Sponsored by
Former favourite pub with a view shut down
The Waterfront Pub at Riversway, Preston, which has been closed
A pub and restaurant in one of Preston’s most popular residential areas has closed down.
With views of Preston dock and the Marina, The Waterfront pub, in Navigation Way, Ashton, was once considered a popular family venue.
But today the pub’s windows are boarded up to protect against vandalism and signs have been put up to advertise the lease.
The pub, which has a separate dining area, is one of only two pubs catering for the entire population of the dock and surroundings homes.
Martin Wilson, assistant manager of the nearby Ribble Pilot, on Mariners Way, said irregular opening hours may have contributed to the pub’s closure.
He said: “It is quite a waste because it is in a prime location next to the Marina. We were having people coming in saying ‘we have been up to the Waterfront and it was closed in the middle of the afternoon.’
“They didn’t have any strict opening or closing times.
“It got to the point where customers were stopping going for fear it would not be open.”
Martin claimed the population of the dock area should be able to support at least two pubs.
He said: “There are a lot of people who live around the dock and not all of them are able to get down to this pub.
“From what I hear, in its heyday it was quite a popular pub. It is a shame it went into the state it has.”
With increasing tax on alcohol and the smoking ban having affected trade, Martin claimed pubs which rely on drink sales in Preston are struggling.
He added: “We deal more with food.
“They also did food but they tended to give more over to the wet side of it.
“They were only getting regular drinkers in and not a lot of money is made out of drinking these days.”
Preston Coun Bhikhu Patel, who represents the Riversway ward, said: “I was walking going for a walk as I usually do around the Marina.
“I could not believe it was all boarded up, it is a fantastic venue and at one time it was very lively, particularly in the summer.
“On New Year’s Eve we wanted to go there for a drink, we turned up and it was closed. We could not believe it. Then we saw they were open again occasionally and suddenly it shut.”
Coun Patel said the pub’s closure has mirrored the Continental pub, in South Meadow Lane, Broadgate, which has since re-opened.
He said: “If you look at the Continental, I went there on Friday evening and it was absolutely packed. The whole place has become a ‘place to be.’
“At one time this place went through a phase where it was eventually closed.
“But the people who have opened up there have created a fantastic place to go with art, culture events, food being served and beer festivals.”
On Friday the Evening Post reported the former Exchange pub, on Fox Street, in Preston city centre has re-opened as the Kuckoo cocktail bar. Director Richard Powell said he is hoping the Fishergate part of the city will become a popular drinking spot.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Preston
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 2 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Teddy
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at 04:32 PMGood to see the LEP on fine form. The waterfront has been closed and boarded up for months!!
Teddy
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at 04:32 PMGood to see the LEP on fine form. The waterfront has been closed and boarded up for months!!
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.