Isle of Wight pub and grill The Folly has wow factor beside Medina

At its pre-opening event last night (Friday), the Folly Inn — nestled in a prime location along the River Medina — gave its patrons the warmest of welcomes.

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Almost unrecognisable from its former guise, the Folly Inn now has a real 'wow' factor, following an ambitious £1 million investment plan from its parent company, Greene King.

The Folly Inn, which dates back to 1783, manages to pull off the appearance of being rustic and tastefully modern simultaneously — and all done with a touch of class and care.

A roaring fire was there to greet guests on what was a typically chilly November evening — a feature and impressive focal point, sure to be extremely popular, with the table beside it likely to be the first to be booked up this time of year.

The dining area felt cosy, yet roomy and uncluttered by the ornamental — enhanced with a hint of the nautical.

There is a well-stocked bar, serving an extensive range of beers, wines and spirits.

The menu has an extensive and expansive range of food for all tastes, with great effort made in its preparation and presentation.

The garden area will undoubtedly be the focal point for al fresco dining during the warmer months, so it was exciting to see such efforts made to maximise its riverside location.

The seating plan is well thought through (inside too) on attractive decking.

It appears to maximise space, yet not allow diners not to feel they are in an overcrowded environment — and for staff to weave their way through comfortably from table to table.  

In such a prime location at the river's edge, the Folly Inn will surely draw sailors, tourists and local people to it like a magnet.

Should the evenings get a little chillier, the new heated pergola will prove to be a popular feature for those who prefer to dine and drink outdoors.

The Folly Inn can also boast another great innovation — a new outdoor kitchen and bar, serving traditional British fish and chips and other hot snacks, which is due to open in the spring. 

Without a friendly and professional team of staff to make it all function, the new Folly Inn will not work — no matter how much investment is made.

No worries whatsoever on that score.

The staff — from front of house and bartenders, to the waitresses and chefs — were warm, welcoming and attentive.

Vitally, it was quite obvious to see, they are the heartbeat and key to the Folly Inn's present and future success.

You really feel they are proud to be working there, in their superb new surroundings.

To complete the whole package, I should, unusually, also mention the toilets. I could not believe just how high quality they looked. 

Could they possibly be the best customer conveniences on the Isle of Wight? It sets a very high bar.

Throughout the entire new look Folly Inn, you can't help but notice the attention to detail — for all the little things — from the quality of the crockery and glassware, to the seahorse handles on the toilet cubicle doors!     

After an enjoyable evening spent with colleagues, the County Press certainly gives the new Folly Inn a resounding thumbs up!

The County Press team were guests at the event.

The Folly Inn officially opens to the public on Monday.