WE’VE OFTEN hypothesised that the closer a venue is to the coast, the less effort seems to be expended in running it.

After all, if you can offer unrivalled sea views, who cares if the service is a tad tardy and the food a bit meh?

But, thankfully, that is not always the case.

After all, if you have a spectacular view AND you offer a decent meal, then you’re on to a winner winner seaside dinner.

Isle of Wight County Press: Veggie pizza, one of Matt and Cat's meals at Tradewinds Cafe

We had a delightful post-swim lunch at Tradewinds, Sandown.

Thankfully the team is not sniffy about sandy feet and damp hair, or pets - taking shelter under a neighbouring table was a hot dog, presumably patiently waiting for a cooling bowl of locally-made lactose-free dog ice cream.

If we humans want something more traditional, a basic sandwich and a bag of plain crisps, say, we’d be better off bringing our own picnic to the beach, as the menu at Tradewinds would not look out of place in a high street restaurant where ingredients are pulled or smashed; pimped with kimchi, truffle or sriarcha.

Gone are the days when the best tingle your tongue could expect was from a dollop of Branston or piccalilli.

Isle of Wight County Press: Tradewinds Cafe in Sandown.

We were served a fresh veggie delight pizza; piping, straight from the oven.

The stone-baked traditional margherita base was laden with mozzerella and parmigiano cheeses, with a medley of vegetables, including moist aubergine and courgette. The balsamic drizzle added a sweet yet acid note.

We would have enjoyed more tenderstem broccoli, but perhaps that’s just us.

Nonetheless, for the smaller size pizza, it was surprisingly hearty, and we even had half of it boxed up to eat later - just as tasty cold.

Read more Matt and Cat reviews by clicking here

Our seasoned salt and pepper squid was decently flavoured; succulent yet crispy.

The accompanying fresh salad was not simply palmed out of a bag; sweet roasted peppers, mushrooms, pink pickles and a creamy slaw contributed to making this dish the perfect light lunch.

Light enough, in fact, for us to soon head back to the waves.

For a moment, under Tradewinds’ raffia parasol, in sight of the white sands and azure sea, we’d felt like we were enjoying our favourable lunch somewhere in the Caribbean - until the bracing caress of the English Channel brought us back to Sandown with a goosebump.

Matt and Cat's bill

Veggie pizza (9”) £15

Salt and pepper squid £15

Total £30