Winter food at The Needles Old Battery

Christmas cake covered with white icing and with a green paper tree and golden stag decoration — Fruity Christmas cake is on our menu this winter

Try a slice of delicious carrot cake — Tuck in to a hearty slice of carrot cake

After a brisk winter walk on a frosty morning, the cosy surroundings of the Needles Old Battery tea-room offer a welcome retreat. With the inviting aromas of freshly brewed coffee and hot soup, and the sounds of the 1940s, you can sit and look out over the iconic Needles lighthouse as you enjoy a warming bite. And with every dish you try, you're helping to look after special places like this.

Come into the warm

Open Friday to Sunday (2 Nov-16 Dec, 11am-3pm) as well as Boxing Day through to 6 January (11am-3pm), you’ll find warming food that’s perfect for refuelling after a long walk over Tennyson Down on a crisp winter’s day. With dramatic views across the Solent, you can see the waves crash against the rocks and watch the ever changing winter light play across the waters as you tuck in to a hot and tasty lunch.

The Port War Signal Station with the Needles Rocks in the background — The tea-room is in the Port War Signal Station (left) that looks out over the Needles

Something for lunch

Our dishes are all freshly prepared and filled with seasonal goodness. We use locally produced, creamy Guernsey milk, as well as Isle of Wight tomatoes in our recipes. Some of our light lunches and sandwiches reflect the coastal location of the Battery, or the produce available at the time of year, but we also have traditional favourites such as warming sausage rolls served with a side garnish.

If you're feeling thirsty, we provide teas, including herbal, fairtrade coffee and hot chocolate, alongside a selection of cold drinks.

A bowl of squash soup — Warming winter soup

Just for winter

We change our menu seasonally and use local produce where possible. Whilst we always have a selection of cakes, bread pudding, cheese scones and fruit scones, during the winter months our chef introduces different recipes ready for the new season, which means there's always something different to try.

This winter we've a special Christmas menu until Twelfth Night. As well as traditional Christmas pudding served warm with rich brandy sauce and Christmas cake bursting with fruit and covered with marzipan and snowy icing, there's also redcurrants and pork encased in a hot-water-crust pastry served with red cabbage and mixed leaf salad.

Festive pork pies topped with apple, redcurrant and Stilton — Try these festive pork pies with a range of tasty toppings

Special food for special diets

We like to make sure that everybody can enjoy a treat so as well as vegetarian dishes such as cottage pie made with the Island’s award-winning Gallybagger smoked cheese and local tomotoes, we've gluten free options too. The decadent toffee fudge gateau is made with gluten free flour, and sandwiches and scones are available without gluten too.

A bowl of apple and blackberry crumble on a table with blackberries to the side — Our warming, vegetarian berry crumble is served with custard.

Afternoon Tea

Our cream tea was recently awarded 5 stars in an online blog. The moist fruit scone is packed full of sultanas and served with jam and clotted cream. Why not also try our savoury tea with a cheese scone, cheese and pickle? You can ask for the cheese scone warm - it's delicious, and a truly indulgent way to warm up on a winter’s day.