With the heritage electric railway and pretty coastline on its eastern extremity, not to mention the picturesque Molly Quirk’s and Groudle glens, it’s easy to forget that the village of Onchan also offers an alluring array of shops and businesses to entice the shopper who doesn’t want to venture into nearby Douglas.

But for anyone wanting that extra convenience, Onchan offers a range of businesses from bridal to beauty, arts and crafts, hairdressing, estate agents and garage services.

Corkill’s garage is one of the oldest established businesses in the village, having been run by the same family for five generations since early in the 20th century.

Beginning with just one pump dispensing petrol from the front of number 1, Main Road, the business flourished and moved from selling car spares alongside fuel, to opening its convenience shop around 15 years ago, providing anything from coal and logs to food.

For the committed shopper there is a positive cornucopia of businesses to be found in the Village Walk precinct.

Anyone of an arty persuasion will be delighted by Joan’s wool and craft shop which, as the name suggests, stocks all varieties of wool, not to mention the associated equipment such as knitting needles, crochet hooks, materials, haberdashery and sewing machines, which they also repair.

Described by some as an Aladdin’s cave, the shop has been running for over 40 years.

If you are planning a move, Onchan estate agent Property Wise now has branches island-wide, also in Ramsey, Port Erin and Peel.

It’s now an established feature of Village Walk after being there for eight years.

Offering a no-sale, no-fee service, the business specialises in residential sales and lettings and offers competitive rates.

Anyone feeling in need of a spruce up could do no better than visiting Julie and her team at Scissors, ladies’ and gentlemen’s hairdressers.

Open six days a week, with a late night on Wednesdays, the staff are trained in colouring, perming and hair extensions.

They use the best products too with Wella colours and have a special £99 deal on Goldwell Kerasilk Keratin treatments.

Another established Main Road feature is the Hospice Shop.

Each year, Hospice needs to raise more than £4.5m towards the provision of its services, free of charge, to the local community.

Every donation made, whether that is an item of clothing, a games console or a cash donation, makes a huge difference in helping patients to live well, their way, to the end of their lives.

Without the generosity and support of people like you, oit could not continue to do what do.

Hospice says: ’So, the next time you are having a spring clean, please think of us and the difference you can make, by donating your pre-loved items to our Hospice Shop at Main Road, Onchan.’

Another of the older established Onchan businesses is Eric Faragher Ltd, the funeral director. Established in 1949, the staff try to provide a sympathetic and supportive service for bereaved families.

Run by three generations of the Faragher family, relatives can find practical advice and support, sort out all the logistics and paperwork associated with a bereavement, and this can all be done either at the customer’s own home or in a sympathetically designed lounge at the company premises in Onchan.

On a practical note, Onchan Commissioners’ offices are the place where villagers can use the public counter to pay their rates or rent and can provide something of a social meeting point for some of the village’s old folk too.

The commissioners’ office is also the place to go to voice any concerns about social housing or other such matters.

Next door is the Harvey Briggs Onchan Library where you can choose from a wonderful selection of books and if you are interested in local history, there is a fine Manx collection too.

A growing collection of audio and ebooks is available to download.

No coastal town or village can be complete without its own popular fish and chip shop, and Onchan obliges admirably in the form of the Fryer’s on Village Walk.

The award-winning chippy boasts not only the usual excellent fish and chips but also a wide-ranging gluten-free menu, which includes gluten-free batter, and a choice of burgers, all cooked on their state of the art high efficiency cooking range.

They also boast a Harvest award for using local produce.

Offering professional beauty services, there’s also Simply Beautiful, where customers can find a cosy retreat and have their every beauty need catered for.

They are the island’s leading ENVIRON skin specialists and stockists and also have a full range of beauty and holistic treatments from Amazing Brows, Lashes, St Tropez tan, Shellac nails, all body waxing, Reiki Healing and Hopi ear candling.

But if home improvement is more your thing, then you will find a great range of flooring at Timberland, including real wood, laminates, vinyl and carpets.

They can offer a professional fitting service or supply the materials for you to do it yourself.

There’s also a range of wall and even ceiling coverings to choose from too, catering for both the commercial, and the domestic market.

Onchan is also home to financial services.

The Sterling Group of companies was started by David and Robbin Johnson and has remained a family-owned and operated company throughout the last 25 years.

Originally focused on providing trust and company services to an international client base, the group has grown to include Sterling Business Solutions Ltd, which assists local businesses and trades with a full range of accounting, tax, VAT and payroll services and Sterling Property Management Ltd which provides managing agent services to apartment blocks on the island.

Sterling is based in Elm Tree House and further details of our services can be found at www.sterling.im

There is something for youngsters too.

Storytime was established in 2011 and has gone from strength to strength. A small, quality nursery in the heart of Onchan with a dedicated room for two-year-olds as well as a separate pre-school.

In 2019, the team were excited to launch a breakfast club for children who attend Onchan School and a holiday club - Skools Out @ Storytime - for all children aged between five and 10 years.

Skools Out offers a chilled and spontaneous atmosphere and hosts a range of activities from arts and crafts, exciting trips and themed days during every school holiday throughout the year with the exception of Christmas.

For further information call 616254 or email [email protected]

The village is also home to fine dining.

Have you tried Bonds restaurant in the heart of Onchan yet? The former Isle of Man Bank has been transformed into a stunning restaurant unlike any other.

However, its beauty stems further than just the elegant interior and historic building.

The Bonds restaurant prides itself in creating delicious dishes, all sourced locally and cooked to the highest standard, all created by our two talented chefs from South Africa.

With flavoursome and unique food suited to a wide range of dietary requirements, vegetarian, vegan, gluten free you are guaranteed to discover a dish that is just right for you.

Its philosophy can be summed up in five words: Consistency, Quality, Freshness, Seasonal and Precision. Not forgetting the carefully selected wines on offer, why not embark on a memorable culinary experience?

Pampering is also available in the village.

Purite on the Bay is a day spa owned by Daniella Leonetti. It offers a range of treatments from massage to make up and pamper parties.

With a team of skilled and talented beauty therapists, all treatments are undertaken in a relaxing environment to ensure that you feel as good as you look.