AFTER Craig Harris featured on the 2008 series of Masterchef, he and his wife, Marie, decided to move their careers into food and drink — and the Island has proved the perfect place.
They have taken over the Wheatsheaf in Brading with a passion for all things 'Island’.
Craig had been coming to the Island from his home town of Sheffield for 40 of his 47 years and claims that "the pull of the Island is so strong."
The food will be all about fresh local produce, with Sunday lunch being a priority. Island-reared roast beef will be the creme de la creme, while the evening menu will welcome great British classics such as faggots with onion gravy, steak and kidney pudding and rhubarb and ginger crumble.
"If it’s not fresh, local, and above all seasonal, then it’s not really worth using, and in the current climate making sure everything we use is Island reared or grown keeps the money on the Island and that can only be a good thing," Craig said.
The couple intend to install two more real ale pumps to bring the current range to four.
Craig will be looking after the food, and Marie the bar and everything that goes with it, including the annual Potato Growing Competition.
"Pubs have to be so much more than a place to get a pint of lager and a packet of crisps," says Marie.
"We believe to get people into your pub you have to offer them something they can’t get at home with a can of lager and a DVD. We’re hoping that great real beer, great local food and a great atmosphere will see us packed to the rafters," she said.