The Isle of Man

[Preston Red]

I went to Douglas for my stag do in April. We absolutely loved it. The ferry ride over was shite mind because the weather was god awful and the ferry was like a friggin rollercoaster.

 

We went from Friday to Sunday. Jax(sp?) Bar on the front is awesome. I managed to wander into the casino on Saturday night with £100 in my back burner and leave with £250 from the Casino Hold 'Em table. I forgets what the nightclub next to the casino is called but it was odd.

[Guest LFD]

Colours? Jaks is the other bar.

[Chairman Meow]

I'm guessing Colours is still exactly as it used to be? Is Bushy's still going? Best jukebox ever.

 

LFD, I always wanted somewhere either in Douglas or Castletown. Well that's not strictly true I wanted to Brandywell Cottage but that will always remain a distant fantasy. Saw it was for sale for something like £750k last year.

 

We used to stay in Foxdale in the past but it's been ages since we last used it and I don't have a number for guy who used to rent his house out to us.

[Ezekiel 25:17]

Always had a fascination with the place even though I've never been. What is to all intents and purposes an independent country only a stone's throw from the North West of England, where they used to whip badly behaved rapscallions.

 

It still has a distant oldy-worldy appeal. I remember writing to the Isle of Man tourist board when I was about 12 asking if I could come and live there because the woman in our close kept having parties and a few people had been stabbed, they wrote back saying only if I got a job. Fair enough like.

 

Anyone been, lived there? What were your thoughts on the place? The only two people my age who've been - one nearly topped himself after two days because it was so boring, the other said he was constantly questioned about where he was from and who he was, because he was 'new' (Port Erin this was apparently) although the birds seemed especially excited to see him.

 

 

I remember writing a similar letter to the Bootle tourist board, they replied 'only if you're willing to throw wild parties at night and stab people' fair enough like.

[Ezekiel 25:17]

I live on the Isle of Man.

 

Great place to live - no tax, no crime.

 

But I don't think it is a great place for a holiday, unless it is for a young family.

 

The TT is the best time to come, especially if you are into your bikes.

 

I'm trying hard to see the appeal of going when the TT is on if you were not into bikes.....

[Guest LFD]

I'm trying hard to see the appeal of going when the TT is on if you were not into bikes.....

 

Alcohol.

 

They have beer tents along the promonade.

[General Dryness]

I'm guessing Colours is still exactly as it used to be? Is Bushy's still going? Best jukebox ever.

 

The actual Bushys pub, by the clock tower at the bottom of Victoria Street, is long gone. Closed january 98. Sad loss, fucking great pub. Many great memories there.

 

The owner Martin Brunschweiler still has Bushys Brewery and a couple of pubs, The Rovers Return (he's a huge Blackburn fan) and one down south in Port Erin. Plus a bar/restaurant out of town called The Hop Garden (not sure if thats still going). Plus he runs a beer tent during TT fortnight, opposite where Bushys pub was.

[Guest LFD]

Yeah The Hop Garden is still going.

[Preston Red]

Colours! That's the one.

 

We went in on the Friday night. Very strange that place if you ask me, plus the mentality that the residents of Douglas don't go out till Saturday night. Quids Inn was a shithole. Quid and cheap beer. Only problem was the cheap beer was nowhere to be seen once you'd paid your quid to get in. Shithouses!

[Mook]

I might be going here next week for work, looking at flights to/from Glasgow although I reckon I could probably swim it.

 

Never been before & I don't suppose I'll get an awful lot of chance to explore, which is a shame, I'll get my evening meal covered though so will be going somewhere posh as fuck.

 

Do they have a Nando's?

[cloggypop]

I used to have a cat with no tail. I hope this helps.

[Teflon Don]

I might be going here next week for work, looking at flights to/from Glasgow although I reckon I could probably swim it.

 

Never been before & I don't suppose I'll get an awful lot of chance to explore, which is a shame, I'll get my evening meal covered though so will be going somewhere posh as fuck.

 

Do they have a Nando's?

 

[Section_31]

We actually went in October and i loved the place. Hired a car and managed to see most of the main places, the people were really sound. Really liked Castletown especially, driving from there to Port Erin was a lovely view, likewise thee hilly middle of the island.

[General Dryness]

We actually went in October and i loved the place. Hired a car and managed to see most of the main places, the people were really sound. Really liked Castletown especially, driving from there to Port Erin was a lovely view, likewise thee hilly middle of the island.

I'm sure all of my brothers and sisters and cousins were pleased to meet you.

 

Seriously though, happy you enjoyed the place. It's not as bad as all that. Did you get to Peel Castle? I reckon thats my favourite of its landmarks.

[General Dryness]

I might be going here next week for work, looking at flights to/from Glasgow although I reckon I could probably swim it.

 

Never been before & I don't suppose I'll get an awful lot of chance to explore, which is a shame, I'll get my evening meal covered though so will be going somewhere posh as fuck.

 

Do they have a Nando's?

There's no Nando's mate. There's a few good places to eat though. Get on tripadvisor.

[tokyojoe]

First time I went there was in 1967 on a school trip. Always remember watching TOTP with Procol Harum at No.1 with a A Whiter Shade of Pale .

 

  I've been there in more recent times on several business trips.

 

Love the place. Pissed off I didn't buy a property there in the 80's, a killing would have been made.

[stringvest]

First time I went there was in 1967 on a school trip. Always remember watching TOTP with Procol Harum at No.1 with a A Whiter Shade of Pale .

 

I've been there in more recent times on several business trips.

 

Love the place. Pissed off I didn't buy a property there in the 80's, a killing would have been made.

Hope the kids behaved themselves mate. Did you have to put any of them on detention?

[razor]

And now, ladies and gentlemen, for your delectation and delight, two bald men fight over a comb.

[tokyojoe]

Hope the kids behaved themselves mate. Did you have to put any of them on detention?

I did indeed Pete. Also 100 lines each.

[tokyojoe]

And now, ladies and gentlemen, for your delectation and delight, two bald men fight over a comb.

I'm not bald. OK, the odd grey hair I will admit to.

[General Dryness]

I did indeed Pete. Also 100 lines each.

That's a lot of coke, especially at IOM prices.

[Section_31]

I'm sure all of my brothers and sisters and cousins were pleased to meet you.

 

Seriously though, happy you enjoyed the place. It's not as bad as all that. Did you get to Peel Castle? I reckon thats my favourite of its landmarks.

 

Yeah mate but we never had time to go around it, although we did have some outstanding ice cream in a cafe down the front. I could see why anyone under a certain age might want to get away for a bit and see a bit more action, but if you're after a quiet life it looks ideal to me, gonna go back soon hopefully. 

[General Dryness]

Yeah mate but we never had time to go around it, although we did have some outstanding ice cream in a cafe down the front. I could see why anyone under a certain age might want to get away for a bit and see a bit more action, but if you're after a quiet life it looks ideal to me, gonna go back soon hopefully. 

 

The ice cream place was probably Davidsons. Good stuff. 

 

Shame you didn't get to go inside Peel Castle. Theres just an atmosphere around the place. Its like you can almost feel history seeping into your soul, for want of a better turn of phrase.

[Champ]

So many places to go. So little time, not enough money

 

For such a small place (Britain) there are so many places I havent been and would like to go to; the Isle of Man is definitely on that list. It sounds like it has a fascinating history

[razor]

So many places to go. So little time, not enough money

 

For such a small place (Britain) there are so many places I havent been and would like to go to; the Isle of Man is definitely on that list. It sounds like it has a fascinating history

 

 

"Aye, it's right grand!"