Summer at the Woodbourne pub revealed a distinct Manx culture

A writer recalled visiting the Woodbourne hotel pub on the Isle of Man in 2011, feeling conspicuous as locals turned to look and later spotting a "GENTS ONLY" sign on the wall.

They said the pub, known locally as the Woody, offered a glimpse of a community where thick Manx accents mixed with Gaelic, people greeted each other with fastyr mie and the saying traa dy liooar (literally "time enough") shaped the pace of conversation. Regulars drank Okell’s Manx pale ale while gathering around TVs and slot machines; older men propped up the bar and younger groups played pool.

Visiting regularly that summer before leaving the island for university, the writer found the gents-only bar was not enforced and that the old signage appeared kept for nostalgia. Over time the regulars softened and stopped staring, and the writer and friends briefly became part of the crowded, noisy piece of Manx culture.

When autumn came the writer moved to London to study and settle, but said the summer at the Woody stayed with them: they still look out for Manx ales, try to keep their Manx accent, and now expect that suspicious locals will warm up in time.

Key Topics

Culture, Woodbourne Hotel, Douglas, Manx Gaelic, Okell's, Manx Accent