Western Marinas has taken over the management of Watchet, Cardiff and Aberystwyth marinas.
The marinas were previously under the control of Marine & Property Group Ltd which was placed in administration in 2023.
Western Marinas was set up in April of this year by a new management team and their funders with a ‘mission to realise the potential of Cardiff, Aberystwyth, and Watchet marinas’, as well as Cardiff Marine Village and its associated dredging division’.
The new company says it is backed by a ‘significant amount of capital’ to ensure much-needed investment can be made across the sites.
In a statement, the company said: “The group has a clear mission to put these marinas back to where they belong as some of the leading facilities in Wales and the South West.
“Initial priorities will include the return of fuel sales and full electrical refits as well as dredging campaigns at Watchet and Aberystwyth in conjunction with the local harbour authorities.”
he group has a clear mission to put these marinas back to where they belong as some of the leading facilities in Wales and the South West.
Somerset Council is the statutory harbour authority for Watchet Marina and owns the freehold to the marina, welcomed the improvements proposed and acting harbourmaster Capt Jessica Tyson said she was looking forward to working with Watchet’s new leaseholders.
Watchet Marina had been leased since 2001 by the council to Watchet Harbour Marina Ltd, but in 2021 he sub-let to MPG, which had been in the process of buying the lease in a private transaction while also negotiating with the authority for a 200-year lease.
In a statement to the West Somerset Free Press, Western Marinas chairman Andrew Cornish said: “I have a passion for customer service and creating environments that everybody can be proud to be involved with, be they customers, colleagues, suppliers, or just onlookers.
“I love the marine world and am a boat owner myself, all be it on the Thames right now.
“I look forward to meeting current and future customers, hearing thoughts and views, and working with the team to make Western Marinas somewhere we are all proud to be associated with.”
