Isle of Wight business – It’s not just tourism

Whitbread, which owns Premier Inn, has confirmed it will be investing £10 million into building the new hotel in Sandown and announced the start of construction.

Permission to serve alcohol between the hours of 9am and 11pm, Monday to Saturday, and between 10am to 11pm on Sundays, was approved by the Isle of Wight Council’s licensing sub-committee today.

These are the only visitor-voted-for accolade for businesses on the Isle of Wight which allow tourists to shine a spotlight on places that have helped to make their stay on the Island extra special.

OnTheWight has the details of the 15 Isle of Wight businesses who passed the underage alcohol test with flying colours and the four who didn't.

The revised application to extend Mole Country Stores in Blackwater was rejected by six votes to two.

Isle of Wight MP, Robert Seely, says it's vital we protect shipbuilding on the Island. Adding that "We need a jobs agenda, not a house-building agenda".

It's been a tense week for those who work at the 12 Central Stores on the Isle of Wight. Their parent company, Conviviality, has called in administrators, but there is still hope for the convenience chain on the Isle of Wight.

Angie Booth from Valu4U in East Cowes explained to a BBC reporter today how her business - which had been profitable for 21 years - has been decimated since Floating Bridge 5 was taken out of service in January 2017.

The Bay Boutique Bed and Breakfast has secured funding from the Isle of Wight Council in order to attract active travellers to explore the beauty of West Wight, using electric bikes.

Well done to all at Tops Day Nurseries in Newport, who parents have rated in Top 20 out of 1,931 nurseries across the South East. They say nursery staff are friendly, helpful and supportive.

Local councillor says as the largest employer in East Cowes, GKN's continued presence is "vitally important", not only to local economy, but also to the education of young people and the local communities.