By Mal Butler
A unique hotel has been opened in Ryde, offering free holidays to members of the Armed Forces.
The Veteran is a bar and 13-bedroom hotel on The Esplanade, formerly The Marine.
It is a Community Interest Company with two directors, Dale Hillier, who served on HMS Intrepid during the Falklands, and John Dugdale, who was 23 years with the Royal Military Police. Any profits will be ploughed back into the business.
Dale set up a Veterans’ Van and later the Veterans’ Hub in Ryde, a year ago, which has been a great success. He said: “I was volunteering for a Veterans’ charity on the mainland when I thought ‘Why aren’t I volunteering on the Island!’
“So I converted a van which toured the Island where veterans could visit and have a cuppa. A shop became vacant in the High Street and, six weeks later, it opened up as a hub for anyone to come in and chat and receive a variety of information from our experts.
“Then myself and John had the idea of giving veterans a free-week’s holiday respite here, so the two of us invested in a five-year lease on the hotel and pub, which was on the market. We also have an option to buy.
“We will also put up Island veterans for a couple of weeks if they suddenly become homeless for any reason. This gives them the chance to sort themselves out.”
John, who first met Dale at a Remembrance Sunday Service in 2020, started volunteering and is now behind the pub and hotel, saying: “We don’t want to see any veterans on our streets. The rooms will be open to the public as usual, and we hope to get them sponsored by Island businesses to make ourselves viable.
“We will also offer a drinks discount to veterans just visiting the bar and also the emergency services. While we hope to get food up and running shortly.”
Next Friday (February 17) there will be an official opening from noon with Dame Vera Lynn’s granddaughter, Tesni Jones, attending. The opening will be conducted by a Falklands War veteran.
Isle of Wight Observer