FOOD
Alan and Hayley's new venture
R
enowned Island chef Alan
Staley and his wife Hayley
have embarked on a new
venture, and have even been ably
assisted by their four-year-old
daughter, Georgia!
Alan and Hayley have taken
charge of the Ocean Deck, on
Sandown Esplanade. Alan has
vast experience, having worked
at the Royal Hotel in Ventnor for
16 years, followed by a 12-month
spell at the Seaview Hotel. Hayley
worked front-of-house at The Royal
Hotel, then joined the Product
Development team at Liz Earle
before working in the health care
department at HMP Isle of Wight.
Alan and Hayley have always had
designs on their own premises,
and preferred a pub rather than
a restaurant. They were therefore
delighted to acquire the Ocean
Deck, overlooking Sandown Bay,
seating 80 covers inside and a
further 50 on the outside decking.
Their vision is to use their
extensive knowledge to create a
dining experience that focuses on
excellent, traditional food served in a
friendly, unpretentious environment
using the freshest ingredients, sourced
as close to home as possible.
Alan said: “All we want to do is serve
good, simple pub food in a nice, relaxed
environment. There is a good selection
of fish on the menu, but we want to cater
for all tastes, so there are pasta dishes,
steaks and specials, as well as the
Ocean Deck burger. We have also
teamed up with the Island Wine
Company in Ventnor to ensure we
have a fantastic, premium selection
of wines to accompany the menu.”
Alan and Hayley want to put the
focus on family dining, which is
where Georgia has played her part.
Hayley said: “Georgia has helped
inspire our children’s menu. As
a parent it is important that your
child has a good selection of child
friendly meal options. Having an
unhappy child during a meal time
can be disastrous and quite often
we’ll choose to eat somewhere
based on what the children’s
menu has to offer. This is why we
offer some of our special ‘family
favourites’, including marmite
pasta, tomato pasta, beans on
toast, and a good selection of
sides that include mashed potato,
chippies, corn on the cob, baked
beans, spaghetti hoops and salad.
We also serve chocolate spread
sandwiches!”
Their long-term plan is to open
all year round, with ‘specials nights’ at
regular intervals, including seafood,
cheese and wine tasting and party
nights. Tel: 01983 403960.
Tasty range new for Hamilton's
Hamilton’s Fine Foods have introduced a
new range of products known as the Tasty
Range - ready seasoned and prepared
meals. So all you have to do is pop
them in the oven, as they are already in
ready-to-cook trays.
The variety includes meat balls in
tomato and herb sauce; Thai chicken
stir fry; chicken and chorizu; spicy beef
stir fry; beef stroganoff; flavoured steaks
with fruit peppers and chicken with spicy
glaze. The value-for-money range starts
at just £3.99, and they can be kept in a
freezer if required.
The range will be further extended in
the forthcoming weeks, and Hamilton’s
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www.visitilife.com
Fine Foods are also extending their
outlets with a new shop at their site at
1 Daish Way, Dodnor Industrial Estate,
Newport, which will be open in mid-May.
Meanwhile all the tasty new meals are
readily available at their other retail shops
- Scarrott’s Lane Newport, High Street,
Cowes and High Street, Wootton Bridge.
Hamilton's are a family-run wholesale
and retail butchers who for many years
have served the local community.
They also supply many large catering
customers, including the agents for the
provision of Local Authority School
meals. Tel: 526098.