If you’re missing your annual trip to sunny Spain, Foraging Vintners have come up with an alternative that might have you searching out your beach gear.

Last night (Thursday) Ian Swindells and Mary Beth Coll, who own Foraging Vintners, opened another venue just across Port Erin bay from their popular wine bar.

The Cosy Nook café site has been transformed into Playa del Vintners to offer us all a taste of the Mediterranean without leaving the island.

‘It’s feet in the sand, fizz in the hand,’ says Mary Beth Coll.

A marquee has been erected on the concrete hard-standing overlooking the sea and they will be serving their own wines, ciders and ginger beer along with their signature cocktails, Bushy’s beer lager and ale and Pippa Lovell’s innovative bar snacks.

If you want something more substantial to eat you can order pizza from nearby La Gusto or Pizza Eaterly to eat on the beach with your drinks.

As long as the weather is kind it will be open every day from midday to 10pm.

Sadly they can’t also guarantee the sunshine so opening hours for the venue will be weather dependent – look out for the Foraging Vintners flag flying on Port Erin promenade to confirm that it’s open.

*Playa del Vintners will be open to the public for two weeks from tonight (Thursday).

Then it will be available for a further two weeks for private or corporate hire.

Anyone interested in hiring this unique venue can contact Ian and Mary Beth via the Foraging Vintners Facebook page or their website at www. foragingvintners.com/