The Mermaid Bar at the Isle of Wight Distillery

The Mermaid Bar is a drinks-led venue at the Isle of Wight Distillery on Pondwell Hill, Ryde. Its focus is the distillery’s Mermaid collection, a range of small-batch spirits shaped by the island’s coastal setting and made with locally sourced and ethically selected ingredients.

Gin is central to the range, alongside pink and citrus-led variations, seasonal gin, salt vodka and spiced rum. The bar also provides a setting for cocktails, with the spirits offering a base for serves that reflect the distillery’s coastal identity. Ready-to-drink gin and tonic cans are part of the wider Mermaid range, although the bar’s current selection is best checked before visiting.

The character is craft-focused rather than food-led. The distillery places emphasis on controlled, slower distillation and on using the best part of each batch for a smooth finish. Botanical influences include shoreline rock samphire, locally grown hops and hand-picked elderflower, giving the drinks a clear connection to the surrounding landscape.

Sustainability is also part of the venue’s identity. The distillery supports conservation of the marine environment and follows a plastic-free approach, adding an environmental dimension to the drinks experience. That combination of locally connected ingredients, small-batch production and coastal styling makes the bar suited to legal-age adults interested in gin, spirits and the making of drinks.

Set at Pondwell Hill near Ryde, the bar works well as a destination for a focused drinks stop, a cocktail-led visit or a chance to explore the Mermaid range in the setting where it is produced. Food is not the main feature, so the appeal rests on the spirits, the distillery context and the opportunity to experience a distinctive island drinks brand at its source.