Plans have been submitted for a new entertainment venue for TT and the Festival of Motorcycling to replace the current H&B tent at the rear of the Grandstand.

The planning application (18/00104/B) has been submitted by the Department for Enterprise (DfE) to erect a temporary tent and bar with live entertainment in Noble’s Park for the duration of the two motorcycle festival periods.

Plans include several shipping container style units being arranged to create a two level bar, a TV bank to show races and past events and a separate one which will host a live band.

The venue will feature copies of famous TT landmark signs which will enable fans to get pictures of the signs without having to stand in the road at their favourite spot on the course.

For a number of years, Heron & Brearley has occupied the space behind the Grandstand with its beer tent, but with the contract ending in September of last year, organisers have been able to reconsider plans and have moved the venue to Noble’s Park.

Also included in the plans is an area designated as a ’stunt show arena’, which will be next to the planned venue.

The previous site has been deemed too small and basic for a major sporting event such as the TT as during peak times, the premises have seen people violating the licence agreement by drinking outside of the designated area.

And pathways being blocked entirely by members of the public purchasing food and/or merchandise led to access problems and safety concerns.

Supporting documents for the planning application show that following the tender process ’it is planned to award H&B to deliver the requirement’.

However, when asked to comment on the length of the tender expected to be awarded, the TT team at DfE said ’we cannot comment on this as it’s an ongoing process’.

With these plans the island will see three competing outdoor entertainment venues for this year’s TT.

Bushy’s announced that after 20 years of hosting its Beer Tent in the Bottleneck car park, Douglas, the brewery has a new home for the 2018 TT in the Villa Marina Gardens. The Bottleneck will instead be the entertainment base for rivals Hooded Ram, which has taken over the space on Loch Promenade on a five-year lease.