This Isle Of Wight Restaurant Is Opening A Sister Property In Antigua

Brothers George and Matt Adams are the brains behind hugely successful restaurant The Hut on the Isle of Wight. Now they’re adding another property in the Caribbean, as Margaret Hussey reports.

Isle Of Wight Seafood Restaurant, The Hut, Launches A New Property In Antigua

It’s fast become the place to go on the Isle of Wight; now,you can add The Hut’s sister property Little Jumby to your social calendar.

Operators of The Hut, brothers George and Matt Adams, want to bring the same party vibe to their new island property – this time 6,500km away in Antigua.

Like its Colwell Bay sister, there will be incredible locally-caught seafood and dishes with a local twist. Expect Barbudan Lobster, Snapper, Grouper, Fish Curry and Black Pineapple. Little Jumby is set to open in the West Indies in November 2024 and for the brothers it’s a chance to build on their UK success.

Younger brother George says they used to visit the Isle of Wight as teenagers. And later seeing the opportunity at Colwell Bay, they were inspired by the Mediterranean beach restaurants they visited on holiday.

‘We’ve got a house in Tuscany and there’s a beach there called Ultima Spiaggia which we spend a lot of time at,’ says George. ‘It’s just rustic, blue and white colours, the sort of place where you make memories.

‘We wanted to bring that vibe not just to the island, but to the south coast of the UK. There’s not anywhere like it really, not through any extreme skill but purely by fluke! You are protected from the wind and you get the afternoon sun all day. That’s the reason why it has worked.’

The food is a huge draw too. ‘There is some amazing produce on the island,’ agrees George. ‘All our lobsters are caught off Ventnor. The Isle of Wight has some fantastic tomatoes, mushrooms and garlic. We’ve got a forager who goes out foraging for us. We are very lucky with the produce.’

Is sustainability important? ‘Very much so. We do what we can to be a sustainable business.’

George has a long background working in pubs and nightclubs. While Matt trained at Lausanne Hotel School in Switzerland before joining forces with George.

What’s it like working as brothers? ‘Awful!’ jokes George. ‘It’s great, it’s easy,’ says Matt.

George continues: ‘I think in partnerships like this, trust is everything. Working with your brother and, hopefully Matt feels the same way, you can’t have a more trusting relationship. I think that is the key to it.’

The Hut in Colwell Bay has exceeded expectations with 2023 being one of its most successful years yet. Its season from March to October means the brothers can concentrate on Little Jumby’s opening in November 2024.

Guests at Little Jumby will be able to rent their own Cabana or Beach Hut and like at the Isle of Wight, a trip here will include a short ferry or private boat ride. Nearby Jumby Bay Island offers 40 suites, 21 private residences and 14 villas if you want to stay over.

Like the Isle of Wight, there will also be live bands, DJs, in-house events and buckets of rosé. And to ensure sustainability, the remainder of the island will be transformed into a nature reserve. Additionally, staff will be hired locally, with 95% of the team already living there.

The brothers are obviously thrilled for their next chapter, adding a destination they love to The Hut group.

Have they been surprised by its success? ‘We never could have imagined that we would be where we are today,’ says George. ‘Absolutely no way.’

For more information, visit thehuts.com