Wherever you go around the UK, you would expect there to be the option to hit the casino floor. However, the Isle of Wight has yet to join this craze, despite the growth of players from the island being reported by some of the major online slots websites. Whilst online gaming is rife, the lack of a land-based option is somewhat surprising – the nearest one being the Grosvenor casino, which is located in Gunwharf Quats in Portsmouth. Another option is through Shuffles events, which can offer the option to hire a pop up casino at different events, such as weddings. The company are also based in the Isle of Wight.
The question will now be whether the Isle of Wight sees a casino open in the near future, as they also continue to push the different sporting options available for locals. There are now a large number of different activities for locals and those travelling over to visit.
One of these is the Isle of Wight festival of running, which takes place between the 24th and 31st of May. This is a week-long of different activates, to help push people to be more active and healthy. The week consists of running events that you can take place in from the Duver Dash 5km run for people new to running, to the Needles half marathon for more advanced runners. The latter is also one of the toughest courses in the country, so is a difficult test for even an advanced and experienced runner. There will also be a number of different workshops available, such as a class on Nutrition and a hypopressives workshop.
Another hugely popular event at the Isle of Wight is the round the Island Yacht race, which will be taking place on the 29th of May this year. Whether you are taking part or simply there to spectate, it provides a stunning atmosphere and always provides a memorable occasion. The race itself takes place over one day and attracts around 1,400 boats, with 15,000 sailors in total. This means it is on the largest yacht races in the world and sits fourth in the largest events in the UK for participants, behind the South runs, Great north run and the London marathon.
The Isle of Wight challenge is another event that has continued to rise in popularity in recent years. This year it will be taking place on the 2nd of May, with limited spaces left if you are looking to get involved. The challenge involves participants passing through the spectacular coastal path around the Isle of Wight and is always a memorable experience for those involved. The full challenge is a 106km route, which can be run, jogged or even walked. This can be done over a day or two or there is the option to race either half or even any of the 25km quarters. It is a unique test and provides a real challenge for people of all abilities.
