Ventnor Arts Club

Cramped into a Victorian building that's clearly been through several incarnations, this community arts space runs on pure enthusiasm rather than glossy presentation. The Ventnor Arts Club functions as gallery, workshop venue and performance space rolled into one slightly chaotic but wonderfully creative whole.

Local artists dominate the rotating exhibitions, which means you'll see work that actually connects to the island rather than generic touring shows. The quality varies wildly - sometimes you'll stumble across proper gems, other times it's frankly amateur hour. That unpredictability is part of the charm though.

Workshops cover everything from pottery to creative writing, usually run by practitioners who clearly know their stuff. Check their website before visiting as the programme changes frequently and opening times seem to follow their own mysterious logic.

Families with artistic kids will find plenty to engage with, though very young children might get restless during longer exhibitions. It's more suited to those who appreciate grassroots creativity over polished commercial galleries.

Perfect for a rainy afternoon when staying at nearby holiday parks like Appuldurcombe Gardens or Parkdean's Lower Hyde. The location in Ventnor's backstreets means you can easily combine it with exploring the town's Victorian seafront and quirky independent shops. Allow an hour unless there's a workshop that catches your fancy.