Festival hopes to 'shout about' Manx produce

Bry Radcliffe, who will have a stall, has been farming on the Isle of Man for 35 years

A new festival in the north of the Isle of Man is an opportunity to "shout about" local produce and crafts, the chef behind the event has said.

About 35 farmers, producers and creatives are set to showcase their goods at the inaugural Love Manx Festival at the Mountain View Innovation Centre between 10:00 and 16:00 BST on Saturday.

Bart Czapczynski said he wanted to bring as many small businesses together under one roof to show "how much creativity and quality there is on the island".

He said he hoped the fayre, which aims to "celebrate all that's Manx" and "offer a chance to reach a bigger audience", would be held four times a year each with a seasonal theme.

Organiser Bart Czapczynski wants to put on the festival to showcase Manx goods

A government-run annual food and drink showcase, previously held in Douglas, was scrapped last year.

Mr Czapczynski said he had used as "many Manx ingredients as possible" in his dishes since opening Babbages Bistro, located at the centre, in 2023.

He said he had done this because they were "excellent in quality" and he believed in supporting local traders.

The festival, which would highlight seasoned local producers alongside those starting out, was an extension of that thinking, Mr Czapczynski said.

"People make amazing, unique things on the island, I want to shout about that and build a sense of community."

Traders 'beavering away'

Known as "the veg man", farmer Bry Radcliffe will be bringing freshly grown broccoli and other produce he has grown to display at his stand at the fayre.

Harvesting 25 different types of vegetable and seasonal crops throughout the year, he said it was "lovely" to meet people who were "unaware of what you're doing".

The farmer said it was "very important" the entire agricultural sector was supported because "so much can be produced in the island in our patchwork of fields".

"We just need the support of the people on the island."

He also said he wanted get behind the fayre as there were "lots of artisan people out there who are just beavering away producing things", who deserved the platform to "take businesses forward".

Sue Bridge's tea room in Kirk Michael has been open for eight years

At the Dovecoat Tearooms stand, festival visitors will be able to pick up homemade pies, cakes, jams and Christmas puddings.

Sue Bridge said the event would be an "excellent shop window" because after eight years there were "still people that haven't come across us".

She said: "You don't get the same number of people through your door in a day as you would at a showcase like this, so it's a great opportunity for traders."

In the face of rising costs, it was "more important now than ever to support Manx as much as we possibly can to keep businesses going", she added.