The Ventnor Winter Gardens Steering Group has set a date for its next public gathering.
Steve Witheyman, who is part of the group, has invited residents to come along on Thursday 25th June. The meeting starts at 6pm and takes place at the Mill Bay Pub on Ventnor seafront.
Steve said,
“Following the recent news about the Ventnor Winter Gardens I am calling a community meeting to discuss the council’s actions, update on the Steering groups contact with the owner and next steps.”
He added,
“If around please come on down and have your say.”
Council closes enforcement case
OnTheWight recently brought readers the news that the Isle of Wight Council has wrapped up its enforcement case for the Winter Gardens.
The council now considers the 19 action points from the pre-Section 215 letter complete, after, they say, the owner finished the required work.
Freehold sold in 2013
In January 2013, the then-Conservative Isle of Wight council sold the freehold of the Ventnor Winter Gardens for £1 to the owner of The Hambrough Group, Kevin Sussmilch of Wight House Limited.
At the time, the sale included a number of conditions, but all were subject to time restrictions. These conditions have now lapsed.
The venue was open to the public for just over a decade, but quickly fell into disrepair. The enforcement action to smarten up the exterior commenced in May 2025.
OnTheWight’s Ventnor Winter Gardens archive goes back as far as 2008, with more than 100 articles charting the venue’s history.
