The Food and Drink Festival smashed its old attendance record.

More than 16,000 people attended the Villa Marina event at the weekend, breaking the previous year’s attendance by nearly 6,000.

The event, now in its 12th year, was the first of its kind to be held in the British Isles since the start of the global pandemic.

It was able to go ahead after social distancing measures were scrapped in the island in June.

Visitors were able to meet more than 60 local food and drink producers and sample their creations ranging from seafood to gin.

This year’s themes were sustainability and supporting local, with traders prohibited from using certain single-use plastics and more than 235kg of recycling collected over the weekend.

Noa Bakehouse was crowned ’Best Stand’ competition winner, followed by The Abbey, The Forge and Isle of Man Seafoods.

Geoffrey Boot MHK, Minister Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: ’For many it was a chance to say thank you to local producers for their efforts in what has been an exceptionally difficult year, and I encourage people to continue buying local - pandemic or otherwise.

’This event is a welcome boost not only to the local economy but to community spirit.’

More photos from the festival can be found in this week’s Isle of Man Examiner.