The island’s longest-established restaurant is on the move - but only 100 yards down the road.

L’Experience has been based for 39 years at Summerhill, Douglas.

Early next month the doors will close and the business will continue at the nearby Regency Hotel.

Current proprietors Mike and Belinda Murphy have been running the place for the last 10 years and are excited at the prospects of forging close links with the hotel.

Mr Murphy, aged 40, told the Manx Independent the current lease was nearly up and the opportunity had arisen for an ’exciting adventure just a couple of doors down at the Regency Hotel.’

He stressed: ’The only thing that will change is the location and we have received lots of positive feedback from customers.

’It all feels the right thing for us to do. We will be operating with all our usual menus, staff and also our world-famous French onion soup. The only thing that will change is the location.’

Mr Murphy admitted L’Experience is something of an ’iconic’ venue which over the years has attracted the attention of TT stars such as Peter Hickman, Gary Johnson, John McGuinness and classic big names such as Giacomo Agostini and Valentino Rossi.

A string of film actors and actresses have also enjoyed meals at the French-themed restaurant which was previously run by Tony Quirk.

They are understood to have included Madonna and her then husband Guy Ritchie at the time he was making a movie in the island.

Australian actor Eric Bana, who is also big fan of motorcycling, also enjoyed a trip to the restaurant.

Tim Baggaley, general manager of the Regency Hotel on Queen’s Promenade, told the Manx Independent he was ’very excited’ at the prospect of L’Experience moving in.

He said: ’It is the longest established restaurant in the Isle of Man with a great reputation.

’During these times we have to focus on the future as we look to a return to normality after Covid.’

Lease

He said L’Experience will lease the restaurant and is expected to start in early July.

The restaurant at the bottom of Summerhill is only 100 yards from the hotel.

Mr Murphy and his wife Belinda, aged 39, have a son, Jack, aged 19, and a daughter, Megan, aged 16.

Mr Murphy said they were looking forward to working at the Regency where they will work in the restaurant, the bar and a private dining room.

He said the online booking system will remain the same and he is looking forward to seeing customers in the next week or so at the Summerhill restaurant.

Mr Murphy believes the reputation of L’Experience will grow even greater after the move along the promenade.

And he says that the island will be in for a tourism renaissance in the future.

He expects there will eventually be an influx of visitors to the island.

Meanwhile, he has this message for loyal customers: ’Let’s make the final few weeks at Summerhill our best ever.’