Giving TT Fans Their Daily Bread (Other Food Will be Available)

St Nininan’s Church could be set to host a food and drink festival ogranised by the Manx Food Market Traders Association.

The plans (24/00358/C), submitted by chair James Quayle, would see the Foodie Village held on the church grounds opposite SNHS on Ballaquayle Road.

If approved, the festival would run from May 27 to June 8, offering residents and tourists ‘the definitive food and (non-alcoholic) beverage destination for TT visitors, that celebrates Manx produce and hospitality’.

The Foodie Village plans to offer breakfast, lunch and dinner through stalls and food trucks, as well as live music with buskers and a fine dining option held inside the historic church itself.

A marqueee would have ‘informal seating’ which the application says would have an ‘informal stage area that would be used for local musicians and entertainers’.

Alongside the marquee on the lower half of the site at the St Nininans Road end, will be a space where pop-up Foodies and local craft markets will be held – the type and number of stalls will change each day and will be 3x3m predominately pop-up gazeboes.

The application adds: ‘This initiative is being presented to TT visitors as a must visit part of the TT Experience at the heart of the action, that presents a positive image of the island and its produce, enriching the visitor experience and enabling as many local producers and traders to get the maximum benefit from the T visitor’s spend as possible. Local craft traders and musicians wil add additional attractions.’

The church grounds is also used for access to Noble’s Park during TT for car parking, but these plans are on the opposite side of the grounds and would appear not to interfere with that arrangement.