Domestic Event Fund

Pub

Live music and DJ set

A licenced premises applies to provide a live music variety experience for all customers for one night. The business plans to open with a pop  band, followed by a rock band and ending with a live DJ set.

Costs of the event come to £1,200 with the following breakdown:

• Pop band  - £300
• Rock band - £300
• DJ set - £300
• Audio equipment hire £200
• Marketing £100

All costs are eligible so the business receives grant support of £960 towards the event which equates to 80% of the eligible costs.

The business is also eligible to apply for further funding for future events until the end of March 2025 as it still has £540 of funding available under the cumulative maximum of £1,500 per venue.

Restaurant

Dinner and show event

A restaurant applies to provide a diner and a show event for their customers. The business plans to sell tickets to an evening meal that includes entertainment from a magician and a poetry performance.

Costs of the event come to £700 with the breakdown as per below:

• Magician - £200
• Poet - £200
• Hire of stage equipment - £150
• Marketing of the event - £150

All costs are eligible so the business receives grant support of £560 towards the event which equates to 80% of the eligible costs.

The business is also eligible to apply for further funding for future events until the end of March 2025 as it still has £940 of funding available under the cumulative maximum of £1,500 per venue.

Event venue

Indoor craft fair

A event venue which holds an on-licence applies to run a indoor craft fair in the run up to Christmas. The event consists of multiple craft and artisan traders taking up stalls inside the venue with musicians and hired performers moving around the venue as festive characters.

Costs of the event come to £2,400 with the breakdown as per below:

• Event coordinator - £500
• Table/stall equipment hire - £1,000
• Musicians- £250
• Performers - £250
• Marketing - £400

All costs are eligible so the business receives grant support of £1,500 towards the event which equates to 63% of the eligible costs but is the limit of support under the single venue scheme.

Café

Chess competition

A café wants to boost trade during the quiet pre-lunch period and applies to run a series of chess exhibition matches for customers to enjoy. The event consist of 4 exhibition matches over 4 weeks in collaboration with a local chess society.

Cost of the events come to £230 with the breakdown as per below:

• Hire of chess equipment - £80 (£20 per event x 4)
• Marketing of event - £150

All costs of the event are eligible so the business receives grant support of £184 towards the event which equates to 80% of the eligible costs.

The business is also eligible to apply for further funding for future events until the end of March 2025 as it still has £1,316 of funding available under the cumulative maximum of £1,500 per venue.

Oliver Cheshire

Douglas Town Centre Manager

Olly commented:

‘It is fantastic to hear that the Domestic Event Fund has been extended until the end of the year. The Fund has been of great benefit to many of our events over the last twelve months. With the support of the Fund we have been able to put on both new and larger-scale events, which have attracted additional footfall into our Capital. These people have then visited our wonderful retailers and hospitality businesses. We are very grateful to Department for Enterprise for their support.’

Nicky Lowney

Secretary of the Visit Port Erin Group

Visit Port Erin Group utilised the Domestic Event Fund to host a range of events last year including the Port Erin Festival of the Beach and Sea and Port Erin's Countdown to Christmas.

Nicky Lowney, Secretary of Visit Port Erin Group:

‘The Domestic Event Fund has been absolutely brilliant for the Visit Port Erin Group, and has enabled us to develop innovative and larger scale event concepts for Port Erin. Our two events, ‘Port Erin Festival of the Beach and Sea’ and ‘Port Erin's Countdown to Christmas’ which were supported by the Fund, were a huge hit, and each weekend witnessed thousands of people visiting the town. Many local businesses saw a significant increase in trade as a result.

Events of this scale require a huge amount of infrastructure behind the scenes, and the Event Fund providing vital support towards these costs.

I am delighted to hear that the Fund has been extended; there’s still a lot of recovery to do, and it’s wonderful to see our residents and visitors alike, enjoying themselves. The Visit Port Erin Group will certainly be looking to utilise the Fund for future events’.

Mike Wade

Co-owner of The Black Dog Pizza Oven

Supported by the Domestic Event Fund, ‘The Dog’s Nollick’ festival which took place over three weekends last Christmas included live music, wood-fire pizza, festive feels, and a range of artisan markets.

Mike Wade, Co-owner of The Black Dog Pizza Oven whom organised The Dog's Nollick festival, said the event had a really positive effect on local businesses. He also commented:

'We're extremely thankful for the support of the Domestic Event Fund in helping us to host a successful series of Christmas pop-up events last year. We estimated that a minimum of 1,200 attendees visited us in Peel over the three weekends; contributing a potential local spend of over £16,000. Feedback received from local businesses with the area was also positive as some witnesses a noticeable increase in trade as a result'

Harry Barbour and Dave Wookey

Directors of Key Bar Events

Harry Barbour and Dave Wookey, Directors of Key Bar Events and organisers of the Bushy’s Feel Good Festival, which was supported by the Domestic Event Fund, commented:

‘We would like to express our gratitude for the support provided by the Domestic Event Fund, without which we wouldn’t have been able to put on our festival across the extended bank holiday weekend. The support provided by the Fund helped to reduce some of the risk associated with an event of this scale, especially during these uncertain times, and gave us the confidence to try something new following the cancellation of the last two TT festivals.  

The event saw thousands of people enter the Villa Marina Gardens over the four day weekend and this had an economic benefit for over 60 local businesses and a large number of local artists and performers. We’re really looking forward to bringing back the Bushy’s TT Village with a bang in 2022 and build on the success and experience from the Feel Good Festival. Thank you again to Business Isle of Man for their support in getting this brand new event concept off the ground – following our positive experience, we would highly recommend any local event organisers looking to host an event this year, to reach out to the Fund.’

Clare Barber

Event Organiser, Isle of Pride

With the aim to promote equality, diversity and inclusion, the 2021 Isle of Pride Festival, supported by the Domestic Event Fund hosted a free entry festival with live music, local caterers and activities for all ages.

Clare Barber, one of the event organisers of Isle of Pride which was supported by the Domestic Event Fund in June, commented:

‘We are exceptionally grateful for the support of the Domestic Event Fund in providing the support necessary for Isle of Pride to be able to fund and build the infrastructure for a large scale festival in the Villa Marina Gardens. On the Saturday we saw nearly 9,000 people pass through the Villa Marina Gardens – bringing with them a riot of colour and a strong ethos of equality and diversity.’

‘An event of this scale required the services of many local suppliers, including local food and drink outlets, printers, designers, stage and lighting operators. Many external businesses including our hotels, taxi and public transport providers, witnessed a significant increase in trade over the weekend, which is so positive to see. Many of the bars, nightclubs and restaurants held Pride after parties and themed evenings too.’

David Vogul

Founder Manx Esports

With support from the Domestic Event Fund, the Island saw its first ever grassroots Esports tournament take place. The Manxesports ‘Rumble on the Rock’ welcomed esports fans to a tournament spread over two weekends.

Manx Esports' David Vogul commented after the event:

'We at Manx Esports can highly recommend the Domestic Event Fund. It helped to cover some vital elements of our grassroots esports events. Our esports event helped to attract additional footfall into the promenade and strand street area. Local businesses profited from additional customers in their shops and restaurants. Additionally it made the public more aware of competitive and social video gaming, which lead to an increase in investment from families and individuals in that area'