Organisers of the Deep South Music Festival are exploring options for future live music events in Port Erin following news that the Bay Hotel has been put up for sale.

The pub and restaurant, which overlooks Port Erin Bay, was put on the market with an asking price of £950,000 after closing on Sunday, October 4, amid concerns about the financial viability of trading through the winter months.

Chris Carr, speaking on behalf of the festival, said a series of meetings had been arranged with Port Erin Commissioners to discuss how to maintain the village’s summer events programme.

The discussions come after organisers confirmed that the festival’s event on Saturday, August 29, 2026, was intended to be their final show on Port Erin Beach.

The event began as a three-stage music festival with camping, running from 2013 to 2017, before continuing as the Port Erin Beach Festival for a further nine years.

Mr Carr described the experience as a ‘totally brilliant adventure’ and thanked the Manx public for its support over the years.

‘Moving forward, with the uncertainty surrounding the Bay Hotel and what it might become in the near future, we are not leaving this as a gap in the summer calendar months,’ Mr Carr said.

‘Port Erin is a very important part of our lives because of what we have achieved and the wonderful friends we have met along the way, so we have arranged a series of meetings with Port Erin Commissioner's to investigate how we can fill the void we are leaving.

‘As soon as any news develops we will keep everyone informed and up to date as always. It’s the least we can do for the wonderful Manx community, which has always been so supportive and appreciative of all the work we have done.’