Third generation fisherman catches monster at Mercia!

Jon Mogg, son in law of John Flewitt also moored at Mercia Marina, with the aid of his own young son catch an 18 pound carp in the marina!

Mercia Mercury Newsletter - September 2011

Moorers' Market Friday 12th August at 12pm

Mercia Marina Trip Boat first outing

Today marked the first trip on the newly acquired trip boat.
Willington ladies club enjoyed a trip around the marina courtesy of Skipper Simon of Shakespeare and Steve Frost from Quail pontoon.

Mercia Marina Photo by Sally Sallett on Abacaxi

Mercia Mercury Issue 29 - June 2011

MERCIA MARINA OPEN DAYS & FESTIVAL 2ND & 3RD JULY

David Fletcher Chairman of NABO - 26/05/11 from 6pm in Willow Tree Tea Rooms

Mercia Mercury Newsletter Issue 28 - May 2011

The latest Mercia Mercury now available.

Amongst the articles is the first in a series of special features from Boat Safety examiner and surveyor Steve Hand, this one being on fire prevention as well as information on the exciting plans for the Marina.

News article from Narrowboatworld.com

Arts festival for Mercia
Thursday, 28 April 2011 08:39

http://www.narrowboatworld.com/index.php/leatest/3140-art-festival-for-mercia

THE people at Mercia Marina, always on the look-out for new ideas are launching their own arts festival, to encourage artists, as part of the Willington Arts Festival.

The Trent & Mersey Canal marina is seeking artistic entries from people with any creative discipline that capture the essence of Mercia Marina's 74 acre beauty spot.

Four categories

Entries will be judged in four main categories—Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, and the best entries from each group will be exhibited as part of next year's Willington Arts Festival.

Some of the winners will also see their work appear in the marina's brochures and advertisements, and 12 of the entries are expected to feature in a 2013 calendar. The overall best entry, as judged by the marina, will also receive a prize (as yet to be determined) and have their work displayed at the marina.

The competition is officially launched at this year's festival, which takes place between 30th April and 2nd May.

Boaters

Robert Neff, General Manager of Mercia Marina, explained:

"Many of our boaters are keen painters and photographers and are regularly putting their talents to good use around the marina. Yet we are also keen to share this beautiful environment with other visitors, and we felt an art competition would be an ideal way to do that.

"Mercia Marina not only has large expanses of open water and brightly coloured canal boats, which lend themselves perfectly to artistic interpretation, it is also a real haven for wildlife. We look forward to welcoming artists of any age, capability and creative discipline to the marina. We're not necessarily looking for highly polished works of art—merely pieces which capture the artist's unique impression of the marina."

Any form

Works of art can be submitted in any form, including paintings, photography, sculpture, or any other creative medium. The competition is open to anyone, from school children to pensioners and from amateurs to professionals.

For further enquiries, contact 01283 703332 or email info@merciamarina.co.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The closing date for entries is 20th April, 2012.

Trip Boat is now at the marina - Would you like to be the operator?

The Trip boat has now been purchased and is moored up now at the marina. The trip boat will provide a valuable service to the marina and has the benefit of being an existing business with bookings and enquiries transferable to the new operation runner. In addition any enquiries from Stenson will be referred to the new operator. There will only be a small outlay for the lucky new operator and the marina is only looking to cover its costs, not make a profit from it - that's for the operator! If you fancy running your very own trip and party boat business then please feel free to express your interest here at Mercia Marina office or call Robert on 01283 703332 or email info@merciamarina.co.uk All enquiries welcome

MERCIA MARINA IN DERBY TELEGRAPH THURSDAY 7TH APRIL

Shops and offices could be built in next phase of marina growth

A graphic showing how Mercia Marina would look after the Lighthouse and The Boardwalk developments have been built, and right, views of the marina as it is at the moment.

By robin johnson rjohnson@derbytelegraph.co.uk

SHOPS and offices could be built at a marina in a £1.7 million development that would create about 50 jobs. Madecorn Leisure, which owns Mercia Marina at Willington, has unveiled its latest plans for the complex in Findern Lane. The Broadwalk development, over two floors, would feature seven shop units on the ground floor and seven offices on the first floor. The shops would overlook the 585-berth marina and a further 100 car parking spaces would be created. A planning application has been submitted to South Derbyshire District Council. The Boardwalk would complement a restaurant and leisure complex, for which Madecorn already has planning permission. Last year, Madecorn received the go-ahead for the £2.5 million Lighthouse development, which will include a pub and restaurant, fitness suite, beauty salon, spa, gym, swimming pool and 10 guest bedrooms overlooking the marina. It has been called the Lighthouse because the main building features a glass and timber tower, resembling a lighthouse lamp room. The shops and offices part of The Boardwalk development will share some of the architectural features of the Lighthouse project. Madecorn is currently in negotiations with prospective tenants for the Lighthouse, with building work expected to start late this year in time for a summer 2012 opening. If it gets the go-ahead, the shops and offices will be built in late 2012. Once completed the Lighthouse will create 50 jobs. Combined with the shops and offices project, Mercia Marina will create in the region of 100 new posts. John Thornton, senior partner at Madecorn, said: "We have two strategies. "One is to provide the very best in facilities for the boating community at Mercia Marina. "The second is to give people more reasons to visit. "We hope to do that by providing more facilities and the new shops represent the next phase of development." Mr Thornton said the type of retail businesses he hoped to attract to the marina included farm shops, arts and crafts, outdoor clothing businesses and possibly a gallery. For the offices, he said firms involved in technology and design would be ideally suited. He said: "We've already had a number of businesses express an interest. "We already have some great businesses here, including the likes of Midland Chandlers, and we want to attract more high-quality tenants." The £7 million marina, on the Trent and Mersey Canal, opened in 2008. As well as berths for narrowboats and cruisers, it has a tearoom, fuelling quay and boat hire and sales. It is also building 18 timber holiday lodges. The shops and offices proposals would bring Madecorn's total investment in the site to an excess of £10 million. Mr Thornton said: "We're hopeful that the application will be successful. "We are investing millions in the area, boosting tourism, creating jobs and supporting the local economy."

INTERNET PROBLEMS

Our internet service provider is experiencing problems currently that they are working to resolve. Within the hour there will be a temporary fix appearing on the welcome page so that people can log on. The service provider is working to fix this problem this evening and we will keep you updated. Our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused

Great article in Towpath Talk about Hayley Powell. 'Forging ahead'

Check the latest Towpath Talk, (available in the marina office), for the full story.

New lodges arrive ready for the lodges open weekend!

Bank holiday weekend April 29th, 30th & May 1st, 2nd will be our luxury lodges open days.

Two brand new New England lodges have arrived at the marina. These are both end living lodges which are different to the others already located on the development. These stunning show homes will be ready to view at our luxury lodges open weekend.

Latest Mercia Mercury (issue 27) now available at the office...

Would you like your very own trip boat business?

We are in the process of purchasing a Mercia Marina trip/party boat shortly and are looking for interested parties to operate it.

It will be a bespoke boat carrying 22 passengers plus 2 crew with flexible seating making it suitable for sightseeing trips as well as parties.

The operator will be running their own business but we will help with the marketing, etc.

This rare opportunity is likely to appeal particularly to someone who has taken early retirement.

For more information, please contact Robert in the Marina Office on 01283 703332 or info@merciamarina.co.uk

*NOTE - Image is an artist impression only

Soar Boating Club Annual Rally 27th - 30th May

Don't miss this great event. go to http://www.soarboatingclub.co.uk/index.html for more information or check the poster

Fancy running your own Trip Boat Boat business?

We will be purchasing a Mercia Marina trip/party boat shortly and are looking for interested parties to operate it.

It will be a bespoke boat carrying 22 passengers plus 2 crew with flexible seating making it suitable for sightseeing trips as well as parties.

The operator will be running their own business but we will help with the marketing, etc.

This rare opportunity is likely to appeal particularly to someone who has taken early retirement.

For more information, please contact Robert in the Marina Office on 01283 703332 or info@merciamarina.co.uk.

Aqua Narrowboats Open Day Saturday 12th March

Aqua Narrowboats open day this Saturday 12th March from 10am to 4pm at Mercia Marina.

Cakes and refreshments are available for all our visitors.

You can view their hire boats and bespoke boats, chat with staff and find out more about narrowboats. We hope to see you at our workshop, at Mercia Marina on Saturday.

New £1bn power station at Willington gets the go-ahead

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-12645908

Early morning power cut!

Early this moring there was a small power cut that the marina was alerted to.

On investigation this was unfortunately caused by one of our cygnets hitting the overhead powercables and tripping the power. The bird was buried this morning and would have died instantly on touching the overhead cables.

Maple lodge now finished - more lodges on there way

Maple lodge has now been fully landscaped and really looks superb thanks to hard work and our trees and planting 'guru'.

When the weather permits, the signature maple tree will be planted.

The next phase of lodges will begin mid March.

We are delighted that Jean & her husband are very happy with their luxury lodge :)

Heart of the water glorious February edition out now

http://www.heartofthewater.co.uk/

The latest show now available to download or listen online

Rowan arrives!

Rowan lodge is the latest addition to the luxury development and sits higher up than the already sighted lodges. The style is Nordic and the inside is totally bespoke with some superb design features. This lodge will potentially be aimed at the rental market...

Heart of the Water - January podcast

Latest podcast for January is now available!

Please click on www.heartofthewater.co.uk to start listening now.

Second Holiday Lodge Arrival

We are pleased to announce the arrival of the next luxury holiday lodge on Monday January 24th from Pinelog for Mr. & Mrs. Gittins.

As with the other cabins, it is in Siberian larch, fully fitted with gas central heating and a luxury kitchen.

We would like to welcome Mr. and Mrs. Gittins to the Marina and look forward to the arrival of her boat as well.