New operator seeks to bring Niarbyl Café "back to life"

"We've already had enquiries about weddings"

The business set to take over the operation of Niarbyl Café says it wants to bring the venue "back to life".

The site, on the Island's picturesque south-west coast, has been closed for refurbishment since 2023.

This week, Manx National Heritage confirmed Niarbyl Café and the Bay Room Café at the Manx Museum will be operated by Woodbourne Group, following a competitive tender process.

Read more HERE.

With the venue at Niarbyl set to reopen 'by Spring 2027', David Upton-Jones, Woodbourne Group's Managing Director, says Manx National Heritage has done a 'brilliant job' with the restoration so far, and it falls to them to just put 'the finishing touches' on the site.

Describing the reaction to this week's announcement as 'fabulous' and 'really positive', Mr Upton-Jones told Manx Radio they hope to retain a level of familiarity for customers who would have visited the café prior to its closure and 'build on' the pre-existing menus.

"It's very much abut utilizing the great Manx produce that we have and particularly that seafood element out there. It's very important that we keep that. So that's very much still on the agenda, working with those local suppliers on all that. So we're looking forward to bringing that back to life", he says.

Listen below to the interview with Woodbourne Group's David Upton-Jones: