Restaurateur Neil Barlow could hardly have believed what would lay ahead when he opened his restaurant on the North Quay in the capital two-and-a-half years ago, writes Duncan Foulkes.

’Nobody could really foresee then what would be happening here now with the coronavirus crisis,’ said the 45-year-old proprietor of Ocean.

’But you know when a challenge is put before you what do you do? Do you walk away from the challenge or do you grab the challenge with both hands and actually meet it head-on?

’A great hero of mine was Winston Churchill and he met many challenges in his life and the biggest one was obviously the Second World War and without him our country would have been sunk.

’And so in the darkest times you look at his example, a great, bold man who never gave up.’

And carrying on is just what Mr Barlow is doing along with many other business people around the island who run restaurants, cafes and other eateries where the doors have been closed because of Covid-19.

Now they have adapted their businesses after being given the go-ahead to offer food deliveries and there is certainly something of a community spirit around this which is proving to be a lifeline in these uncertain times.

And it is apparent after speaking to restaurant and cafe businesses in the island that families are determined to enjoy culinary treats for special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries.

Instead of booking a table they are now sitting at home to enjoy a slap-up meal cooked for them at island businesses.

At Ocean restaurant, Mr Barlow said he is delighted that he has been able to keep on his eight staff - four in the kitchen and four front of house.

The Manxman said: ’One thing is for certain, we have a fantastic team and we could not do what we are doing without them. And it is also a fact that we would not be able to do what we are doing without our wonderful customers.’

His ’fine dining’ restaurant has fine views over the quay and Mr Barlow said he was pleased that he had managed to find a way forward as the island comes to terms with the pandemic.

Instead of serving customers at the tables, his team of waitresses, known as the ’Ocean Girls’ now take it in turns to deliver food orders to people’s homes.

Mr Barlow also gave the thumbs-up to a Colby couple who launched a free online food ordering website to help Manx businesses keep trading during the pandemic.

As reported by the Examiner last month, Jess and Nic Le Merle, who set up their digital and software development agency ’Afundi’ a year ago, created the website Eatout.im within 72 hours to support restaurants, cafes and their customers.

The website acts as a middleman where clients can select a business and see its menu before placing an order and Mr Barlow said it had been a great help for his business.

It is becoming clear that even during times of crisis such as this people appreciate tucking into some good food.

The message appears to be that restaurants and other eating places around the island are rising to the challenge for those in the island’s population, who would normally enjoy the occasional night dining out.

Meanwhile in Main Road, Onchan, Bonds Restaurant is on a mission to ’beat the bug’ by producing a new takeaway menu.

Aisha Mulla, who helps to run the popular restaurant, said customers appreciated the food on offer which ranges from sandwiches to old favourites such as cottage pie.

Miss Mulla told of a phone call they received from a woman in Dubai who asked if they could deliver a Sunday roast dinner to her mother in the island. They duly obliged and made the woman’s day.

’It’s really about going that extra mile,’ said Miss Mulla, who also has a number of regular customers including one person who makes an order virtually every day.

At Close Leece Farm Shop and Cafe on the Patrick Road, St John’s, Tracey Ridgway and her husband Steven are keeping many people happy with their deliveries of Sunday roast dinners.

They have closed the shop to visitors because of the rules over social distancing but their Sunday roast dinner deliveries are booming.

Mrs Ridgway said people could still purchase their Manx produce online to have it delivered and there is a click and collect service.

The business specialises in rare breed Tamworth Pigs, native Manx Loaghtan Lambs and Golden Guernsey Goats, as well as their own hens and bees.

Mrs Ridgway, who was previously based in central London, said they had never looked back since launching the business at the start of 2019.

She said: ’Community spirit is great in the island and the attitude seems to be along the lines of ’’let’s just get on with it".’

She added: ’People are appreciating the meaning of the phrase ’’shop local and shop Manx". They realise that they are also supporting local farmers in the process.

’And our Sunday roasts are proving to be a special treat.’

Pubs where folk would enjoy going and sitting down to a meal with their pint, are also coming on board by adapting to changed circumstances during these unusual times.

One of them is The Viking in Victoria Road, Castletown, where Marcus Owen and his wife Stephanie conjure up some good pub grub most days.

Mr Owen said they were pleased to keep their regulars happy with dishes that include steak pie along with fish and the pub’s own hand-made chips. Friday is proving to be their most popular day.

The couple say they have had had no problems with their suppliers who include Robinson’s and Castletown butcher Radcliffes. After an order has been made and prepared Mr Owen leaves it in a box outside for the customer to pick up at an allotted time.

lThe Courier lists many of the island establishments that provide delivery and collection information.