If it’s raining, here’s a day in and around Ryde that doesn’t need the beach: a morning at Quarr Abbey, then a long lunch or afternoon tea looking out at the weather over the Solent.
Quarr Abbey
Quarr is a working Benedictine monastery on the coast between Ryde and Wootton, with around 200 acres of pasture, woodland and gardens. On a wet morning the parts to head for are the ones with a roof: the tea shop and farm shop, which are open all year, the gallery, where the exhibitions change every week, and the bookshop.
Quarr’s visitor page has the current times.
Lunch by the window
Then back into Ryde. The dining room at RT Café Grill looks out over the Solent through windows that wrap round the room, and grey weather over the water has a lot going for it when you’re watching from a warm table. Lunch is from noon, Tuesday to Sunday in June, July and August and Thursday to Sunday the rest of the year, when last orders on Sundays are at 3.30pm, so there’s no need to rush back from Quarr.
It’s a day for the more filling end of the menu. At the time of writing that means chicken Milanese with a chasseur sauce, St Austell Bay mussels with fries, or the gnocchi with artichokes and autumn truffle. The current menu is online.
Or make it afternoon tea
Afternoon tea is served in the same dining room from 2.30pm, Tuesday to Sunday in June, July and August and Thursday to Sunday from September to May, with last orders at 3.30pm. Sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and a few small pastries, from £35 a head, or with a glass of Prosecco, English sparkling or Champagne. Gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan versions are available if you tell us when you book.
The catch is that it has to be booked at least 24 hours ahead. If the forecast for the weekend looks grim, book it a day or two before.
If a shower does catch you, the bar is open from 9am, until 10pm Thursday to Saturday and until 5pm on Sunday, and walk-ins are welcome for drinks and bar snacks.
Getting between the two
Quarr is further out than you’d want to walk in the rain, so take the bus or a taxi. If you’re catching a boat home, check the time before you decide when to eat.
Our guide to eating in Ryde covers the rest of the day, from breakfast to dinner.
Questions we get asked
Can I have afternoon tea without booking if it rains?+
No, sorry. Afternoon tea needs at least 24 hours’ notice. The bar takes walk-ins for drinks and bar snacks.
Does the dining room have a sea view?+
Yes. The dining room windows look out over the Solent.
How far is Quarr Abbey from Ryde?+
It’s on the coast between Ryde and Wootton, a short bus or taxi ride from the town centre. Check Quarr’s own site for opening times.
