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Swiss Chalet at Glen Helen rises from ashes of devastating fire to become farm shop selling 100% Manx produce
Transcript
00:00We're with Matt Harrison, MD of Isleman Farm Shop Company, wasn't it? I got that right?
00:08Excellent. And we're here to talk about the incredible rejuvenation of the Swiss Chalet.
00:13Not so long ago it was a wreck having practically burnt down, but now it's going to be, well,
00:21Matt perhaps you could tell me exactly what your vision is for this building.
00:24We took it on the 1st of November at which point it was a fire wreck,
00:28so the upstairs and the downstairs inside were both condemned.
00:31I mean upstairs was literally a fire wreck, downstairs we had mould and mushrooms growing off the walls.
00:35But the vision is to create a destination on the island which is Manx only,
00:41so nothing in this shop is produced or brought in from off-island, everything is Manx products.
00:47So we're championing local suppliers under their own brands, not under mine.
00:51You can go in a farm shop bag at the end of the day when you walk out of the
00:54shop,
00:54but our staff have been out meeting suppliers, learning about the products,
00:59so they can tell you, the public and our customers, where things have come from.
01:03So you've got the provenance of the product.
01:05You've got 80 suppliers? 800 products?
01:08We've got a current count and it's growing almost hourly.
01:10We've got 80 suppliers on the island and that's I think the key.
01:13When and if you hopefully come down here, nobody's ever seen it all in one place.
01:18I mean you wouldn't think there are 80 suppliers.
01:19We all know Allen Sims, we know the seafood, we know Noah and Sorrel.
01:24These are fantastic suppliers that do a great thing, but we've got suppliers from ladies at the WI knitting things.
01:30We've got the Isle of Man teddy bears, which you can't get anywhere else apart from here.
01:35There's so much quality and artisanal crafts on this island.
01:40It's never been seen in one place because it's usually on a shelf next to something else,
01:44diluted by something from across.
01:46That's what this is about. Come and see it. Come and see it in all its glory.
01:49And see what this island is about.
01:51So we are massively grateful to the foresight of the planning committee
01:54for allowing us to do this because it is bringing a Glen back to life.
01:58It's bringing an iconic building back to life.
02:01And it is 100% supporting our island producers.
02:04And finally, when are you going to open?
02:05We're planning to open the doors on Good Friday.
02:08I wish you all the very best.
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