Brunch is arguably the best meal of the day. To be able to enjoy brunch means that you’ve probably enjoyed a lazy morning and have no rush to get anywhere fast. This hopefully means you are ready for a chilled-out time and an enjoyable menu of food that tickles both savoury and sweet palates. To get to your brunch restaurant by RIB means no traffic and a whole heap of fun before you arrive.
Bluetooth RIB Charter, based at Hamble Point Marina, makes this kind of trip possible. We have eight-person RIBs that are available for bareboat hire, skippered charter, or with an assisted skipper. Putting some of Hampshire’s most atmospheric brunch spots within easy reach.
Here is our guide to what we consider the best brunch destinations on the Solent, best reached with the wind in your hair and a RIB under your feet. Chosen for tasty food, unique views, and to help support fellow independent businesses.
Bon appetite.
Southsea Beach Cafe
Positioned on the beach beside South Parade Pier, Portsmouth. Southsea Beach Café might be one of the most scenic brunch venues in all of Hampshire. The views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight are uninterrupted, and brunch is served all day.
The menu is seasonal and locally sourced. This independent café has a devoted following among Portsmouth locals, which is both a recommendation and a warning; book ahead on weekends.
If you fancy trying something different, before brunch. Why not book a Southsea sauna session? More details on the cafe’s website.
⛵ Travel from Hamble Point to the marina at Gunwharf Quays. Then take a nice walk to help build your appetite to the Southsea Beach Cafe.
Off The Rails, Yarmouth
Off the Rails is a lovely place to eat. Whilst they don’t have a specific brunch menu, they have plenty of choice on their regular menu which includes brunch staples.
A popular independent restaurant set along the old railway line (“Causeway”) in Yarmouth’s former train station. Off The Rails overlooks the outstanding natural beauty of the Yarmouth Marshes and Mill Copse.
⛵ Travel from Hamble Point to Yarmouth and moor in Yarmouth Harbour. Then take a short walk to Off The Rails.
The Garden, Cowes
The Garden is in the heart of Cowes High Street. Open seven days a week and serving brunch from 9am-3.30pm.
Enjoy brunch within their beautiful walled garden. Sheltered and, in summer, one of the loveliest places to sit anywhere on the Isle of Wight.
⛵ Travel from Hamble Point to Cowes Yacht Haven or West Cowes Town Quay. Then take a short walk along Cowes High Street to The Garden.
Salt Cafe, Portchester
If you want to try a local gem, tucked away and with great views take a visit to Salt Cafe. Brunch is served daily from 10-3 and is popular. Booking is advised.
⛵ Travel from Hamble Point to Wicor Marina. Call the Marina Office on 01329 237112 to arrange a temporary visitors berth.
“There is a particular pleasure in arriving somewhere by water. No traffic, no parking, just salt on your lips and the whole glittering breadth of the Solent laid out before you”
How to Plan Your Solent Brunch by RIB
Whether you are enjoying a half-day or a full-day charter with Bluetooth, you’ll be able to enjoy a relaxing brunch stop and a wider Solent adventure.
Practical Notes for Brunch by RIB
• Book restaurants ahead. Arriving by sea won’t get you a table at a fully booked café. Call ahead, check they are open and book your table. Ask for one with a view!
• Dress for the water, not the café. Even on warm days, a RIB at speed is cold. Layer up for the crossing and change or peel off on arrival. Most brunch spots are relaxed about casual attire.
• Time your crossing. Allow 30–45 minutes to reach Cowes for The Garden, 50 minutes to Yarmouth for Off The Rails, 60 minutes to Gunwharf for Southsea Beach Cafe, 80 minutes to Portchester for Salt Cafe all times approx from Hamble at cruising speed.
• Skippered charter lets you drink. If you want to properly enjoy a Solent brunch, including a Bloody Mary or two, book the skippered option and leave the navigation and your safety to the professionals.
Why Arrive by RIB?
It’s a fair question: why go to the effort of chartering a boat when you could simply drive?
The answer, once you’ve done it, is easy. The Solent is a working stretch of water. We share with naval vessels, container ships, ferries, superyachts and weekend dinghies. Seeing it from the water, gives you a perspective on the south coast that no car window ever will.
There is also a practical argument. Hampshire’s coastal brunch spots sit on water that most visitors only look at. Bluetooth RIB Charter, operating from Hamble Point with an impeccable safety record and an enthusiastic following among corporate clients, leisure sailors and day-trippers alike, has made this access remarkably straightforward. You don’t need a yacht. You need an empty morning and a reasonable tide.
FAQs: Brunch by RIB on the Solent
Can I reach the Isle of Wight for brunch on a half-day charter?
Yes, but you won’t have much time to linger over food. Cowes is approximately 30 minutes from Hamble at RIB cruising speed plus berthing time. On a four-hour half-day charter, you can make the crossing, enjoy brunch, and return. There won’t be much time for lingering. A full-day charter is recommended if you are looking for a more relaxed experience.
Do I need a licence to hire a Bluetooth RIB?
For bareboat (self-drive) charter, Bluetooth’s insurance requires the designated skipper to have at least three years’ experience on a similar RIB, or hold an RYA Coastal Skipper qualification. If you don’t meet these criteria, the skippered or assisted charter option is the other option. Plus has the additional advantage of allowing you to enjoy a drink or two at your brunch stop.
What is the best time of year for a Solent brunch charter?
May through September offers the best conditions, lighter winds, warmer temperatures and the best chance of café terrace weather. That said, the Solent is navigable year-round, and a crisp winter crossing followed by a warming brunch has its own appeal. The team at Bluetooth monitors the weather closely and will contact you to reschedule if conditions are unfavourable.
How many people can join a Bluetooth RIB charter?
Each RIB accommodates up to eight passengers (seven on a skippered charter, with the skipper taking the helm). For larger groups, Bluetooth can coordinate multiple boats. Making a group brunch charter achievable for hen parties, corporate days out, or family gatherings of up to 16 or more.
Where exactly does Bluetooth RIB Charter operate from?
Bluetooth has its RIBs based at Hamble Point Marina on the River Hamble, Hampshire, postcode SO31 4NB. They are also happy to arrange skippered charter starts and ends at other Solent locations for an agreed fee.
READY TO BRUNCH BY SEA?
Contact us to book a skippered or bareboat RIB charter with Bluetooth and plan your Solent brunch adventure.