel has rolled out advanced electronic point-of-sale (EPOS) systems in all ReFuel cafés onboard its ferries. This upgrade is designed to improve transaction speed, streamline service, and create a more seamless experience for customers. ReFuel cafés are a beloved feature of Red Funnel's onboard offerings, providing passengers with high-quality food and beverages during their crossing. The cafés offer a variety of options, including
Isle of Wight Festival 2025 review
The Isle of Wight Festival delivered a high-production, nostalgia-driven experience with something for everyone - veteran acts, pop hits, family zones, and interactive setups. Thematically playful with its “Neon Jungle” aesthetic, and backed by Sky’s massive presence, it felt polished and engaging. Sting kicked off Friday with full Police-era thowbacks, supported by Faithless, which had everyone in the mood for what was going to be a festival to remember. Stereophonics delivered a rock-heavy Saturday set, energising the crowd with their hits spanning over 30 years. Pop royalty such as Jess Glynne, The Corrs, Busted, Texas, Olly Murs and Amy MacDonald brought crowd-pleasing
Timetables and technology upgrades hot topics at Red Funnel’s latest Customer Forum
Recently customers of Red Funnel met with the leadership team, as part of the cross-Solent ferry firm’s Customer Forum initiative, to discuss topics at the front of customers minds. The evening’s discussions saw senior members of the Red Funnel team speak openly with customers to tackle some of their most pressing matters, including hospitality and vessel technology upgrades, as well as timetables, reliability and punctuality. Red Funnel’s Customer Forums provide the Island community with a regular opportunity to have face-to-face with the leadership team, who respond to questions and gather feedback to help directly inform future plans, projects and priorities. Red Funnel’s CEO,