Manx Grand Prix higher visitor numbers welcomed

Businesses have welcomed changes to Manx Grand Prix

Manx Grand Prix visitor numbers were "better than anticipated", the owner of a business along the route has said.

The event, which saw the schedule extended from nine days to 13 days, ran from 17 until 29 August.

It also marked the return of the Classic TT, which was last held in 2019 before it was scrapped by the government after a review following the coronavirus pandemic.

Sandrina Teece, owner of Creg-ny-Baa pub, said: "I do feel the return of the Classic TT brought more people over."

The government has previously said that it hoped the return of the Classic TT brand would boost visitor numbers.

Sandrina Teece, owner of Creg-ny-Baa, said visitor numbers were 'better than anticipated'

Ms Teece said that although practice week was "a little bit quieter" than last year, race week was busier.

However, she noted that comparison was difficult as there were two extra race days this year due to the return of the Classic TT.

By the end of the second week "things picked up and it felt a bit like Manx Grand Prix used to," she said.

Ms Teece said that although she would not say that Manx Grand Prix provided a big boost to the business, "going by race week it was a lot better than I anticipated".

However, a lot of her customers mentioned the cost of getting to the island on the ferry.

Cheryl Curphey and Zoe Huxham run Ballaugh Camping

Zoe Huxham, manager at Ballaugh Camping, said it was a well-attended event.

She said the campsite had sold out with its 60 electric pitches over the bank holiday weekend.

However, she said she thought having both Manx Grand Prix and the Classic TT "caused quite a lot of confusion" as to why there were two programmes.

"We had marshals that had to go home earlier because they weren't aware that the Classic TT was running longer and then they couldn't change the boat," she said.

However, the extended schedule had "worked a lot better as it gives more time for them to see the racing," she added.

Andy Saunders said it was a 'pretty successful year'

Andy Saunders, owner of the Quids Inn pub in Douglas, said: "I think everyone is very happy to see the return of the longer schedule and the return of the Classic TT."

However, while he said he did not think there was a "major increase in numbers this year", he thought it was because it was late in the day when the changes were announced and people had already made plans for holidays, he said.

The schedule changes also meant that people had the time to get out and see other parts of the island so businesses in Port Erin and Peel, for example, had "done much better this year," he said.

It was "a pretty successful year," he said.

"The only negative is the price of travel."