Plans put forward for Manx food village during TT

It has been proposed to hold the food village in the grounds of St Ninian's Church in Douglas

Plans have been put forward for a food festival featuring local traders near the grandstand during the Isle of Man's annual TT races.

Proposed by the Manx Food Market Traders Association, the festival would be held in the grounds of St Ninian’s Church in Douglas during the fortnight.

In its application, the association outlines plans for a “food and beverage village” with one-sided marquees, food trucks and street food vendors.

It would run between 27 May and 8 June.

The association was set up last year to help establish a food market culture in the island and held its first open air Douglas Foodies Market on North Quay last June.

Organisers said the plans would also feature an area for pop-up food stalls that would change daily, as well as craft demonstrations, and a pop-up fine dining restaurant in the eaves of the church at lunchtime and in the evening.

The festival would offer a “wide variety of food and non-alcoholic drink choices” as well as space for buskers and other live music, they added.

'Affordable'

Initial proposals for a fully licenced bar were no longer part of the plans.

The association, which is a not for profit organisation, said its role was as a facilitator, covering the costs through grants from the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture and Department for Enterprise, along with nominal pitch fees, and would manage the branding, marketing and promotion of the event.

If approved, the offering would neighbour the grandstand area, which traditionally hosts a range of food trucks and bars from both on-island and visiting UK traders.