Manx National Heritage, the national heritage agency for the Isle of Man, is currently seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced individuals and businesses to grow and develop catering establishments at six of its visitor attractions.

The catering outlets range from small tearooms to larger cafes and restaurants in some of the Isle of Man’s most scenic locations: Cregneash, The Grove, The Manx Museum, House of Manannan, The Sound and Niarbyl Bay.

Gaynor Haxby, Head of Public Services for Manx National Heritage said:

“Our catering contracts offer the opportunity to work with MNH to continue to develop our hospitality offer at some of the Isle of Man’s most special historic sites and scenic locations.

We enjoy working with passionate and creative caterers to deliver fresh, quality food that showcases seasonal Manx produce and provides a warm and friendly welcome for our customers.

We offer excellent support, creative collaboration and a great opportunity to grow the already well-established hospitality outlets within our estate”.

The Sound Cafe is the most popular cafe destination in our portfolio, attracting around 90,000 visitors a year. Currently open all year with the peak during the main tourist season of Easter to October. This well-established cafe is popular with both the resident and visitor markets.

The village of Cregneash attracts 15,000 to 20,000 visitors each season and the tearoom Creg y Shee is an important element of the visitor experience.

Around 8 - 10,000 people visit the Grove Museum of Victorian Life each season and the conservatory offers the opportunity to develop a small tea room business to service museum visitors, events and the local community.

The Bay Room is a small 27 seat cafe at the Manx Museum which is open all year and attracts 100,000+ visitors a year. Additionally, the Manx Museum and adjacent iMuseum are regularly used for private and business hire functions which generate additional demand for catering provision.

The Coffee Station at the House of Manannan in Peel is open all year and has become an established and important part of the visitor experience since it opened in June 2012. The museum attracts 60,000 visitors each year. The cafe is currently operated as a coffee bar with further catering opportunities related to the use of the House of Manannan for private hires, corporate hires and weddings.

Niarbyl Bay Cafe & Restaurant is a unique and beautiful site that attracts sightseers all year round, with a seasonal peak in the summer months and the opportunity for private hire particularly for weddings, celebrations and business occasions.

If these opportunities may be of interest, please write to Rebecca Williamson, Procurement Services, The Attorney General’s Chambers, 3rd Floor, St Mary’s Court, Hill Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 1EU or e-mail rebecca.williamson@gov.im.  

Expressions of interest must be received by noon on Friday 1st July 2016.

An information pack will be sent out to you on or after the closing date of 1st July with full details of the opportunities available.