Preston city’s marina to mark special day

This Saturday marks a quarter of a century since the opening of Preston Marina at the city’s redeveloped Riversway Docklands.

The marina, operated by the same family since 1990, has become an icon of the city of Preston, and maintains the city’s historic links with both the sea and the surrounding canal network.

But it is not just boat owners who enjoy the marina. The Beach Hut café has always been a firm favourite with visitors to the docklands area, especially now that the Guild Wheel cycle route runs through it.

Steve Miller, manager of the Marina, said: “It won’t be a major festival. It’s a normal working day but we wanted to mark the anniversary. We will be having live music and a visit from the RNLI with their boat safety roadshow.

“For anyone with an interest in boats and boating it will be well worth a look. We will also be welcoming back some old customers.”

A “trial version” of Preston Marina was opened in 1985, before the surrounding land was re-developed. It had only six swinging moorings in the dock basin – but gradually boats started to come and found the site to be a useful winter or laying-up base.

In 1990, the Marina was fully opened, with fully serviced pontoon berths, boatyard, a chandlery and lifestyle shop and its very popular waterside coffee shop

Steve said: “The fact that we have a marina at all is remarkable. Some people said it would never work, but here we are 25 years later.”