News

Isle of Man Steam Packet enhances food and drink offering on board Manannan

22/6/2022

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has expanded its local food produce offering and enhanced its menus on board high speed craft Manannan.   

The company has recruited Matt Berry, a highly experienced chef, to redesign the menu of the vessels Coast-to-Coast café. The newly launched menu includes both hot and cold meals, and uses a selection of local ingredients and produce from Robinsons, Noa Bakehouse and A&J Butchers to name but a few.   

The Steam Packet Company now also stocks a wide variety of local produce on board Manannan, including popular Bushy’s beer and lager on draft in the vessel’s bar. Other locally produced spirits are also available on board including Fynoderee gin and Outlier Distillery rum and liqueurs. 

Brian Thomson, Managing Director of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, said: ‘The Isle of Man has such a great array of local produce and it’s something we’re really proud to celebrate on board our vessels. 

‘It’s been an exciting journey welcoming Executive Chef Matt Berry into the fold. Matt has created a diverse menu that will appeal to a variety of passengers travelling on board Manannan, incorporating the finest of Manx ingredients. Manannan’s café and bar areas sit at the heart of the vessel - and the traveller experience, and we hope these changes will only serve to improve the customers time with us on board.’  

Seamus Byrne, Customer Services Manager for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, added: ‘Offering the Island’s finest independent food and drink produce on board Manannan is a great platform to showcase the Isle of Man’s fantastic offering to travellers. A big thank you to all the local companies we’ve worked with for making everything come together nicely.’ 

Matt Berry, Executive Chef for Manannan, commented: ‘It’s been a real joy and creative experience to have been given the opportunity to change the menu offering on board Manannan. Hundreds of passengers pass through our doors daily, and it was vital that we created a menu that reflected travellers needs, but also championed the Isle of Man food and drink produce that is readily available on our doorstep.’ 

Changes to the menu were in place in time for the 2022 TT, where the Company faced the ultimate acid test as they carried over 34,000 hungry TT fans during the fortnight. Over 19,000 pints of beer were served up to thirsty travelers who also ate more than 13,000 rashers of locally sourced bacon and in excess of 13,500 locally sourced sausages. You can read more about the Steam Packet’s TT in numbers at https://www.steam-packet.com/blog/tt-2022-in-numbers/   

From left to right: Seamus Byrne (IOMSPC, Customer Services Manager), Tim Dedman (Gourmet Foods, Managing Director/Owner),
Martin Brunnschweiler (Bushy’s Brewery, Managing Director), Brian Thomson (IOMSPC, Managing Director), Miles Petit, (Noa Bakehouse, Owner) Dave Filson (Robinsons, Sales Development Manager), Keith Morley (A&J Butchers, Distribution Manager), Matt Berry (IOMSPC, Executive Chef)