22 lifestyle
The Isle of Wight Gazette
July 24, 2009
The view from Kings House
Friday: Sandown
SANDOWN is the venue for Friday – we’ve lined up a day at the zoo for your little animals and a fun night to bring out the animal in you. At the zoo this week (27-31 July) the Festival of Carnivores is a special event with children’s activities, circus skills workshops, a hog roast and a big cat feed each day. Vegetarian Chris Packham will be pitted in a tug of war against a carnivorous tiger. On Friday July 31 Randini will be performing magic tricks and a Punch and Judy show. Painting with the lemurs is another possibility, but you will need to book in advance, and the new ZooLittle Farm petting area is proving a real hit. You might also like to pay a visit to Glory Art Glass on Melville Street, and see the glass being blown into beautiful colours and shapes in the studio area. You’ll also see a wonderful array of all of the hand blown items on sale in the large shop area, ideal locally made gifts.
Now pick up gourmet fish and chips for all the family from Fat Harry’s on the High Street and make your way down to the beach and the pier. Fat Harry’s even have gluten free batter on the fish and traditional mushy peas with your chips are a must. Wander along the beach to the Driftwood Bar, and you can sit on the two large terraces or take away your drinks in plastic cups and sup your beer, wine or Pimms on the beach, whilst being entertained by local bands and singers. Stay until the evening and Friday night is Steak Night here. All the delicious tender steak is from Island farms. Coors and Bud are cold on draft, and surfing is the theme. Later on you might like to wander back up the High Street to King’s Bar and sit on the sun balcony overlooking the bay with a long cold drink. With a contemporary décor, comfy settees and wicker chairs, there are loads of different ales and
bottled beers, wines and a wide selection of different coffees. Again if you need a taxi home them Red Line Taxis are your local best bet, on 404444.
One of the zoo’s carnivores