The Old Fort in Isle of Wight

This place is famous for its views across the Solent, but only in the summer. In the winter the windows are always steamed up giving you near to no visibility outside. We didn’t eat but the menu looks good and average prices for the area. Drinks were more expensive than the Seaview Hotel just around the corner. +£1 per drink on gin & tonic. It was November on a Friday evening and all tables were reserved. We did sit at one of their best tables for our drink ‘Captain Ted’s Table’ and it was wobbly as hell. Felt like it was going to give way at any time. Come on this is an easy fix.

Improvement required. Over cooked scampi with undercooked chips, dry steak and ale pies, and undercooked chicken, all one one table ! Come on chef please take your time and cook things properly.

Let me start by saying, we eat at the Old Forte a lot. There are not many options to eat out in Seaview and it’s probably the best place. Great staff, great atmosphere and what a view! I am a creature of habit, so I don’t normally choose different options on the menu, but as I’m booked in for 3 evening meals on the trot, I thought I would choose something different. Sadly this was not a good idea. I chose the Steamed bao buns with Duck for starter. This was very dry and not very flavourful. For main, I opted for one of the daily Specials, the Chicken Tikka Masala. Sadly, this was as disappointing as the starter. It did not look anything like a Tikka Masala, nor did it taste anything like one either. I did ask a very helpful and customer focused member of staff if I had received the correct dish, and she checked and then explained that the dish was the Chef’s own interpretation of a Chicken Tikka Masala. It was not a Chicken Tikka Masala. The sauce is usually creamy. This one was anything but creamy. Maybe it was a healthy version. I’m not sure. My recommendation is stick to their, fish and chips , crab ramekin or anything British in nature. They do a brilliant job with these dishes.

Didn’t book just turned up they found a table for us and doggie . Fast to take our order. Ordered steak that was cooked just as we liked it . Good portion size.The restaurant was quite full which I think is a good sign.

great place visited many times and staff so friendly, we did have a problem with one meal and although it spoilt our evening it was not charged for and they took care of problem,

Excellent meal, couldn't fault anything. There was plenty to choose from including specials. We had ribeye which was beautifully cooked, my mum had the fish and chips which again was great. Even better my son ordered chicken nuggets and I was so pleased to see they were real chicken breast, battered, instead of frozen rubbish which is normally offered to children. Service was great and the atmosphere was perfect being so close to the sea.

Last year I wrote a review saying this was one of my new favourite places as the food options and quality were so good (along with the incredible view). Sadly, this year the menu has been downgraded to more of a burger and chips establishment. Seven of us had a coffee here and had a table booked for dinner later in the week, but when we saw the menu and specials we cancelled our booking. There was also loud music blaring at 11:00am when we were there. Lovely view, but sadly no longer one of my favourite places.

Always excellent here, busy so must book. The downside, food actually comes out way too quick, can make it feel a bit cafeteria like….. Main course within 10 mins of ordering, just too quick.

As we entered there was customers everywhere & no staff to greet you.Staff behind the bar looking harrasssed & young!We had to grab a member of staff to make sure we were in the right place to shiw them.iur booking.It took 10 mins for anyone to ask if we wanted drinks. She was pleasant but looked new.The seating is very close to other tables and so it got very loud.After another 20 mins we ordered food , that arrived before the drinks which took forever luckily we had water!They didn't remember to give my daughter skinny chips instead of chunky but we didn't say anything as it would've take longer .The noise of customers got louder & wasn't relaxing at all.As the waitress sprayed table right next to.our good she said oh weren't you mea especially being so close to.others.t to have skinny chips?It was too late then but she did apologise but didn't offer anything else like free drink.or taking the chips off men as she didn't eat them.The thing that annoyed us the mist was when we gotten bill she said we add 10% but yiu don't have to.So I requested not to as they did not deserve £4 , she said oh I'll have to reprint your bill again so she already assumed we would tip!That should be up to customer and the amount added discreetly when they pay.I always tip but on this occasion I didn't and I imagine alot of customers are too embarrassed to say anything. So we won't be back the food was ok but overpriced,and experience not great.

Nice setting, interesting menu, lovely waiting staff but really lousy bland food. A restaurant can look great but if the chef doesn't cut it then it can't work even if everything else is sorted. Powdery mussels in plain cream (no flavours, herbs,stock), green veg listed as having slivers of almonds on menu turned up plain boiled and oversalted, everything a bit bland and overly creamy. Such a shame as lots was right but really unimpressive food.

Staff rude and unhelpful would not recommend salt and pepper squid is like eating pure salt vile and disgusting waste of money

This restaurant is situated right on the seafront in Seaview. The upstairs offers great views over the Solent. The staff are friendly and efficient. There is a reasonable menu, which is always supplemented with a specials board. Local ales are on offer. The portions are good and the meals are well presented. We have dined here on the first night of our holiday before as our accommodation is close by. It is an excellent way to start our trip.

What a cheek telling us they have put 10% on our bill for tips it is up to the customer to decide this, you should not be asking anything

We were a party of four who ate outside, across the road on a sunny day. We had food and drinks. The portions were a good size and nicely prepared and cooked. We were plagued by small, black flying insects where we sat. After our food and drinks were brought to our table, I asked about cutlery and condiments. I was instructed to cross the road and obtain them from a table outside the premises. In my opinion, they should have been brought to the table with the food. The napkins wrapped around the cutlery were very damp.

What a wonderfut evening we had! All four of us had fabulous meals. The fish was cooked perfectly, there were at least three vegetarian options. Staff were lovely it was a busy evening but wait times were fine. The views are gorgeous in the evening across the Solent & of course you can see the old forts. My new favourite restaurant on the Island.

We want to the old fort in a Saturday night when we staying in Seaview for the weekend with friends. Went as a group of 5 and thankfully had booked a table in advance as the place was super busy. Staff were very friendly and helpful and the food was delicious. We had one vegetarian guest with us and felt the menu could benefit from a couple more veggie options. They had the panisse salad, and would suggest this should come with a dressing as it was a bit dry! Cocktails and other food were great and no complaints would visit again when in the area.

This sea front gastro pub in Seaview is well worth a visit. Food was excellent quality with some nice twists on the usual fare. A good range of sea food and beef dishes, and the Aspen Fries are well worth a tickle. As with many places on Wight , The Old Fort is dog friendly. The efficient staff are friendly and prices in the £10-£23 ish range. It gets quite busy and was almost full on our Wednesday lunch time visit so best to book ahead.

They may have just one a fancy award but they didn’t get my vote on this occasion First off, myself over 60 and companion nearly 80 were greeted, by a young woman,as ‘guys’ NO! There was a healthy number of diners, but it wasn’t packed and considering that I felt the service was a little off- on the slow side. Just that bit too long to take the order for drinks, which then turned into taking the food order at the same time. At the other end of the meal, having bought the menus for us to choose a dessert, by the time the waitress returned to take the order we had talked ourselves out of having any and just got the bill. Someone also had their dog sitting on the bench seat on the next table, another turn off for us I’m afraid. The food in the middle of all this was very good. A very interesting and tasty Panisse salad. I didn’t know what that meant but it was Ve and sounded good and was. The Panisse was cubes that looked like they might be tofu but tasted like hummous and, having now looked it up, are made from chickpeas. I very much liked them. The rest of the salad was not run of the mill, so all in all a good dish. My companion had a good thick chunk of beef pie from the special menu. This was served with proper chips and extra gravy. All very good. My mark would certainly have been higher if only the service, and greeting, had been better.

Great food and service, always look forward to eating here. Menu has a good selection to suit all tastes supplemented with a specials board. Look forward to returning again in the future.

The old fort is usually such a fave spot for myself and my friends, although a lot left to be desired on this evening. While the food was fab, as it always is! The greeting upon arrival was remarkably rude and brash, from a young man I assumed to be a manger. Shortly after we were shown to our table, but much longer did we wait for a drinks and food order, and we were then taken aback when our beverages arrived as they were slammed onto the table with not even a smile or friendly word. It was thankfully saved by the food being delicious. But we all in all felt quite uncared for and perhaps as though the lack of staff meant our presence was creating a nuisance, not the best feeling to have on an evening with friends :(

We hadn’t booked for dinner on a Thursday evening and the restaurant was busy. However, we were made to feel very welcome and had a drink at the bar while we waited for a table. The meal was delicious, and good value. I wish I’d asked the guy’s name who greeted us because he was exceptional 👌

We popped into the Old Fort for a drink last night. Although we didn’t eat the menu looked good and the food coming out of the kitchen smelt amazing!! We’ll definitely be coming back for dinner here. The service was lovely and the price was good too. Plenty of non-alcoholic choices which was lovely. Thank you for the warm welcoming and service.

Staff unfriendly told we could have a table for half hour to have a drink, after 15 minutes told we had to drink up and leave as the people who it was reserved for had arrived early without even an apology!

The Sunday lunch is excellent, staff are cheerful and attentive. The restaurant is brightly decorated in keeping with its seaside location. Great views of stormy sea while warm and cosy indoors.

Lovely restaurant with very happy and attentive staff The view is fantastic with amazing views of the forts in the Solent Sat upstairs in the restaurant area, it was ok but lacked atmosphere compared to the downstairs eating area…. Only negative is that the food is on the pricey side, but still very good quality Would recommend

We are a couple in our 80’s with mobility issues & found our visit to The Old Fort unfriendly & discourteous. A sign outside described it as a cafe-bar. When we entered 3 waitresses were chatting in the bar area. We were not greeted or directed to a table so we sat at the nearest one. When we had settled a waitress appeared & moved us to the only table for 2 at the far end which we had not previously spotted. There were plenty of free tables. I asked what the soup was & the reply was “it is on the specials board & I can’t be expected to remember everything”. Clearly the waitress did not propose to find out for us what the soup was & so I had to go to the other end of the room to check the specials board and in fact there was only 1 type of soup - which turned out to be excellent.

Great evening, amazing service by Connor. Lovely food. Really nice atmosphere. Clean, really enjoyed the evening!!!!Thank you.

Very nice and clean, nice decor friendly server, food was nice, however i was disapointed with sandwhich , on menu it said bloomer bread but it was just thin cut sliced bread, i was expecting decent baked bread, wouldnt have a sandwhich there again.

Bring a very small Band-Aid for anyone daft enough to head butt the lights. Doh! We have been before, and I think the place is still getting better. Super cheerful service, always a winner in my opinion. Water offered immediately, good thinking, great local ale and top-quality Caesars salad and sea bass. The Eton mess was the high light for my guests. Lovely visit until next time.

A super lunch here at The Fort...Welcoming staff and our waiter was excellent ( sorry I didn't get his name but he was off on a holiday to Norway ! ) Very dog friendly ... our little daxi had her own bowl of water and...

Food good and friendly service but waited an hour from arriving at table till food arrived which is unacceptable with children in tow !

The Old Fort is placed in a lovely spot in Seaview facing the sea. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxing. The staff are very attentive and always on hand if you need anything. The food and drink were fabulous and good value. If you are...

Had visitors from Canada and as we like the Fort we made a booking for 5. By chance we called in before this so i spoke to a member of staff to confirm that up to 3 members of our party would want fillet steaks...

Booked a table for 9th Oct 6.30pm for three people and two small dogs. Promptly got told “we need the table back by 8.30pm” Anyhow turned up at 6.30pm on the day and was seated straight away and ordered drinks. Ordered food a little while...

Lovely place great food stunning views if you are in the area don’t miss this place great staff and service

First visit here, we have walked past many times but never gone in due to the 'old pub' look from outside but after the quality of food and service last Saturday no more will we walk past. Many Thanks Leigh

Really good food in a great location, prices very reasonable and staff very good. The IOW fish and chips were fantastic.

Food fabulous and very reasonably priced. Wine gorgeous, not cheap but that's how it is now. Staff friendly and attentive. Live music blew us away. Not the cheapest of evenings but an evening we will remember and will definitely be back. Loved it. Well done...

Enjoyed a lovely evening with friends, at The Old Fort. Location right on the sea front. Great choice of food on the menu. Vegetarians well catered for. Our meals were so good. Staff friendly. Highly recommend

Excellent food and great views over the Solent. Do not be put off by the exterior as it looks like an old pub, it is, but the food was delicious. 6 adults, all with different mains, served all together and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals....

Had a recommendation from a couple of women at Osborne House, so on the off chance visited it today, Very busy and had great food ,no problems will be going to this pub again if we can get booked.

We stopped for a coffee at The Old Fort whilst staying in Seaview, sitting outside looking over the Solent, it’s a great spot. Coffee was good quality with a biscuit, which was a nice touch and good value when you get a fantastic view too.

We popped in yesterday for a drink on our way past cycling to Ryde from Sandown. We were so impressed with what we saw we went back today (15 September) to have lunch. A great range of beers and spirits, and an appetising menu of...

5 Stars. Staff and Food Fabulous Had a drink here most evenings whilst on holiday and watched the maritime traffic in The Solent. Excellent views. Beer good and staff superb. Had a family meal Thursday and everything was Yummy. The Moules Marinier and Frites were...

My husband and I visited this place on a rare child free night out, and following a disastrous meal at a restaurant further up the road. The Old Fort is everything the other place wasn’t - the staff are really friendly and seem genuinely pleased to be there, the drinks were lovely, and although we only had a pudding (following a meal at previous disastrous restaurant) it was delicious and the food that was being served to the tables around us looked incredible! We will most definitely be coming back here on our next trip and will be making an evening of it. The restaurant itself is in a great location, beautiful views and is decorated really nicely. There was a great vibe in there as well. Thank you for salvaging our child free night!!

Fantastic to be back at The Old Fort and the food and atmosphere is better than before. Loved the new upstairs space, feels the same as being downstairs which is a rarity when pubs add to their footprint. We’ll be back in September, hoping for a beer by the sea and dinner too.

Really enjoyed our meal at this charming restaurant. The location is idyllic. We had fish and chips and the sea bass both which were very very good and priced right. The service was excellent despite the restaurant being full. Lovely ambiance, extremely well managed. 10% Service charge is added to your bill but we very happy to pay it considering the excellent service. We saw the vegetarian options plated up which looked very good. One criticism is that we thought the fillet (I believe I saw 6ounces) looked pricey. A great evening out. Not to be missed.

Just Wowwwwww! From the moment we arrived to leaving we had the most wonderful time at The Old Fort. The staff were so attentive, friendly and amazing. Food Superb , crab Ramekin so tasty and Scallops sublime! Fantastic atmosphere and our children were catered for in every way so friendly and relaxed whilst still being able to enjoy an indulgent meal with the kids! We will certainly be back Thankyou The Old Fort keep up the good work xx

Lovely meal last night on their first day of opening after lockdown. The service was excellent (despite new members of staff having their first day!) and the food was great. We had a pea and asparagus risotto, seabass and chips and a lemon parfait dessert... which I loved, and I'm not usually so keen on puddings. It was easily enough for two. The two glasses of prosecco that we started with came with a strawberry. Can't wait to go again.

Had an excellent lunch with our son who said the mushroom risotto was the best he's ever had (vegan). I had the crab, gorgeous. The staff were great and very friendly and helpful. As locals it was great to find another place to enjoy! Always loved the sea view

The surroundings, food, general ambience and staff were all ok, the price for two fillet steaks was £61.60 and when presented with the bill the waitress explained that the service charge was optional BUT HAD ALREADY ADDED IT TO THE PRINT OUT BILL and I heard others charged in a similar manner, to the question of was I happy with this my reply was that it was a little late to ask as the service charge of £7.71 had already been added and totalled up. Couple of points about this, I like to tip based on the service I receive and my tipping amount is 10%. We had a really good meal but I left feeing I had been scammed, we live here on the island and we use this restaurant/pub a lot for casual drinks and we will continue to do so but will not eat there anymore because of the service charge and the rather devious way we felt it was charged (fait accompli). Without this i would have given a 5 star rating but because of the way the service charge was presented then its two star but overall a very nice establishment.

Went for lunch on Monday, lots of tables reserved but they found us a table. Service was good and all the staff friendly. Everyone had adapted to COVID changes well. Food was fresh, well made and tasty. Definitely go back, but might book next time to guarantee a table. Lovely location with great views of the Solent, would be good place to watch the world go by.

Mostly very good. Avoid the curries as they are bland and watery. Other food such as belly pork and linguini were excellent and well presented. Deserts likewise. One of the best places to eat and drink in the area but mainly due to the location and view.

Friendly, cosy and the food was nice. All covid precautions taken. We booked on the same day, it was busy.

Really wanted an authentic IoW crab sandwich for lunch and the Old Fort did not disappoint. Justin and Will were super welcoming and are very Covid-safe - I felt very safe here and comfortable. Plus the food was amazing!

Had gammon and eggs. The plate was cold and so were the eggs. Partner had prawns with Marie Rose sauce which had chilli in it. This was not mentioned on menu. This spoilt her dinner. Just as well she was not allergic.Waitress added service charge which was a bit of a cheek. Won’t go back.

The new owners will need to sharpen up their act if they are to get through a winter blighted by COVID!Sausage and mash at £15 with mandatory service is steep enough but when only two medium sized sausages arrive, you feel cheated. Fish pâté was good but who in the kitchen thought it would be a good idea to serve it with torn up bread?A family taking their toddler on a walk around the dining room made a mockery of what otherwise looked to be sensible COVID restrictions.Service was cheerful and location remains outstanding. But menu needs to be rethought, especially the pricing which is uncompetitive, even for Seaview.A final thought: the condiments offered were the cheapest available from Booker cash and carry and tasted awful. The previous owner made a point of providing quality products.We’ll give it another go soon.

Great location with superb maritime views. Visited 4 times in our weeks stay, very attentive service with good beers and menu. Good luck to the young crew

Lovely meal, so nice we returned a few days later. The crab ramekin was really good. We enjoyed the pint of prawns too. Nice atmosphere with lovely view.

A real family feel welcomes you at this restaurant with a good mix of locals and tourists. Tables have been Covid secured at a comfortable distance. The staff were wonderful and really made an effort to make sure you enjoyed your meal. Food was all home prepared, adding to the overall atmosphere and feel of the restaurant. Many thanks indeed for a lovely evening.

I was recently charged over £15:00 for half a pint of lager, a single gin & tonic (Bombay Sapphire) and two bags of peanuts. Somewhat surprised, I asked the barmaid how much the gin & tonic was and she said £9.50. I really struggled to believe this could be correct so I asked if she could check with the manager. He did confirm, very matter of factly, that his premium gin was £7.50 per single measure. I.e. a double gin & tonic is £17.00. Interestingly the price of a single measure of Bombay Sapphire in the nearby Seaview Hotel is £3.50 - less than half his price. It is disappointing that these new owners feel it necessary to charge such an absurd mark up relative to other establishments in the village, and hard to imagine the maybe more discerning winter customer tolerating such prices.In the last month I had eaten three times at the Old Fort and on all three occasions the food was no better than average at best. The takeaway beef vindaloo had more potato than beef, the takeaway chilli was average and the scampi and chips were OK but unremarkable.I think they will need to seriously sharpen their act up if they are going to continue to retain any loyal regulars.

We had supper at the Old Fort on a Sunday Evening. We were shown to a lovely table overlooking the sea. Crab ramekin was an absolutely delicious starter followed by lamb burger and scampi. Both were very good.All the wines, are £5.30 for a medium glass and £7.00 for a large glass. The Chenin Blanc was good.Service was warm and efficient.

Lovely service, really lovely food with a view can’t fault it. The waitress is always very friendly and makes you feel welcome x x

Lunch is on a first come first served basis, no booking allowed. We arrived at 12:30 and there were tables free, this is not always the case apparently. The local brew was not available and the only other ale was cloudy, so I sent it back. Sea bass and I.O.W burger were very nice, unfortunately the skinny fries were over done and cold!! When I bought this to the waiting staff’s attention they were very apologetic. The bill came minus the 12.5% service charged which is normally added automatically, which was an acknowledgment of the slightly substandard service.On the plus side, the staff were very friendly and efficient. COVID-19 instructions were very clear to follow.I would certainly give them another go if we visit again

Very nice location and friendly staff. I turned up without booking and was lucky to get a table. Salmon linguine was lovely and definitely worth having. There is a 12.5% service charge and if I had thought I would have asked for it to be removed. I would then have left cash. I don’t agree with a service charge being added as it’s unfair.

We dropped in for a drink last night. They have good covid measures in place therefore drinks were ordered through a hatch. Good range of drinks, friendly service and reasonable pricing. Lovely views across the sea from the tables over the road.

After considerable difficulty in booking - our exxperience was that the only way to book was to do so in person - we had a lovely meal.Friendly helpful staff and quick service. However the staff need to be aware that there are specials avaiable that are not on the menu. The drinks came quickly and the food was generous and freshly cooked

Would liked to have eaten there today, tried to prebook for Friday lunch but we were told we couldn't pre book and it was first come first served, on arrival quite a few free tables but in fact they had been pre booked by Seaview Locals so the very nice lady apologised after one of the managers said we couldn't have a table..I guess it pays to be known in this community. The food certainly looked nice though.

The new ownership has kept all of the previous charm but massively improved the food and the atmosphere. Now true home of the crab ramekin. Seaview’s finest eatery. Love it.

Went there twice this week and both times we were greeted by friendly staff who couldn’t have been more helpful. Good food, reasonable prices and great location. can’t wait to go back!

We only popped in for a quick drink at a lunchtime, so were pleasantly surprised when they welcomed a group of eight of us at a time when they could have said no and held out for diners. The Covid measures were very good and the owner / manager was very welcoming, taking the time to talk us through how to book for dinner if we wanted to.The setting is lovely and has a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Understand that there is new ownership in 2020. Seafront location is a big plus and Seaview is obviously buzzing in July/August, especially after lockdown this year. Three of us went for lunch after a hard morning's work, so very much looking forward to a drink and a bite to eat in very hot weather. It was very busy, understandably, so after ordering we sat by the sea with our drinks. We had to wait 45 minutes for our seafood and chips, not a problem in busy times - we understand. When the food arrived, it was very oily - not drained off properly. Cheap McDonalds style fries, no chunky chips on offer any more. Went back to the ordering point to discuss, unfortunately there was no offer of a refund or doing the food again - just a short apology. Could not wait another 45 minutes so we hungrily ate some of our sloppy chips and oily scampi. Don't mind if we have to wait a long time when it's busy, but the food is not cheap here and should be presented in very good edible condition. Hopefully next time we go, the food will be better - as it always was last year when we visited on numerous occasions. Maybe just caught them on an off day - shame because it's such a nice location.

Great service and food view excellent can’t ask for more! Crab sandwich and a lamb burger to be recommended.

I understand the Old Fort has recently changed hands; well it’s just as good! The service was friendly and jolly, the food excellent and the price very reasonable too. I had a pint of prawns, the others had crab ramekin (reported delicious), lamb burger (ditto), 2 other mains too but I was so engrossed in my yummy prawns! I also had the most excellent raspberry frangipani tart, the other dessert we had was brownie which was also great - very big portions too, plenty to share.

We popped in for drinks and snacks and received a very warm welcome. Friendly and helpful staff and the place has a great vibe about it. The food coming out of the kitchen looked fabulous so look forward to returning for lunch/dinner in the future.

Enjoyed the curry evening immensely - very tasty! Amazing location, great service and a lovely atmosphere overlooking the water. Will and his team were fabulous. Thanks guys

We had a delicious lunch on the sea front and relished the pint of fresh prawns served to us. Others had the new homemade burgers which were apparently juicy and tasty. Great chips too. Will be back again soon

Stopped in for lunch. Gluten free burger bun notavailable. Asked for Chicken Curry burger without the bun. I have a wheat intolerance. Chef came out with my meal and said he had made my onion bhaji with gluten free flour without me asking. I was just going to leave it.Great service and excellent food. Will return next time on the Island.

Lovely friendly service, great food and at a very reasonable price. Good choice of beer and very dog friendly. Fabulous Sunday roast and great curry night on Wednesdays.

Came for a Saturday lunch and was very impressed with the curried burger. Staff are lovely and welcoming. Will definitely be returning.

The service was good the staff were very polite. The lamb chops were superb and were cooked perfectly. My wife had fish & chips which were also very good.

Lovely meal and nice staff. We all had good meals and the staff were great. Ok it’s not quite as nice in the winter as the summer but you can’t have everything.

Stopped by last night (Wednesday) for Curry night, what a treat , choice of 4 curries (including one vegetable one) with rice and usual accompaniments , washed it down with Bierra morratia , the service and overall atmosphere was perfect and it was a real pleasure to view the lights on the mainland and a bit of shipping whilst enjoying an unhurried meal, really exceptional service an value for what was a lovely evening.

We stopped here for lunch today with our small dogs. I ordered the veggie korma curry and my husband ordered the chili. I didn’t take pics as food looked very average! I sprinkled mine with salt and pepper 3 times while eating, as it had no flavor at all. Very bland. The sauce appeared ok at first but was very watery under the rice. My husbands chili apparently was the same. Very watery under the rice. I guessed defrosted rice or sauce, very watery bland meals. Really disappointing! No one came to check if we were happy with our meals whilst we were eating. The lady clearing our table asked if our meals were ok? We said very average, very watery sauces, very disappointing. We were offered free desserts, which we declined. They were apologetic. We have eaten here before lots and been happy with our meals. Not today. Won’t be back there again for a very long time!

The food can be good here, although never much better than pub grub standard. On this visit, the Mexican chicken filling might as well have been a packet mix, it was so bland. Served only with shop-bought tortillas and plastic pot of sour cream. It was also disappointing that we frequently had to ask for beer top-ups due to very short measures.

Found this pub by accident and glad we did. Enjoyed a very good lunch by the window. Nice atmosphere and pleasant staff. I recommend this pub.

We have just moved to the Island and eaten here a couple of times now, one curry night and one other occasion. The service is fantastic, a very smiley and helpful welcome, made to feel at home, as was our dog. He was brought his own water bowl. The food on both occasions was very good, freshly cooked and tasty. The outlook to the sea is just a great bonus.

We parked in Seaview which is a spectacular location. We looked for an open cafe and they were mostly closed. (October half term). We walked along the front and came across the Old Fort. It was quite busy but we got a table. We didn’t really want big meals but it was either that ( not a huge choice) or a sandwich. So we had tuna/cucumber sandwich and ham/mustard. Good fillings and crisps and salad on side. Portion of chips was fine too. Would like to try again on a sunny day for the atmosphere and views.

Curry night - finally got to my first one (I know, I’m several years behind!!).....sensational! Fabulous curries at very reasonable price. Top stuff!

Lunch on our coastal path walk. Lunch was reasonable quality and reasonable value. The staff were friendly and we would go back again.

A reasonable experience, pub food quite good but relatively expensive, limited guest ales however the staff were very welcoming.

Easy to access friendly bar with good pub grub. Pleasant surroundings with view out to sea, Lots of nautical memorabilia. choice of beers. Reasonable menu choice, good portions not excessive and well cooked.

I've now been to the Old Fort a couple of times, once in October and most recently in August, during the Seaview Regatta. They have a good selection of beers and wines, and the food is excellent also. If you're looking to go for dinner at the Old Fort, it is advisable to book ahead in the summer, especially if you're a large group. There are some benches beside the Solent outside of the pub where you can watch the ships sail between you and Portsmouth. Don't expect huge luxury here, but if you like eating and drinking in pubs, you'll love it (just like I did). Try the ales from the Isle of Wight, or the crab sandwich, if it's on the menu. Oh, and Wednesday night is curry night!

If you are looking for a la carte, go elsewhere. The location is 75% of the cafe. Having said that, the food quality was good. The service was good and the waiters/waitresses were very pleasant. We only ate at lunchtimes. Parking was relatively easy - and free just there.

We visited this place by chance and was very pleased we did. Attentive staff, real IOW beer and well cooked food. I had grilled sea bass cooked to perfection which I ate whilst looking out to sea. I would recommend this place to anyone

I was very unimpressed with their customer service. I ordered a coffee, which took a long time to arrive and unfortunately, by the time it did arrive, my dog had become traumatised by the sound of a cannon being fired from the yacht club next door. I needed to leave immediately and so asked for a take away cup. They said they had run out of these, so I asked for a refund instead, which they refused to give me. I do understand that they were under no obligation to give me a refund, but as they were unable to supply a take away cup I would expect any business that wants to have good relations with customers, to have been more helpful in this matter. I will not be going back.

Good atmosphere but the food is a bit naff. You would expect a restaurant that is on the beach would serve fresh fish, but no I got a reheated frozen triangle piece of fish with frozen peas. Chips looked fresh though 👍

Had lunch at the Old Fort with friends. Weather was good so we sat outside overlooking the Solent and the Old Forts. Great food and good beer.

We came across The Fort on our first evening in Seaview and were lucky enough to get a walk in table. Later in the week without a booking your only option is to sit outside. Good choice of food and a children’s menu. Views over to Portsmouth are lovely.

The Old Fort has a curry night every Wednesday. It's a much as you can eat meal, you can go back as often as you like. The choice of Currys are excellent and come with all the trimmings, Well worth a visit.