This month, we’re offering you the chance to win a stay at boutique seaside guesthouse & wine emporium The Terrace Rooms & Wine in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight.
Is it always sunny on the Isle of Wight? Answers on a postcard… In Ventnor, it feels that way. The light has a way of turning everything luminous; cliffs washed in gold, the Channel shimmering like silk, pastel houses glowing against the green folds of the downs.
Even in late winter, when the breeze has a bracing edge, there’s a softness to the air, as though golden hour lingers that little bit longer. It’s a dreamy quality that invites you to breathe deeper and savour each moment. And at The Terrace Rooms & Wine, that mindful pace is woven into every experience.
Perched above Ventnor’s softly curving bay, The Terrace feels like a secret you can’t wait to share with others, back on the mainland. The Isle of Wight has long attracted loyalists – sailors tracing coastal paths, festival-goers and walkers drawn to iconic vistas – but something else is happening now.
A quiet foodie self-assurance has taken root here. Producers are refining their craft. Restaurants are finding their voices. And at the heart of this gentle renaissance, The Terrace plays a leading role.
Owned and run by Ashley and Tom Fahey, the six-bedroom hotel is the result of equal parts passion, curiosity and hospitality instinct. Having taken on and lovingly restored the iconic St Augustine Villa – a Victorian property with panoramic views over Ventnor Bay – the couple have created a place that feels both considered and deeply personal.
What makes it special isn’t just the design or the wine list; it’s the way their personalities infuse every corner. Ashley, a former superyacht chef and wholehearted host, brings warmth and an intuitive understanding of flavour and service. Tom, a Top 20 UK sommelier with a lifelong enthusiasm for wine, guides guests through his cellar with infectious enthusiasm and a genuine desire to share what he loves.
Their story, of transforming an old guesthouse into a beautiful boutique destination with an emphasis on wine, design and hospitality, is part of the magic here.
And then there’s Ronnie the rescue dog – the hotel’s unofficial welcome committee. Ronnie is often found making guests feel at ease in the bar or pergola, tail wagging with a blend of curiosity, cautious confidence and charm.
For guests, days begin with an epic breakfast that’s less a meal and more a gentle unfolding. Four courses arrive, each one considered, seasonal and quietly exquisite. What makes it extraordinary is the pacing. Coffee is poured as though it matters.
Plates arrive with calm precision. Between courses, you look out at the shimmering Channel, watch the light shift on the water, and realise you’ve slipped into a different rhythm. It’s indulgent, but never excessive. Refined and deeply satisfying. It’s the kind of breakfast that recalibrates your expectations and ruins all others.
Wine, naturally, is woven into the experience. Each evening, guests are invited to free tastings in the sea-view wine cave – a lovingly curated space housing more than 1,000 bottles – that has earned national accolades, including the UK’s Best Rosé Wine List and Best New Zealand Wine List (Star Wine List 2025). This spring’s rosé style guide dispenses with the old “pale equals posh” myth, inviting guests to explore character – crisp and juicy; savoury and structured; herbaceous; gently oxidative; even smoky – with Tom guiding, translating and making each glass feel like a discovery.
The Terrace’s Wine Room Dinners, returning this season, take the ethos further. Designed for small groups, these evenings showcase menus built entirely from Isle of Wight ingredients – farmed, caught or crafted on the island itself. Hyper-local in the truest sense, dishes shift weekly, impossible to replicate elsewhere. Pairings are precise, playful, thoughtful.
And this gastronomic story doesn’t exist in isolation. A wander up to Cantina cafe and kitchen confirms it: fairylit tables, generous plates and bold flavours, paired with a confident, unfussy atmosphere and a mean negroni or two. It’s cosy and romantic, with an open kitchen and an effortless sense of place, showing how this town is discovering its voice.
Beyond the table, the coastline provides its own drama. Ventnor’s southern cliffs – a dramatic stretch of chalk and shingle that has long inspired both locals and artists – are perfect for long walks to sharpen the appetite. Salt-sharp air, sea-sculpted vistas and a sense of history underfoot elevate every ramble.
Smugglers and pirate lore are whispered along the paths (and joked about at more than one tasting table). It’s easy to imagine hidden treasure chests in the hidden coves – my favourite booty was discovered in the Longshoreman’s Museum & Gift Shop.
Russian novelist Ivan Turgenev was drawn here, captivated by the climate and the extraordinary light that changes perspective.
There is space here – literal and metaphorical. Luxury without stiffness. Expertise without exclusion. Sea views that shape the rhythm of the day. Wine that’s not just an accessory, but a language spoken fluently and generously translated.
Visit theterraceventnor.co.uk to browse and book a trip!
How to enter
To enter our prize draw, fill in the form below before 12pm on Friday 27th March 2026.
Where to find more prizes?
Head to our competitions page to find all of our current prizes.
