Four stars for Mercia Marina

Mercia Marina and its new holiday lodge development has been awarded four-star holiday park status by Quality in Tourism (QiT), the assessment arm of national tourism organisation VisitEngland.

The South Derbyshire marina, previously best known for its boating facilities, launched its lodge development in May. There are now five lodges sited – some privately owned and some for rental – with a total of 18 planned.

QiT assessed every aspect of the 74-acre site, from the welcome at reception to the landscaping, grounds maintenance, general ambience, cleanliness, and the layout of features such as shops, launderette, toilets and showers. The marina scored an average of 85 per cent overall for its four stars.

General manager Robert Neff said he was delighted to have received such a high rating on the first assessment. “It’s a great start to this new aspect of the marina. The holiday lodges are a fabulous addition to the site and we are now seeing more non-boaters who want to take advantage of the beautiful and tranquil surroundings.

The four-star rating does not take account of ongoing developments at the park, which include the £2m Lighthouse development, which will include a gastropub.

• Mercia Marina is at Findern Lane, Willington, Derbyshire DE65 6DW; for further info, tel: 01283 703332, web: www.merciamarinalodges.co.uk.

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