Local company chosen to run Mere Boathouse in Ellesmere

A new company, run by two well-known local figures, has been chosen to operate the Mere Boathouse in Ellesmere on behalf of its owners Shropshire Council and Ellesmere Town Council.

The Boathouse Ellesmere Ltd has been awarded the contract to run the Boathouse for the next nine years, following a competitive tender process.

They were selected as the successful bidder after submitting plans to enhance, improve and grow the business and the services and facilities provided at the Boathouse – plans that also recognise the key role that the Boathouse plays in promoting, and attracting visitors to, Ellesmere and the surrounding area.

The directors of the Boathouse Ellesmere Ltd, husband and wife Richard and Kate Taylor, are already well-known to the local community and have strong connections to the Boathouse, the Mere and the town.

Kate Taylor has been managing the Boathouse restaurant since its refurbishment in 2009 as part of a wider lottery-funded project, and has seen both trade and customer satisfaction rise year-on-year since then.

Richard Taylor is Deputy Chairman and Secretary of Ellesmere Chamber of Commerce, Secretary of the newly-established social enterprise, All Together Ellesmere, as well as being a founding member, secretary and treasurer of The Friends of the Mere – a group which works to support the refurbishment, maintenance and visitor enjoyment of the Mere Project and the Boathouse.

Under their proposals for the Boathouse, they plan to:

• Replace the existing shop with a café, and a shop run on similar lines to a farm shop that will sell local produce. The café will serve locally-sourced food and will be open seven days a week, all-year-round.
• Introduce evening opening for the restaurant on Friday and Saturday during the winter, and on Thursday evenings in the summer.
• Work closely with Shropshire Council and Shropshire Wildlife Trust to promote the Mere – including Heron Watch – plus Ellesmere and the whole of the Meres and Mosses region, and to promote events and encourage community involvement.

It is anticipated that the new contract will start on 27 March 2013 in time for the busy Easter and summer season.

Existing staff employed at the Boathouse will transfer to the new company.

Kate and Richard said:

“We are delighted to take on the challenge of the Boathouse, it is an iconic building close to the heart of the community and a wonderful place to work. We are looking forward to opening in the evenings and offering a new menu, as well as giving local musicians a chance to perform here.”

Councillor Mike Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for business growth and prosperity, said:

“Seeking an external operator to run The Boathouse is part of our new approach to working with partners to find more cost-effective ways to deliver our services, and to deliver them at a local community level. I’m delighted that the Boathouse will be run by two local people and I wish them every success with their exciting proposals to grow and improve the business, and to use it to promote, and attract visitors to, Ellesmere and the surrounding area.”

Ellesmere Town Councilllor Pat McLaughlin said:

“I am pleased that the successful bidders for the Boathouse are The Boathouse Ellesmere Ltd. Kate Taylor has done a marvellous job over the last three years and, together with her husband, Richard, will put her ‘heart and soul’ into making the place somewhere that people will want to come to for its ambience, quality of its food and service and delightful surroundings.”