Pippa Lovell, Denmark
Pippa moved to the Isle of Man from Copenhagen, Denmark and the abundance of nature in the Isle of Man has inspired her to launch her foraging restaurant, Versa!
Why the Isle of Man?
We relocated to the Isle of Man from Copenhagen, Denmark, because of my partner’s new job. In addition to this, I was looking for a lifestyle change, a healthier work-life balance, and a place where I could focus on myself and my goals while still staying well connected with the UK.
For me the peace and serenity of the Island is clear from the first time you set foot on the ground, along with the abundance of nature – something which I found very attractive in a place to call home.
Tell us about your business.
I’m the chef and owner of Versa, a foraging restaurant in the Isle of Man. The Isle of Man is a foragers dream, because of the bio diverse landscape. With foraging opportunities everywhere, sometimes it can be difficult to decide what to put on the menu!
When it came to setting up my business, it was super easy with a micro-business grant scheme from the Isle of Man Department for Enterprise which helped get me up and running. I was overwhelmed by the support which I don’t think I would have been able to get anywhere else.
Owning a restaurant keeps me busy, when I'm not in the kitchen cooking, I'm doing accounts, advertising, and foraging.
How do you find Island Life?
Adjusting to life in the Isle of Man has been easy for me, people are friendly and welcoming. There's a real sense of community where everyone helps everyone.
Despite being very busy with my business, I always make sure I have a full day off each week to make the most of the activities and scenery on the Island. Big dog walks with my partner before a nice meal together being one.
Any regrets?
The Isle of Man is the perfect setting to be truly inspired.
It is a place where you work to live, not live to work. It’s beautiful, rewarding, and is home to great people – and I couldn’t recommend it enough.
