Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2008/January 2009 | Page 107

FOOD & DRINK

Pointer
Inn wins
dining
pub of
the year
They leapt up with joy, and tables and
chairs went flying as the announcement was
made. The Island Life Dining Pub of the Year
is the Pointer Inn, Newchurch.
“We’re humble people, we don’t expect
things like that to happen,” says Nathan
Clark, who owns the pub with his chef
father Paul. “When dad and I started this
business it was just going to be a little
business for me and him to run. Now over
five years, it’s got bigger and bigger – we’re
ecstatic!”
It was a particular thrill because they won
the same award last year. But in 2007 it
was by the people’s vote – their customers –
and this year it was the AA who judged the
award. “It’s hard to say which means more
to us. In fact they are equally important to
us,” says Nathan. “Knowing our customers
appreciate us is brilliant – and getting the
AA’s endorsement is fantastic.”
The key to maintaining the support of
their customers, he says, is consistency. “We
change our menu each quarter, but leave
the old favourites on. If you haven’t visited
the Pointer Inn for a year you can come back
and order the same dish, and will get the
same attention to detail, the same delicious
food and the same presentation.”
Neither does he stint on size. “I like to send
people home satisfied,” says Paul. “I don’t
like to think of anyone going away hungry.”
Nathan puts the success of their food down
to his father’s experience. Paul has lived on
the Island for 27 years, working for the huge
dining room and banqueting suite of the
Westbridge leisure centre. He then went on
to work for P&O Ferries, in their prestigious
Langham’s restaurant. “He’s been a chef for

life

Left to right: Warren Turvey
of Red Funnel presenting Paul
Clark, James Bryce and Nathan
Clark from Pointer Inn

43 years. He should know how best to cook
and present dishes,” Nathan quips. The
second chef, James Bryce, works closely with
Paul so the quality is the same whoever has
cooked you