Skip to content
  • Home
  • Advanced search
  • Advertising
    • Announcements
    • For Sale Adverts
    • Services
    • Website Advertising
    • What, Where, When – our Entertainment pages
      • Boxed Advert
      • Something to look forward to… (Free)
      • Something to look forward to… (Paid)
      • Sponsored article
  • Advertising Portal
  • Basket
  • Checkout
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Election Results
  • END OF LIFE FEATURE
  • Engraving Services
  • Fair
  • Funeral Director Portal
  • Funeral Director Portal (Weaver Brothers)
  • Galleries
  • General Election 2024
  • INVITATION TO TENDER: THE PARADE PUBLIC TOILETS REFURBISHMENT
  • Isle of Wight Sports Achievement Awards 2023
  • Isle of Wight Temporary Traffic Regulation (simple)
  • Isle of Wight Temporary Traffic Regulation (table)
  • LiveBlog
  • Make a compaint
  • Meet the Isle of Wight Candidates
  • Mission Statement
  • My account
  • Newspaper Distribution
  • Official Planning Notices
  • Online Advertising 2019
  • Online Pay
  • Past Issues
  • Past Issues (30-01)
  • Past Issues (60-31)
  • Planning Map
  • Podcasts
  • Privacy Policy
  • Puzzles & Comps
  • Ryde Chick Hunt
  • spin
  • Staff
  • Subscribe
  • The Coroner Report
  • The Guide
  • The IW Observer Online Polls
  • The Royal Isle of Wight County Show 2024
  • Tips
  • TOS
  • Trust Payments
Top Stories
Baby goats bring spring joy to Ventnor Downs visitors
Families plant 450-strong wildlife hedge at Isle of Wight Steam Railway
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police launch new task force targeting dangerous drivers
Bembridge fundraiser backs Wight Forces, Pop’s Wood and Ukraine aid
Stormtrooper return: Isle of Wight punk band to play first shows in 50 years
Ventnor Winter Gardens future discussed at community workshop
Ryde firefighter Kierhan Dry running London Marathon for Wight Brainy Bunch
New Archdeacon is ‘coming home’
£1,200 raised for the Daisy Ring Bus
36 years of helping animals in need
Ad-Mazing Creations is back for 2026 – sign your school up now
More emergency dental appointments available
Chas McNeil, founder of Skydive Isle of Wight, dies in wingsuit jump tragedy
Unfunded asylum costs must be met by council tax payers
Nigel Farage issues statement setting out his view of Island issues
Isle of Wight planning applications: 6th March 2026
Thu. Mar 12th, 2026
Isle of Wight Observer News
Isle of Wight Observer News

Isle of Wight Observer News

The Island's favourite newspaper

  • Island News
    • Leading Stories
    • All News
    • Entertainment
    • Local Sports
    • Sponsored Posts
  • Newspapers
    • View past issues
    • Local Distribution
    • Digital Subscription
    • Planning Notices
  • Our Columns
    • Cabinet Connection
    • Green Fingers
    • Holmsey
    • Look back in time
    • Wight in Westminster
    • From the Council Chamber
    • Vectis View
  • Sponsored
  • Advertising
    • Advertising Options
    • For Sale Adverts
    • Family Announcements
    • Website Advertising
    • Trades & Services
    • Entertainment Pages
    • Invoice Payments
  • Contact Us
    • All Contacts
    • Anonymous Tips
    • Make a complaint
Subscribe £0.00 0
    • Home
    • Our Columns
    • IW Observations
IW Observations Leading Stories

IW OBSERVATIONS: Negative campaigning: we’re not printing it

Carole Dennett Feb 16, 2026

With the IW Council elections now confirmed for May 7, the IW Observer has taken a careful look at the…

Read More

IW Observations

IW OBSERVATIONS: When absence isn’t apathy

Tilly Walder Feb 9, 2026

The Isle of Wight’s low school attendance figures and below-average exam results are sometimes spoken about in the same breath,…

Read More

IW Observations

IW OBSERVATIONS: Isle of Wight thrown into global politics

Carole Dennett Feb 5, 2026

Islanders could be forgiven for feeling somewhat startled this week, when the Isle of Wight was dragged into a discussion…

Read More

IW Observations

IW OBSERVATIONS: What will it take to ‘regain trust’?

Carole Dennett Dec 11, 2025

Njord Partners has finalised its acquisition of Red Funnel. Jakob Kjellberg, for the new owners, has promised to “work hard…

Read More

IW Observations

IW OBSERVATIONS: London is watching…

Carole Dennett Nov 17, 2025

Well, here we go again. Another report, another consultant, another invoice for council tax-payers. Richard Penn’s verdict from his 31-page…

Read More

IW Observations

IW OBSERVATIONS: Should the shutters stay down?

Tilly Walder Sep 19, 2025

This new school term, Cowes Enterprise College has found itself at the centre of a row over toilets; yes, toilets.…

Read More

IW Observations

IW OBSERVATIONS: 164-year-old ferry company – now in need of a lifeboat!

Carole Dennett Sep 5, 2025

September is traditionally when The Southampton Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Limited –…

Read More

IW News IW Observations Leading Stories

IW OBSERVATIONS: New ferries are on their way… Eventually. Probably. Maybe.

Carole Dennett Aug 29, 2025

It’s been 15 months since May 2024, when Red Funnel’s CEO, Fran Collins, announced the tender for three new vehicle…

Read More

IW Observations

IW OBSERVATIONS: A visit that missed the point…

Isle of Wight Observer Aug 15, 2025

Tuesday’s visit to Ryde by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch was a textbook example of how not to engage with local…

Read More

IW Observations Leading Stories

IW OBSERVATIONS: Amid confidence and confusion IW councillors debate the future

Carole Dennett Mar 21, 2025

Wednesday’s full council meeting was hailed as “historic” by Chairman, Cllr Karl Love. It was their final gathering before elections…

Read More

IW Observations Leading Stories

IW OBSERVATIONS: Confused adventures in County Hall

Carole Dennett Jan 31, 2025

The Isle of Wight Council hosted their second Extraordinary Full Council meeting in a month on Wednesday. It turns out…

Read More

IW News IW Observations Leading Stories

Isle of Wight OBSERVATIONS: Cllr Jarman – Criticism is not racism

Carole Dennett Nov 29, 2024

Welcome to our new occasional column – where IW Observer writers will share their views. It’s confession time. Last week,…

Read More

  • Trending
  • Popular
  • Latest
IW News
Baby goats bring spring joy to Ventnor Downs visitors
Mar 12, 2026
IW News
Families plant 450-strong wildlife hedge at Isle of Wight Steam Railway
Mar 12, 2026
IW News
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police launch new task force targeting dangerous drivers
Mar 12, 2026
IW News
Baby goats bring spring joy to Ventnor Downs visitors
Mar 12, 2026
IW News
Families plant 450-strong wildlife hedge at Isle of Wight Steam Railway
Mar 12, 2026
IW News
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police launch new task force targeting dangerous drivers
Mar 12, 2026
IW News
Baby goats bring spring joy to Ventnor Downs visitors
Mar 12, 2026
IW News
Families plant 450-strong wildlife hedge at Isle of Wight Steam Railway
Mar 12, 2026
IW News
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police launch new task force targeting dangerous drivers
Mar 12, 2026

Local Tenders

local-advertising

Island Sport

Island Sport
Ferriera’s field-goal fest in this week’s hockey
Mar 5 , 2026
Island Sport
Legacy Elite gymnasts win 17 medals at Newhaven competition
Mar 3 , 2026
Island Sport
West Wight extend lead as Whitecroft & Barton reach Challenge Cup final
Feb 24 , 2026

Sponsored Articles

Sponsored

Rooms with Character above three Isle of Wight pubs

Isle of Wight Observer Feb 27, 2026
IW News Sponsored

Island writers in the Figlet 5

Isle of Wight Observer Feb 9, 2026
Entertainment Sponsored

Fish and chips at Quarr

Isle of Wight Observer Feb 9, 2026
Entertainment Sponsored

Spud and Crumble Night at Quarr Abbey

Isle of Wight Observer Feb 3, 2026
IW News Sponsored

Journey through Quarr Abbey’s past

Isle of Wight Observer Jan 24, 2026

Holmsey

Holmsey
HOLMSEY: A realist’s guide to optimism
Feb 23 , 2026
Holmsey
HOLMSEY: If this is grown‑up government, fetch the crayons
Feb 16 , 2026
Holmsey
HOLMSEY: Another week, another omnishambles!
Feb 11 , 2026

Local Advertising

Isle of Wight Sport

Island Sport

Ferriera’s field-goal fest in this week’s hockey

Island Sport

Legacy Elite gymnasts win 17 medals at Newhaven competition

Island Sport

West Wight extend lead as Whitecroft & Barton reach Challenge Cup final

Island Sport

Weather-hit fixtures still produce flood of goals

Island Sport

Ryde C increase lead at top of Division One in this week’s Island table tennis

Our Mission Statement

The Isle of Wight Observer is a weekly free newspaper providing news, advertising and information to residents on and visitors to the Isle of Wight. Find out more.

Isle of Wight Observer News

© Copyright Isle of Wight Observer. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT