Popular Isle of Wight pub in Ventnor reinstates backwards clock

A week of tongue-in-cheek campaigning took place at the Crab and Lobster Tap in Ventnor after landlord David Weedon replaced the pub's Theakston Old Peculiar "backwards clock" which had enjoyed pride of place behind the bar for years.

David fancied a change and swapped it for a modern Rolex - and caused something of an uprising.

The pub, named Isle of Wight County Press Pub of the Year in 2023, faced a campaign by locals who wanted to call time on the Rolex.

Crab landlord David Weedon is keeping both clocks (Image: Isle of Wight County Press)

They missed the backwards clock and made their feelings known - starting a petition at the bar. 

David called a meeting and provided platters of cheese and biscuits for the entire pub to help ease the proceedings.

After a debate and a vote, it was agreed that the backwards clock would be reinstated elsewhere in the pub - but the Rolex would also stay.

Fish and chips and other dishes have been half price at the pub all week (Image: Isle of Wight County Press)

David said: "A Crab general meeting took place to allow freedom of speech with regards to the reinstallation of the backwards clock.

"The quality of the debate was quite exhilarating. It was decided by vote that I had acted with great honour by moving the backwards clock and replacing it with a clock that people could actually read the time on.

"However, in the interests of democracy, I decided to hang the backwards clock in a prominent position too. Peace in the pub has been restored."

It has been a good week for the locals - with the pub running a special of all food on the menu at half price.