Peel restaurant takes top spot in 'Manx Menu' competition

Government competition celebrates Island's hospitality industry

Manx produce – and those in the hospitality industry responsible for helping to showcase it – has been celebrated today (10 April).

The winners of the Isle of Man’s first ‘Manx Menu’ contest have been revealed.

The government run competition took place between 5 February and 1 March with The Boatyard, in Peel, being declared ‘Overall Manx Menu’ award winners.

This was for ‘excellence’ in four categories – starter, main, dessert and speciality drink.

Other award winners include:

• Manx Menu Starter/Light Bites Award: Frank Matchams
• Manx Menu Main Course Award: The Creg-Ny-Baa and The Boatyard
• Manx Menu Dessert Award: The Creg-Ny-Baa
• Manx Menu Speciality Drink Award: The Fyn Bar & Shop
• Manx Menu Takeaway Award: The Parish Pantry
• Manx Menu Customer Service Award: The Dovecote Tearoom
• Manx Menu Product of the Year- Food: Fire Island Chillies
• Manx Menu Product of the Year- Drink: Hoolie Rum, Outlier Distilling

MLC Diane Kelsey is the political member for the Business Agency in the Department for Enterprise:

Sixty-five businesses entered the contest with 123 individual entries across the award categories.

More than 2,000 public votes were cast to select the finalists which government says demonstrates the ‘high praise and enthusiasm’ for Manx food and drink.

These were then considered by a judging panel of three.  

Robert Hunter, Chef Lecturer at UCM, was one of the judges and said: “The Manx Menu was a fantastic opportunity for the hospitality and food production sector to highlight their creativity and commitment to innovation.

"It was great to see so many impressive entries from such a variety of places across the Island.

“The initiative really helped to emphasise the array of local suppliers and food provenance on Island which is increasingly important.

"Our catering students are very lucky to have so many fantastic establishments to choose from.”

The Boatyard Manager, Ash Bolton, and owner Robin Mowat told Manx Radio the award comes at the perfect time:

The winners of the Manx Menu awards will receive £1,000 in marketing support to help promote their businesses; The Boatyard will receive £1,500.