Now right next door is very friendly Sandown, having radio helps too.
Hangarage sometimes available, otherwise plenty of open parking. Avgas on tap. Microlights land for £5, bigger stuff AFIK £10.
Two owners bought it early last year & both fly for fun, one used to have flex wing, both now gyro's. Bought the field to get it functioning & have done the drainage needed uprating, mow the grass and sorted the cafe's premises etc.
Nice cafe all week at the main buildings. Caravan site next to the top west corner, speak to Carla in the cafe if you arrive at short notice.
Bembridge, TBH is pretty bleak and unattended. Never answers radio blind calls when passing, pretty open to public access and I'm not aware of any security.
Thus a big investment without any initial base custom to provide income, might take some seasons for publicity and 'the word' to get around. I'd be curious why BN did leave as one gathers the owner fell out with them in a big way and constructed bunds/earth mounds to prevent their a/c accessing the runway. One rumour is owner wanted big £££ for maintenance.
Might be worth asking Sandown what they could do - it has a lot more by way of GA traffic for a start.
mike hallam.