Businesses express frustrations over MGP trade

Companies question benefit of the event

Businesses on the Isle of Man have taken to social media to share their frustrations at a lack of trade over the Manx Grand Prix.

Vibe Plant Based Café, on Ridgeway Street in Douglas, sparked the conversation after sharing a photograph of their empty restaurant on Facebook.

They said they’d had no bookings for last night (24 August) and no customers.  

In the post they wrote: “A lot of people thought we were crazy for closing during the TT racing but this is the reality for a lot of businesses on the Island during these big events.”

Other businesses also shared their experiences on the social media thread.

Truffle Struffyl - a coffee, chocolate and sweet treat shop in Ramsey - responded saying: “This needs talking about.”

They revealed that due to the location of the business people had presumed they ‘would be busy’ but they weren’t adding: “I am not sure where people are going.”

The Dovecote Tearooms, in Kirk Michael, said they sympathised with the situation adding that as their café is on the TT Mountain Course the MGP, and TT, doesn’t benefit it ‘in any way’.

They add that people thought they were ‘mad’ to close during TT this year but said with uncertainty over weather, and when practice sessions would run, ‘it’s so hard to prepare for and staff’.

And Just Jenny’s, a bakery in Castletown, revealed TT and MGP have been the ‘quietest weeks for business’ adding:  “Who knows where everyone goes but can totally understand the idea of closing down for both now.”