About The Bargeman's Rest
A Traditional Riverside Pub in Newport
The Bargeman’s Rest is a traditional freehouse pub in Little London on Newport Quay, beside the River Medina on the Isle of Wight. We first opened our doors in June 1999 and have been welcoming locals, visitors and river users ever since.
Today, the Bargeman’s Rest is a place to enjoy good food, great beer and a warm welcome in a unique riverside setting. Our location brings together the character and history of Newport Quay with the relaxed atmosphere of a traditional Isle of Wight pub.
The History of Newport Quay
The harbour at Newport Quay sits where the River Medina meets the Lukely Brook. For centuries, these waterways played an important role in the area’s industry and trade, transporting goods and providing power for local mills.
Many reminders of Newport’s industrial past can still be found around Little London and the quayside. The Quay Arts Centre and several nearby residences occupy buildings that were once warehouses lining the waterfront.
One of the area’s larger industrial operations was the Mew Langton Brewery in Holyrood Street. The brewery had its own access to the waterway through what is now the Quay Arts Centre, where beer barrels were loaded onto waiting barges.
With such a strong connection to the River Medina and its working waterfront, it seems particularly fitting that a pub called the Bargeman’s Rest now occupies this historic spot.
Derrick Store to Bargeman's Rest
The main building that is now the Bargeman’s Rest was originally known as the Derrick Store. Built by the Shepard family in the 1880s, it probably replaced a worker’s cottage that stood on the site before the quay was constructed, when the river had a more natural bank.
The building was set back from the river because a right of way ran along the riverbank. A hoist was positioned between the building and the quay, allowing goods to be loaded and unloaded onto barges.
Part of that history can still be seen today. The original main mast of the derrick survives and now carries the Bargeman’s Rest pub sign, providing a striking reminder of Newport Quay’s working past.
Over the years, the building has had a variety of uses. It has reportedly served as squash courts, a clubhouse for the local cricket club and even a toy museum. Today, however, its role as a traditional freehouse pub, with a nod to the building’s maritime heritage, feels like a fitting continuation of its story.
Little London & The River Medina
Little London retains much of the character of Newport Quay during its busy working days. The river continues to be an important part of life in Newport, with the River Medina still used by people for both business and pleasure.
Our pub sign celebrates that connection. It depicts an imaginary bargeman taking a moment to enjoy a beer, his pipe and traditional accordion music while sitting on a coil of rope, a fitting tribute to the bargemen who once worked along the quayside.
Even the rope has a connection to the area’s past, with the nearby Quay Rope Store once providing another important part of the working waterfront. Today, the Bargeman’s Rest continues that tradition by offering a welcoming place for locals and visitors to eat, drink and relax beside the River Medina.
Whether you’re exploring Newport, visiting the Isle of Wight or simply looking for a traditional riverside pub, we look forward to welcoming you to the Bargeman’s Rest.