In another of south Wight’s beach resorts, Ventnor, peals of laughter ring out from the kitchen of the St. Maur Hotel at breakfast time. Set high up in the steep town with glorious views of Ventnor Park, this is a happy place where the team spirit creates a very easy going atmosphere. Owner David Groocock has two great passions: cooking, using fresh local produce from nearby Godshill and Horringford Gardens in the Arreton Valley, and his gardens. These are bathed in southern light for much of the year and tropical plants like palms and pineapples love it.

The Victorian villa has been run by his family for over 40 years and David has been in charge for the last 17, setting out to provide the atmosphere of a small, friendly hotel but the service ethic of a much larger one. As part of the ongoing programme of renovation and improvement, a whole host of eco-friendly initiatives have been introduced to reduce St. Maur’s carbon footprint.

Family run for the warmest of welcomes

On the door step
See splendid displays of southern hemisphere plants at sub-tropical Ventnor Botanic Garden; enjoy the views from St. Boniface Down towering above the town, inspect the rock pools at Steephill Cove or visit leafy Bonchurch by the sea.