22/11/2012 - Permalink

Council seeks new operator for Mere Boathouse in Ellesmere

Related topics: Community / Leisure, culture and heritage

Shropshire Council has issued an invitation to tender for the provision of catering, retail and visitor information services at the Mere Boathouse in Ellesmere.

This means that a single external operator will take on responsibility for running the restaurant, shop and visitor information centre on behalf of the council from April 2013 for nine years.

Jointly-owned by Shropshire Council and Ellesmere Town Council, the Boathouse was extensively renovated and extended in 2009/2010 as part of a £1.6 million Heritage Lottery Fund-funded project to enhance The Mere Country Park – known locally as Cremorne Gardens.

Ann Hartley, local Shropshire Councillor for Ellesmere Urban, said:

“The Boathouse was recently refurbished as part of a wider lottery-funded project and now offers a fantastic and popular restaurant, shop and visitor centre, which all play a vital role in attracting visitors to Ellesmere and Cremorne Gardens.  The new operator will be expected to develop and grow the existing excellent services and facilities, recognise the key role that The Boathouse plays in the local community, and work closely with a range of partners to help promote Ellesmere to visitors.”

Mike Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for tourism, 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.  Shropshire Council wants to see an increase in the use of the park for healthy outdoor activities for people of all ages and abilities, as well as an increase in satisfaction levels among visitors, and it’s important that the service provided at The Mere Boathouse by the new operator helps us to achieve these aims.”

Ellesmere Mayor, Councillor Alan Clarke from Ellesmere Town Council, said:

“The Boathouse is an integral part of Ellesmere’s project to attract visitors to our picturesque area. The recent enhancement of The Mereside, Boathouse and visitor information centre has improved what has always been a star attraction, and has become recognised for its excellent standard of service and facilities which is a prerequisite to future tender provisions.”

All current contracted staff will be offered the opportunity to continue to work at The Boathouse, under the new operator.

The tender notice was published on 22 November 2012 and the deadline for submitting a bid is 17 December 2012.

The new operator is due to be approved by Shropshire Council’s Cabinet in February 2013, with the new contract starting in April 2013, in time for the busy summer season.

The tender documents can be found on the Shropshire Council website by clicking here.

Further information

The Boathouse includes

  • A restaurant
  • A shop
  • A visitor centre including visitor information functions, an interactive exhibition, a wildlife/heron-watch feature staffed by volunteers
  • A function room
  • Public toilets
  • Office space
  • WiFi
  • A terrace overlooking The Mere
  • Adjacent parking for 15 vehicles including 3 spaces for people with disabilities