French Franks is one of Newport's favourite lunch spots, especially with people working in town. It makes baguettes, sandwiches, wraps, paninis, jacket potatoes and salads to order, using island ingredients where it can. It's on St Thomas' Square in the middle of Newport, opposite the Minster.
FoodSection titled Food
On recent visits I've had the "Moo + Blue" baguette, made with Isle of Wight Blue cheese. It's intense, but delicious.
My wife and I are also fans of the "Franks Caesar" salad. It's a monster of a chicken Caesar, packed with chicken, bacon and croutons, and it's a meal in itself.
They also do breakfast baguettes if you're in town early.
DrinksSection titled Drinks
There's the usual range of hot and cold drinks, including teas and coffees.
Our favourites are the frozen yoghurt shakes. For me, they've replaced a McDonald's milkshake any day of the week.
Menus change, so the dishes we've mentioned may not always be available. The current menus are on the French Franks website.
Part of a small island chainSection titled Part of a small island chain
French Franks is a small Isle of Wight chain. Besides the shop in St Thomas' Square, there's one at St Cross Business Park on the edge of Newport, one in St Thomas Square in Ryde, and Little French Franks in Fountain Yard in Cowes, right by the Red Jet terminal. That makes it handy for a baguette before the ferry. They also run a catering van that turns up at events and festivals around the island.
Newport, St Cross and Ryde offer click and collect. Be warned: the shops often can't answer the phone between 11:30am and 2pm, when they're busiest.
More in NewportSection titled More in Newport
- The best cafés in Newport
- Quay Arts café, for a sit-down lunch by the river
- Richmonds Bakery, for cake
- Our guide to Newport
SourcesSection titled Sources
- Our own visits
- French Franks: shop locations, phone numbers and click and collect (checked October 2026)
