Grants for winter hospitality and leisure events

Businesses can apply for financial support to host events through winter until March

A grant scheme that provides support for Isle of Man hospitality, entertainment and leisure firms to host special events during the colder months has been relaunched.

Funded by the Department for Enterprise (DfE), The Winter Event Scheme has been designed to help draw more customers and increase local spending.

Under the scheme, which was first run in 2022, the DfE provides up to 80% of the cost of hosting in-house events, with the maximum grant capped at £1,500.

Enterprise Minister Tim Johnston said that many local businesses faced "additional pressures" during winter, particularly in the first quarter of each year.

Live music, quizzes, film screenings, comedy nights, craft workshops and indoor markets are among the types of events that would be eligible for funding.

The scheme is set to remain open to applications until March.

'Try new ideas'

The department is also due to rerun the Manx Menu Contest, which judges dishes made primarily from local produce and saw 60 businesses take part in the inaugural contest last year.

Outlets can submit their entries until 31 January, with a public vote set to run from 14 February to 31 March.

Categories include customer service, products, innovation and sustainability and the focus of the upcoming event was to broaden participation.

Mr Johnston said both schemes aim to help "drive footfall and stimulate demand" as well as encouraging them to "be creative and try new ideas to engage with their communities".

The schemes address initial recommendations from the Draft Local Economy Strategy, with the final document along with proposals for new schemes set to be discussed in Tynwald in the new year, he added.

Chief executive of Hospitality Isle of Man Jamie Lewis said the winter event scheme would provide "meaningful" entertainment options for Manx residents over the winter period.

The schemes will run alongside the Love Manx - Shop Local Christmas campaign, which will encourage residents to support local retail, hospitality, leisure and food and drink businesses.