Artisan Bakery & Cafe
Website: facebook.com/pages/Well-Bread-Bakery/318806831518817
Phone: 01983 281814
Address: 53-54 High St, Cowes, PO31 7RR

One of the latest additions to the Isle of Wight’s burgeoning food scene, this cinnamon-scented artisan bakery and café sits right on Cowes’ main thoroughfare.

The shop looks not dissimilar to a traditional bakery from the outside, with a striking and huge enamelled sign covered in text. It is, as promised, somewhat similar to being in someone’s vast kitchen. There’s a variety of signs, boards and special offers written on card, on scraps of brown paper and on blackboards. If it’s your first visit and you’re unsure of what to do a lady from behind the counter will invite you to help yourselves to the food and drink on offer. This is, you see, the unique feature of Well Bread – you take what you want, keep your own tally and give the details of what you’ve consumed when you pay. It’s all done on trust, which is quite a cute trick, and presumably a successful strategy.

It’s a welcome sight for hungry sailors, who drop in for thick, toasted ‘doorsteps’ cut from enormous crusty loaves. Grab a pew, sit at one of the two communal wooden refectory tables, and slather your DIY toast with butter served in large wooden bowls, before spreading it with jam or marmalade, scooped from equally large dishes. If you have room, round off with one of the homemade croissants or a Chelsea bun straight from the oven – and be sure to take a slice of apple pie for later. Otherwise, return for a bowl of Chilli con Carne with bread – a staple of the limited lunch menu. Freshly ground caffeine hits home courtesy of the owner (a coffee importer).