The Fountain, Cowes

Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Fountain

The Fountain can be found just in front of the Red Funnel passenger ferry terminal. There were no other customers in when I arrived on a midweek afternoon visit but I was soon joined by a few others.

The pub has bare boards. There is a fruit machine near the entrance. Ambient music was playing. Berries were hanging from beams (perhaps an autumnal feature) and strung around a fireplace that also contained many pictures of visiting dogs. The pub does seem to cater well for canines. One customer ordered a dog ice cream but the barman struggled to find the item on the till. It was eventually located under bar snacks! However, it then took an eternity to physically locate the ice cream too. I hope the dog found it worthwhile!

Featured in the 2026 Good Beer Guide but notably having been dropped again for the 2027 edition, my visit didn't feel particularly worthwhile. There are 4 handpulls on the bar. Being a Greene King pub, they stock their IPA & Abbot as regulars. The guest beer was Goddard's Fuggle-Dee-Dum with the 4th handpull unclipped. Greene King Level Head was on keg and ciders were Aspall's & Stowford Press.

Nobody was eating mid-afternoon and midweek during what is probably a shoulder period for Isle of Wight tourism. Although, I suspect food may be this place's primary function. Accommodation is also available. It's location next to the ferry terminal will undoubtedly gain it some custom. The CAMRA website suggests that you could pop in here if you just happen to miss a ferry. Personally, I would walk on by and if you had a dog that was partial to ice cream, you'd be likely to miss the next ferry too!

On 25^th September 2026 - rating: 5
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