Ellesmere visitor numbers treble after revamp
Wednesday 5th January 2011, 11:37AM GMT.
Visitor numbers at a Shropshire beauty spot which underwent a controversial £2 million revamp have more than trebled, a meeting heard.
The Mere in Ellesmere had 66,000 visitors in 2010, compared to an annual average of about 20,000 before the major investment in 2009.
Shropshire Council officials told members of Ellesmere Town Council that the Boathouse Restaurant, which is part of the wider revamp project, is on course to become profitable after losing almost £35,000 in its first year of trading.
The Boathouse Restaurant is jointly owned by the two councils and operated by Shirehall.
Carolyn Healy, Shropshire Council parks and countryside manager, said: “We had 66,000 visits and that’s lots of people through the doors and an increase on the same period the year before. The Mere and the Boathouse restaurant in their entirety are becoming much more popular as an attraction.”
She added that the restaurant turned over about £200,000 in year two compared with £82,000 in year one and that managers were looking to keep costs down.
Neil Willcox, Shropshire Council head of leisure and outdoor recreation, said: “I’m not here to pretend things are perfect but there is a silent majority who are really satisfied with the revamp.”
The restaurant, which is not yet open to customers in the evenings, is to close its doors this month to allow contractors to replace a water-damaged floor and re-touch paintwork, he added.
The revamp included the redevelopment of the boathouse restaurant, gift shop and visitor centre with The Mere promenade given a facelift and the next phase of the scheme will see a new play area created at Cremorne Gardens.
Most Commented
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Planners ordered to stay on Newport visit bus
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
- The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff doesn't raise a smile
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Lovely spot; wonderful news.
Report abuse
The Mere Project has been a real success. Over the Christmas break it was a delight to eat at the restaurant and walk in the beautiful surrounding area and we were not alone, the restaurant was packed and there were hundreds of people enjoying all the facilities Ellesmere now has to offer.
It has been disappointing to read all the recent bad press which I can only presume is from a old disgruntled source that seems to crop up from time to time vis a vis the restaurant. But I have to say the food and service is exceptional and compares favourably with anything Ludlow or Battlefields has to offer which me and my family also visit regularly.
Keep up the good work.
Report abuse