Did you know that wild swimming has been popular for a long time here at Lisle Combe?
In the 1940/50's Alfred Noyes would don his swimming trunks, meander through the garden and head towards his favourite beach for his daily swim across the bay. Believing that this daily constitution would keep him healthy both in spirit and body.  His loss of sight in the 1950's meant that he had to do this from memory and touch. The family even had a summer house that followed the route of the sun upon the cliff above Orchard Bay. Sadly no longer there, you can find evidence of the structure amongst the cliff falls and rocks along the coastline. 
We try to swim occasionally all year round, especially on high days and holidays but as yet do not have the stomach to go in all weathers like our ancestor!

How does life move by so quickly, it was only yesterday when I was posting about our Winter Events!! We had a great Autumn with a successful Breakfast week and Curry & a pint evening back in November! The Festive Cream teas were yummy with the Friends of Ventnor Botanic Gardens taking over on an extra day!! Wreath making workshops were delayed by a week as I succumbed to the dreaded flu lurgy that was making its' rounds - with everyone keen to repeat the sessions next year. Christmas was busy too with family and friends celebrating together. We even managed our own Boxing Day swim!

Looking forward to 2023, some dates for your diary in January and March:
Friday 20th January - after the success of the last Curry night, we have invited Charles and Nika back to Lisle Combe, with their 'Curry on Wheels' van and hope that you will enjoy another very delicious Curry and a Pint evening.
Monday 23rd January - Breakfast week starts until Friday and we are taking bookings now.
Friday 3rd March -  Pop up pub with a variety of music and song in the Drawing Room. 
Saturday 4th March - Rays Race Night at Ventnor Cricket Club - come and support this great club. We'll be there!
Monday 6th March - Friday 10th March: our last Breakfast Week until the winter!

Don't forget if you fancy a short break then contact us directly for our best rates and ferry prices. 

Hope to see you in 2023.

Ruth & Rob & the boys

Winter Events Programme
November   Curry & a pint! (18th) - Charles' Curry on Wheels and a Pop up pub!
                       Wreath Making Day (29/30th) £35 per person - includes light lunch & cake!
December    Pop up pub (10th) - festive songs and snacks!
                       Festive Cream Tea (13, 14,15th ) £10 per person. 
January       Pop up Pub (20th).
                       Breakfast Week (23 - 27th)
March           Music night (3rd).
                        Breakfast Week (6 - 10th)

Advance bookings and more details tel:01983852582 or 07917306984

Just some of the events we have planned this winter!
We are closing on the 1st November for B&B and will re open on 20th March 2023 for B&B guests.
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If you would like to hold your own party or event please get in touch, we are open for private functions!

Time to look ahead and wonder what the year 2022 will bring for us all at Lisle Combe. In our review of 2021, we can't believe the number of new and returning guests we welcomed to Lisle Combe from May onwards. It certainly helped our recovery from the disastrous 2020. Amazingly bookings for 2022 are already looking good, with every weekend from March to September with at least one guest room booked!
Due to COVID we did not hold many of our usual events, however Breakfast Day went well in December, so we are hoping to run our ever popular Breakfast Week in January and look forward to welcoming the many locals who join us during the week.  

Just look what we have to look at each day!!
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                                                                              Happy New Year!

Best laid plans..... I'll write a blog during lockdown, so our guests and local St Lawrence folk can see what's happening to the garden during the months we don't see anyone!
Sadly, almost a year since my last blog, I find that time has flown by with life at Lisle Combe. So instead I have outlined our garden year in a few photographs and comments. We hope you enjoy.

Just to let you know, we are planning a few things at Lisle Combe this winter. We're not sure when we will be back to our 'pop up pub' days but in the mean time please come and visit us knowing that we will do our best to keep you safe in a COVID world.

Thursday 2nd December - English Breakfast Day - £10 per person, please book in advance.

​Lisle Combe Country House Dining Evening - enjoy a 5 course meal in the elegant beauty of  the dining or drawing room - tables of 6  - dates to be confirmed, please email Ruth for more details ([email protected])

Lisle Combe Breakfast Week - January 2022 - hopefully back to our preCovid days.

Time for a Performance Review?  
Businesses, do you want to ask what went well?  How did your working life change? 
Did you positively adapt to the situation in 2020/21?  
Do you need to review performance, establish what went well in 2021 and set goals for the future?  Lisle Combe offers a gorgeous space to stop, breathe and think about your business away from it all. Do you need help asking SMART questions about your progress and to move it forward into 2022? We can offer help with framing your session, as well as brunch, lunch or just refreshments to keep you going during your time with us. Guidance, white boards and plenty of inspiring surroundings available. Speak to Ruth for more details ([email protected])

We are opening our doors in December for a Bed and Breakfast winter experience!
Having no central heating, we feel that only the hardy will visit us (your bedroom and bathroom have electric heaters). However, this is a great time to stay at Lisle Combe, with log fires burning and a chill in the air - it makes you move quicker along the corridors!!  It also gives you a sense of time stood still, a time before iPads, mobile phones and Netflix.
The garden is different at this time of the year, you have wonderful sea views from all bedrooms, with no leaves on the trees. The boys have cut our forest of prehistoric looking gunnera, which means that you can also glimpse the garden streams and ponds!  There are plenty of winter berries and late blooming plants to add colour to a grey December day!
We have put up the Christmas decorations...... festive trees sparkle in the drawing room and hallway, tinsel and greenery brighten up the mantle pieces and the smell of orange and cinnamon can invade your senses.
Walking in the garden, along the coastal path and up inland above the 'Undercliff" is good for the soul.

​If you want a rest from lockdown, work or home and the 21st century, then Lisle Combe is definitely the place for you. Stay on the Island and visit us from Ryde, Cowes or Totland - you won't even have to pay the ferry prices!!