By Isle of Wight Observer
A plan for an on-trend new bar and eaterie with ‘executive accommodation’ is set to boost Newport’s premier town square.
Matt Parker, owner of the neighbouring Wheatsheaf in St Thomas’s Square, Newport, plans to re-open the landmark Charter House as a ground-floor restaurant, specialising in street food and New World beers. Upstairs will boast six en-suite bedrooms.
The handsome Grade II-listed building was last used as a Mexican-themed bar but closed two years ago.
Mr Parker said: “I am working on this now but it is an exciting development. Island companies including Dumpling Dumpling and other street food suppliers will be involved in offering some thing different – real street food with edge.”
In an exclusive interview with The IW Observer this week, Mr Parker says it is a good time for anyone to enter the pub business – despite the current flow of new of Island pub closures.
“It’s not rocket science but a lot of the problems with publicans who are failing and blaming others is a lack of common sense,” he says. “You have to know what you are doing.”
A key to Mr Parker’s success is combining good food and drink with winning accommodation – and the new Charter House business will offer “six beautiful en-suite bedrooms…among the best accommodation on the Island.”
He has succeeded with similar transformations in the past, including the Union Inn, in Cowes old town, which he has acquired twice..
Mr Parker hopes to have Charter House open for business later this month. For the full interview, see this week’s IW Observer.
