There has been lots of activity over the last two months both around the site and also in the facilities building!

Cafe 1804 was opened on the 1^st June. The first floor of the facilities has now been transformed into a fantastic cafe/bar which will seat up to a hundred people. On our walls we have an amazing map of The Ashby Canal painted by artist Clair Greenwood, who originates from Twycross. The wall and bar finishes have been designed and finished by Josh and his team and also Heidi, our cafe manager. The balcony is open and the views from there, and also within the cafe, are stunning. Will Poulton is our chef and Sharon Veall is our pastry chef and they are supported by Diedre and Ryan and their enthusiastic helpers.

Ben and his team finished off the preparatory work including levelling up the stone for the road and footpaths and they have installed french drains along the edges. The final drainage and ducting pipe and manholes are also installed. The road that leads from the marina entrance gate around the base of the marina basin is now surfaced and fully open.  One cyclist who visited our cafe said ‘the road was like riding on velvet’!  This road leads to the car park at the facilities building for boaters and also the parking area for the shop and cafe 1804. The automated gates to the boaters’ car parks and jetties are installed and Ben will shortly be constructing the timber frames around the sliding sections and then we will be able to get them into operation.

All our wildlife areas are establishing well this year and the swans have successfully hatched their cygnets. Please keep dogs on leads on the marina.

Meanwhile Harry and Sally, our day boat, has been out and about on The Ashby Canal on numerous trips and is getting excellent reviews.

The marina site between the Ashby Canal and the marina facilities building is now taking shape. An additional 230 loads (2300 solid metres) of imported engineering fill has been tipped, levelled and compacted during July to complete part of the car parking and landscaping areas. The marina ducks and ducklings, and the swans with their cygnets have paid regular visits to inspect the work.

‘Harry and Sally’, the marina day boat is now being primed and will receive further dark blue coloured coats of paint.

On June 30th the marina hosted a music concert performed by the students of Nancy Honor-Wright. It was a great success and we are very pleased that we were able to offer the facilities building as a venue. Read Nancy’s comments on our testimonials page.