By Isle of Wight Observer
Monkton Arts, the popular arts café on East Street in Ryde, is set to undergo a significant expansion.
After facing challenges including lockdowns and flooding in 2023, co-owner Dawn Fidler announced plans for both refurbishment and an expansion into the vacant Bert’s Motorcycles unit across the street. This will introduce additional gallery space, new art courses, and enlarge the current kitchen to offer an extended menu.
The cafe will be temporarily closed for renovations during Easter Week, from Thursday, March 29 to Wednesday, April 3.
To support these developments, a fundraising event featuring local musicians and artists will take place on March 22, with proceeds helping to fund the refurbishment.
An exhibition showcasing Monkton Arts’ history is also planned. Contributions for the exhibition are welcomed until March 15. Tickets for the event and options for donations are available at iw.observer/monktonarts.
