The Isle of Man Food and Drink Festivalhas been running for 11 years and a report has recently been issued which assesses the feedback and value of the event.

The report makes recommendations based on feedback gathered from 309 visitors to the festival and 22 exhibitors.

Visitors questioned gave as their main reason for attending the event, ’the opportunity to sample local food, drinks and craft’. Being able to see what is available locally and to purchase it also came high on the list. Criticisms were a lack of seating and difficult parking.

Ninety per cent of visitors were local residents and 73% of them said they were aware of the Manx Provenance label with 83% recognising the importance of it.

With a comparatively small percentage of off-island visitors attending and only 3% of them travelling to the island specifically for the festival, the report highlights the opportunity to promote the event more to off-island audiences.

For exhibitors, the main reasons given for being at the festival were to raise awareness and sell their products.

All of them plan to return the the festival in the future, indicating a high level of satisfaction with the event, as well as around 40% planning to exhibit at the island’s two major agricultural shows. Around two thirds were already regular exhibitors at the festival.