Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2009 | Page 45

INTERVIEW
served in one day at the Spyglass.. But then,

for Queen Victoria, and her great grandfather

the building was derelict. Any dignity it might

was a stationmaster at Horringford, as, in a

once have had as a private hotel went when it

typical Island coincidence, was Steph’s great

became a refuge for the DHSS, and its roof had

aunt. As for Neil and Andrew, they can boast

been burnt away.

that their grandchildren are sixth generation to

“I thought I ought to buy it,” said Neil, an

have been associated with Ventnor front. “Our

antique dealer who did a spot of property

grandfather Percy Ford refurbished and opened

development. “And I thought it ought to be

Salt Water Baths behind the Mill Bay in 1904.

a pub.” He knew nothing about catering or

His parents were in Marine Parade 1891. Our

cellaring. “But I liked pubs and spent a lot of

mother was born in Esplanade Road in 1913:

time in them,” he chuckles. “And Steph was a

Pop came to the Island in 1923 and had a shop

good cook.”

in Silvermere in 1923. He adds: “A couple of

Many people have fancied running a pub but
find there’s a lot more to it than being the
genial Mine Host. But what Neil has, and shares

the generations have gone bust – which is a
lesson for us all!”
The final third of the partnership are Meg and

with his brother Andrew, is an extraordinary

Rosie Mortimer. Rosie is Neil’s daughter, and it

instinct for identifying the makings of success.

is she Neil credits with developing the winning

“Somehow we managed to turn a profit in our

system of swift food turnover, as well as

first year. I think the fact we knew nothing was

inventing many of the dishes which are unique

good because we’ve just evolved it by the day.”

to the Spyglass. These skills she has passed

What they evolved was a system for getting

on to her brother Henry, who is the specials

generous portions of good food out to

cook. Meg had for years worked overseas as

customers in volume.

a yacht instructor, but when his sister married

Given their success - for more businesses

life

fisherman Geoff Blake he found he spent more

were to follow - it is comforting to know that

time on the Island and his friendship with Rosie

the Gibbs are Islanders through and through.

developed. Somehow it seems appropriate

Jane’s great grandmother was a seamstress

that Meg (really Chris) is nicknamed after Meg

The Bargemans Rest, Newport

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