The Lifeboat in Isle of Wight

I came here for a colleagues leaving party. Only the organiser had been here before so no one knew what to expect. After our experience here today, we have all started planning when we can come again. The team were very friendly, the atmosphere was great and the food was phenomenal. I really enjoyed the food and can't wait to bring my wife here in the near future.

Great place to go before a ferry ride home to the main land. Nice little car park, fog friendly and great selection on craft beers and ciders. Service was great, we will definitely be back on our next break away.

This is a really lovely restaurant with outside and inside seating, with lovely views. The staff were very friendly and helpful and the food was really nice. There were plenty of gluten free options for me and veggie options too.

Service is horrible I wait 20 minutes to pay my bill next time am gonna walk away 🤔🤔🍻

Very good food, great location, nice staff

Amazing food great atmosphere lovely place inside very friendly staff with great service

Very good service, very welcoming and helpful staff. Lovely food. Maybe more vegetarian and gluten free options?

Great place, lovely food and people. The ordering via a webpage works for drinks - less so for fussy children where you need to ask for things to be removed from an order. Staff at food/drinks order station were fab. Guess it's a sign of the times where the EasyJet model of self service kicks in and must reduce headcount costs and therefore prices. Lovely location. Service is a two because I love to be served... But in fairness to them that's not their model - If your chilled about ordering on line grabbing all your eating gear and condiments then this is 5 stars all round

Came for a lunch on Sunday,13th. Beautiful place. The staff were welcoming, friendly and the service was excellent. The food was amazing. Plenty of it, and delicious. The steak on the skillet was superb Thanks for a great experience

Clean, friendly, lots of young staff with quick service. Food was quickly prepared and served - simple in style but with good and generous ingredients. We felt well looked after and welcomed on a busy Friday night.

Good service and good food,pleasant experience

Nicest piece of tuna I’ve had in a long time!

Good location overlooking the Medina. Large pub seating about 250 across inside and outside area. Standing area around bar for those not wishing to be seated. Small parking area adjacent to pub. Food service quick and friendly. Good range of cocktails made with Mermaid gin/rum/vodka products. Excellent range of tapas for those who prefer that style of eating. Can get very busy. Specials board. Also opens for breakfast, but no eggs Benedict options , just traditional English, rolls/baps, toast and granola, although garlic Mushrooms option looked good. Will return again for lunch / dinner.

A really friendly place! The food was of a good standard and the outside seating was great for our dog, It’s an easy walk down from the town centre and it’s got decent views of the marina. The woman on the bar who has recently started was a great laugh!

Went there last Thursday after being told that it had improved. Can't imagine what it had been like recently in that case, but a couple of years ago I said I would not go back, however on the recommendation, decided we would give it one more try. Should not have listened. Neither of us like skinny fries, so asked for chunky chips which were on the menu. When the meals arrived I said that we had ordered chunky chips and not skinny fries at which point I was told that those were the chunky chips, so I dread to think what their skinny fries looked like. My friend had battered cod, of which the batter constituted about 75% with very little fish inside When asked if we had enjoyed our meal when paying I said NO and were not even offered a free coffee. Then on checking the bill, I was shocked at the price. I could have bought as good a meal anywhere on the island for a lot less. I don't mind paying top dollar for a good meal, but for what we had, it was extortionate! STAY WELL CLEAR UNLESS YOU ARE PREPARED TO PAY A LOT OF MONEY FOR SOMETHING MEDIOCRE!! Maybe the 'yachties' don't mind paying through the nose, but as an Islander, I do.

A couple, we went with a friend who lives nearby. Only had a snack, we all enjoyed our food. Staff very nice.

Lovely place and setting. Food and service was great. They catered for gluten-free and it was delicious. Beautiful place to sit outside when the sun is shining

Very relaxed, scenic place to have lunch. Service was great from very helpful, cheerful staff. Cannot really comment on the quality of food as I had a baguette which was nice. Definitely will visit again for the scenery and atmosphere.

Dog friendly restaurant with great food. Perfectly located if you're catching the Red Funnel ferry from East Cowes.

Warm and cozy in the inside. Would love to dine outside by the marina but it was cold and has scattered rain during our time. It's a 15 minute walk from the Red funnel ferry. Service was great and the food was large enough for your apetite.

This place is a real hidden gem…. We went to several places on the island for something to eat, to be turned away as they had stopped serving food( this was 2:30pm) we found this place and although they said food had stopped being served they told us to come in and they would accommodate us! We had cod and chips and one of us had whitebait- all meals were delicious and the staff were very very friendly….. can’t recommend enough, absolutely super!

An impressive menu, typical of the Boatfolk standard. Catering for the boating types, berthing just in front of the deck, I would imagine it’s a popular mooring. The rest of us boat-less folk would enjoy the family menu as proved by the large family groups that were there when we visited. I ate from the tapas menu, which was the expected high price for small portions. However, thirty pounds for tiger prawns, S&P squid and gyoza style dumplings - I don’t consider bad value. Staff were on the ball and attentive.

Really lovely spot. The weather was beautiful so we sat outside and thoroughly enjoyed our dinner as the sun set.

Only had a drink. Didn't fancy anything on the menu.

Lovely pub with first rate food, looks to be the go to for East Cowes marina.

Amazing food, my steak was absolutely delicious, lots of lovely doggies there as well, just wish the weather had been nicer so we could have sat outside. Staff were friendly and attentive, even though they were very busy Will definitely be returning on a sunny day

Amazing food, my steak was absolutely delicious, lots of lovely doggies there as well, just wish the weather had been nicer so we could have sat outside. Staff were friendly and attentive, even though they were very busy Will definitely be returning on a sunny day

6 of us ate in the evening, and the food came out in dribs and drabs. Steaks came out on a sizzling skillet, which meant your medium steak was well done by the time you ate it. The cod was very poor, with no taste and it appeared to have been frozen. Not what you'd expect from a menu on an island. It was restaurant prices with back street quality I'm afraid which was a shame. On a plus note, the location was lovely and the range of drinks good.

Ordered 2 tuna steaks, scampi and a kids meal. Tuna was disgracefully bad. Overcooked to the point it was a dark grey in colour which made it dry and tasteless. No teriyaki glaze could be tasted. Lemons for flavour arrived separately a few minutes after. No check back despite the 8 front of house staff. This was our last meal of our holiday on IOW and we were too hungry to try our luck at catching the attention of inattentive staff inside and then wait for the meal to be cooked again. Raised the issue very politely with the clueless manager (female, blonde, late 40s in unprofessional pink dress) and explained I run my own restaurant and wanted to come to her instead of to tripadvisor. Explained the issue, asked if some desserts could be comped as we were all going to order dessert anyway and it was probably less hassle than just refunding the tuna steaks. She became very aggressive and combative, and had to check with the chef if she could. The manager on duty had to check with someone? Her attitude stank and left a very bad taste in our mouth so will be following up with HQ. Desserts were genuinely great, except the kids dessert of 2 scoops of ice cream, served to my 2 year old, outside, came in a huge glass dish. You can guess what happened. Glass smashed, kid lost his dessert and almost cut his hands open. Wasn’t asked if he was okay by staff that noticed a small stack of smashed glass 30 mins later, when prompted. Assumed this was what all ice cream was served in until customers in front had ice cream in a small easy to handle dish. All in all, awful management and food quality. Manager on duty couldn’t organise a… well you get it.

The continuing saga of Solent eateries reachable by boat (paddle board access is also assumed - you may have to drip quietly or change before entering). We’ve been coming here for a good few years now and have always found it a welcoming little gem. The positioning a veritable stone’s throw from East Cowes Marina is perfect for when you don’t want to suffer the hustle and bustle of west Cowes. The food is great and good real ale is kept and not sidelined for some of the lager only outlets. I had my favourite fare of fish and chips and I can only apologise for a photo of a half demolished plate - it was that good and a morning on the water really builds the appetite. A final sign off to say thank you to our server who was smiling efficiency personified. We’ll be back soon.

This is must stop if you are in visiting the Isle of Wight and in the East Cowes area and are hungry for some proper english pub grub. They have a likable atmosphere with ample indoor and outdoor seating.However if you want indoor seating my advice is to book a table in advance. The food was served in a decently quick fashion was piping hot and refreshing. Highly recommended if you want a well satisfied tummy. Ambience is pub like to the notch and the outdoor patio opens into the boat docks against the sunset so you get excellent evening pictures. Outdoor seating is not suggested if you have dinosaur toddlers as the patio has low lighting and is very close to the harbour with limited barricades.

Nice pub for a meal. Staff great, prices reasonable and food nice. Lovely location

Lovely place and great food Staff very friendly

Squeezed us in on a busy evening. Lovely food, quick and pleasant service.

Booked a table but ended up sitting outside.. good choices.on the menu .. went 2 days during our holiday.

Food and presentation was great, Service was horrendous. Having been shown to our table , we waited at least 15 minutes for the waitress took our drink order. Got the order wrong even though she was writing it down, another 15munutes before drinks arrived at table. Waitress was abrupt when challenges about wrong drinks. Waited another half an hour before taking our food order, and only came over after one of our party went to find somebody to take our food order! Didn't check on our table to wether we needed more drinks. Ordered dessert and more drinks, which we had to go and find somebody. Grateful that we hadn't got charged for service as we had provided our own !! Left payment wrapped in receipt and under flower vase . Left and was taking photos outside, only for the waitress to run out behind us and accuse us of not paying!!! Had she gone to the table as part of service, she would have seen payment!! No apology. Will not be returning.

A beautiful restaurant by the marina. The food was lovely and the staff very friendly. The location is perfect to enjoy a nice evening dinner by the marina. Would highly recommend.

Really lovely, quick service via order on app. Lovely atmosphere and great view overlooking marina. The food itself was delicious!

Absolutely amazing place. Clean, staff very polite. Service was fast, even though busy. Food was lovely especially the fish and pork

Lovely lunch, polite and friendly staff and fantastic views to enjoy a drink sitting watching over the marina

This is a lovely spot right by the marina, really nice decor and atmosphere inside too, unfortunately I was quite disappointed with the food, I had the salt and pepper shredded chicken which sounded really nice, but was in reality a load of cheap frozen rubbish, with a bowl of cheap clearly refried over cooked chips and a small salad, most definitely not worth the £17.50 that I payed for it. The rest of my parties food seemed okay, although very average for the money payed. Unfortunately we will not be returning, which is a shame as it’s such a nice location.

Lovely food. Extremely fast service with a smile. Delicious big menu for both food and drinks. Sugar free cocktails and added bonus. Dogs welcome and very family friendly Would definitely recommend

Fabulous pub. The setting, the food and the service all top-notch!

Dogs are welcome! Open all afternoon for a leisurely lunch with friends!

Food was really tasty quite pricey but nice no actual theme inside but otherwise great

Food was excellent, we had a table of 8 and there was not a single complaint. Servers were attentive but not overly so. Very clean and nice decor.

Great spot right on the water, definitely the most happening place in East Cowes that we found on our recent holiday. Food was good and presented very nicely. Service was quick and friendly, great selection of drinks as well.

Enjoyed my classic hotdog. There is a need to book as very busy at lunchtime. Staff very nice.

Great food, great venue and great customer service. Thoroughly enjoyed our visit 😀

Had breakfast here it was lovely

Fantastic clean and friendly. Beautiful food served by lovely people. Very safe and professional

Traveled from one side of the island with my family of 7 just to have a Sunday roast as advertised on there own website just to be told oh we don’t do Sunday roasts anymore and haven’t for a long time, it would take 5 mins to remove this from the website instead they enjoy wasting peoples time

We have eaten at many places, but this has topped every single one of them. The Service, Food and cleanliness was exceptional. I highly recommend the Shredded Chicken! Thank you so much for making our visit lovely. We will definitely be back!

It is a lovely pub located by the waterfront. A very nice selection of food and drink. Staff friendly. Relaxing, dog friendly .

Nice service and food, just the tuna a bit too cooked, but overall good job

Lovely location with a nice outdoor space overlooking the marina. Friendly staff and good food, will definitely return.

Great food, service and lovely to sit outside in the sun.

Aquí tienes la reseña en inglés: --- Recently, I had an excellent dinner at The Lifeboat. From the moment I walked in, the experience was very good. The cleanliness of the place was impeccable, which is always appreciated. Everything was perfectly in order, contributing to a pleasant and welcoming atmosphere. The service was another highlight. The speed and quality were exceptional. Not only was I served efficiently, but the food arrived quickly and in perfect condition. This combination of speed and high quality in the dishes really made the dinner memorable. In summary, The Lifeboat excels in cleanliness, order, and service that combines speed and quality. Definitely an experience I recommend for those looking for a pleasant and hassle-free dinner. --- ¿Hay algo más en lo que pueda ayudarte?

Lovely place to eat overlooking the marina. Delicious food and great service. Clean and relaxed atmosphere. Would definitely recommend it.

Yummy food with a big menu to choose from! An extensive drinks menu. Good variety of specials. Lovely spot, especially in the summer evenings!

Beautiful views of the marina, delicious food with a good extensive menu,very friendly and efficient staff

Quite expensive and a menu limited for choice.

Lovely day, great food, would go back!

Lovely spot on the Medina . Friendly staff , an extensive menu .

This is our second visit as it's on the way back to Ferry Terminal. Has extensive menu to choose from. It was a cold and grey day so sat inside this time. Service was good and food (+ Pim's!) was excellent so we'll always call in on any further trips to the Island

Lovely food & great beer!! Try the Fiddly Dee Dee ale- lovely pint!

Great food. Staff weren't too friendly though

Busy, great atmosphere and good food for the family. Lots of choices with the food which was served hot and in a timely manner. Great portion sizes and the fries stood out as amazing.. Kids meals were good as well.

Pub restraunt in East Cowes isle of wight.

Food came quickly and was fresh and delicious. Service attentive and friendly. And a wonderful riverside location too

Great food, nice location and friendly staff

Came for a work company lunch about 20 of us and to say the least we all very much enjoyed our meals and the setting and atmosphere. I had the southerner and it was perfect. Well done to all the staff at the lifeboat you are a credit to the Isle of Wight i will definitely be returning

Great food Fish and chips delicious and white bits delicious 5****

An amazing lunchtime with the family for my 70th birthday. Staff really nice and food served quickly and to a highb standard....as always

Had fish and chips. It was absolutely worth the money.

Going back to mainland today and we found this beautiful little place for breakfast. The food was delicious and fresh and portion sizes were perfect. Staff friendly and helpful. A hidden gem that I highly reccomend with lovely views of the Marina. Thank you to all staff we encountered, you are a credit to your establishment.

Great food and service. Had the Stilton burger.

Great Pub/ Restaurant Staff friendly, food lovely had fish and chips with peas etc. Was cooked fresh and served hot. Big portions too.

Great food, beautiful views. Outside area which look out over the river.

Food was delicious! It appears a bit pricey, but for the quality of the meal it is good value. Also a lovely harbour view from there windows.

Great Food, good selection of beers, overpriced though and expect last orders to be called early

Juste for Coffee and a shortbread. Good and Nice place.

Great food, Spacious and friendly with great views across the River Medina. Would recommend

Lovely meal in a great location if you enjoy views of boats. Wiltshire ham and eggs got a 'very good' from dad and my Greek salad was excellent, full of olives feta and the side of potatoes with a delicious dressing. You can access a short walk on the front, but of course not in the marina itself. The wind protection and a sunny day made outside dining a delight. Parking adjacent was easy, although we are out of main season. I'd emailed ahead to see if indoor eating with the dogs was possible, but didn't get a reply, in the end it didn't matter as the weather was fine. They happily provided a bowl of water for our dogs. Live music was advertised for a number of forthcoming dates.

We stumbled to this place by accident as we were looking just for something to eat and to wait for our ferry back to Mainland. We didn't have reservation on Sunday afternoon but they have managed to find us a table, we had our almost 6months old baby with us. Staff was super friendly towards us and a baby as well. We both went for roast dinners, mine was vegetarian nut roast and my partner had beef I believe. Tbh so far it was the best roast and gravy I have had for a loooong time eating out, my partner enjoyed his as much too. It was nice to see a place thats buzzing and have full staff and you don't wait for ages to be served nor for food either. It was really nice surprise and we will definitely be back whenever we visit and we will be recommending this place to anyone who comes to IoW through East Cowes. No picture of food as we were quite hungry and it was too good to stop eating! Thank you!

Went for the Friday night two for £24 specials, really good would certainly recommend to all

Great lunch on Saturday, huge portions, great service, we will be back

Very accommodating staff... we arrived on a Saturday evening with no reservation and two dogs and they still found us a table. Great food and service, wasn't cheap but wasn't ridiculously expensive like many of the trendy yottie places. Will definitely come back.

Great food and relaxing atmosphere

Friendly helpful staff (which for me is all important) even though it was busy and we hadn't booked. Decent pub food, nothing too fancy. Great service thank you.

Attended a funeral wake. It was an ideal venue, food was excellent, just not all to my personal liking. I would highly recommend it both as a pub , restaurant and venue.

Lovely place and setting food was rearly good too.

Always good service, but shout-out to Emily today, who made our dinner extra special by making sure all the allergies and intolerances were covered. And that's without even having a reservation. Excellent service, going the extra mile with a smile on her face. Thanks a million!

Fabulous food and atmosphere. Well worth the ferry trip from Southampton x

I had lunch today at the lifeboat inn . I came in the summer last it was very busy . Today not so busy I sat outside because the sun was shining plenty of table it was just warm enough bright peaceful . If you want a winter lunch and meet up it s a perfect place with view of the harbour food served perfectly and the taste as good as the last time I was there

Great place all aspects , Had meal outside lovely

Food good quality and quantity at very reasonable price, and selection of well-kept real ales.

Great place, love the atmosphere, and I think Pub Hub communal working days are a brilliant idea. Recommended!

Food was lovely as always, and although busy they were able to accommodate us as a walk in.

Great breakfast! I judge a full English on the sausage and this was excellent- firmly packed and perfectly seasoned. The bacon was also better than supermarket standard. All the rest was very good and served quickly and on a warm plate. Service was efficient and friendly in a very nicely decorated pub. Highly recommended!