Hayling marinas.

[ST840]

The family are thinking of “trying” for a couple of nights freedom berthing at the end of July. Never been to hayling so what’s the best marina to visit for a couple of nights.
Northney or Sparkes? And why please.

 

[Seastoke]

Why don’t you do one night each

 

[ST840]

Why don’t you do one night each

Because I don’t want to waist a night at a sh1t marina.

 

[Seastoke]

Good luck

 

[Blue Sunray]

The family are thinking of “trying” for a couple of nights freedom berthing at the end of July. Never been to hayling so what’s the best marina to visit for a couple of nights.
Northney or Sparkes? And why please.

They are both pretty full at the moment, however there do seem to be a few more empty berths at Northney so be aware that you might not get the choice.

My feeling is Sparkes has the advantage of the on-site restaurant (The Drift) which we find pretty good, the waiting staff are enthusiastic and pleasant and the food acceptable. It is however a bit let down by an apparent lack of management and the service can be a bit chaotic. However the hinterland to Sparkes is endless acres of static caravans and retirement homes with not much else to do other than walk on the beach.

Northney has the 'Salt Shack' on site which does decent coffee and bacon rolls and an overpriced and quite short lunch menu, but service can be very slow and it closes around 4pm (though attitude seems to have improved since the 'service with a snarl' policy of a couple of years back). However there are a couple of pubs within easy walking distance across the bridge (the Ship is good, the Royal Oak is not) and there are pleasant walks either down the west side of the island or round the harbour to Emsworth.

Resupply options at either are not great, there is a small shop at a petrol station between Northney and the pubs. Both marinas are under the same manager so that aspect is pretty similar. Northney seems a bit older and quieter in its clientele and Spakes has a few more yottie racer types (probably parents/graduates of HISC) but so so as it would make much difference to a visitor.

 

[ST840]

Spakes has a few more yottie racer types

Well that’s sparkes out then ! Phew thanks

 

[Blue Sunray]

Well that’s sparkes out then ! Phew thanks

To be fair I'm not sure how much one would notice it apart from the braying noise that does sometimes emanate from the Drift's tables and the prevalence of Joules and Musto in some's wardrobe. It's not the Hamble.

 

[Seastoke]

It’s Northney then.

 

[Blue Sunray]

It’s Northney then.

Not sure you'd like it, it has its own Saffer refugees.

 

[Blue Sunray]

Well that’s sparkes out then ! Phew thanks

Just spotted the link in your footer, this may be of interest.

Northney Marina to host the new Sea Angling Classic

 

[ashtead]

You could of course try Emsworth but of the 2 I would take Northney -Sparkes isn’t near anything I would want to see but it rather depends on what interests the family have and what are their priorities in a marina.

 

[ST840]

Just spotted the link in your footer, this may be of interest.

Northney Marina to host the new Sea Angling Classic

Thanks for that. A couple of us did apply for the comp but numbers of applications were too high. This is the first year of the comp, next year the numbers are set to be near double.

 

[wombat88]

Neither do it for me. I'd suggest Emsworth but it may well be full, family owned. In my experience well run and friendly, close to town etc.

 

[ST840]

I e managed to get one night in Northney. Went there in the end because of the pubs and the journey up the river looks very picturesque. Then after that, Ive got us into duver marina in bembridge. Again, never been but looks nice in the harbour.
What is there to do on foot or by tender/kayak in Bembridge?

 

[ashtead]

Bembridge is great if you can get a booking as limited berths however the facilities are much improved although they need to be larger ie more showers etc. The harbour is privately owned by a couple who continue to have run ins with the local separate harbour trust made up of stalwarts of locals and Bembridge sailing club. By tender if weather is fine motor along to priory bay or round rocks to sea grove bay . For lunch the Baywatch cafe on the diver has fine views of harbour entrance. In the harbour you can walk to the Brading haven yacht club which might serve food but do check, plus up into St. Helens for meal at Ganders. Also crab is served for lunches from amongst the houseboats.

If you are able carry the kayak across the road at far end near the BHYC you might be able to paddle down the Yar river but I’ve never done it so check out first I guess if enough water. Years ago you could paddle a dinghy there.
You might be lucky and sight a Vectis bus on the embankment road which would take you to Bembridge where you can find an olde inn, Foxes restaurant, food stores,estate agents, chemist I think but check it’s still there. There also a chandlery on embankment road plus outboard dealer . In far corner is Bosc and a passenger ferry can take you from marina to that point when tides permit

 

[Blue Sunray]

Bembridge is great if you can get a booking as limited berths however the facilities are much improved although they need to be larger ie more showers etc. The harbour is privately owned by a couple who continue to have run ins with the local separate harbour trust made up of stalwarts of locals and Bembridge sailing club. By tender if weather is fine motor along to priory bay or round rocks to sea grove bay . For lunch the Baywatch cafe on the diver has fine views of harbour entrance. In the harbour you can walk to the Brading haven yacht club which might serve food but do check, plus up into St. Helens for meal at Ganders. Also crab is served for lunches from amongst the houseboats.

If you are able carry the kayak across the road at far end near the BHYC you might be able to paddle down the Yar river but I’ve never done it so check out first I guess if enough water. Years ago you could paddle a dinghy there.
You might be lucky and sight a Vectis bus on the embankment road which would take you to Bembridge where you can find an olde inn, Foxes restaurant, food stores,estate agents, chemist I think but check it’s still there. There also a chandlery on embankment road plus outboard dealer . In far corner is Bosc and a passenger ferry can take you from marina to that point when tides permit

What's the story with that Bembridge 'harbour trust' thing, they come across on an internet search as a bunch of rather vindictive and extreme NIMBYs? Is there more to it than meets the eye?

 

[ashtead]

It’s quite confusing but goes back many years to the days of major Selwyn and others in the 1970s. Your view of them rather depends on whether you think they are locals with long established family links to the area trying to protect the harbour from over development and from silting by restoring the breakwater at harbour entrance (I think this idea was scuppered though ?) or as you say BSC NIMBYs who don’t want change and see no need for housing development to provide much needed local housing , provide employment for locals and fund the improvement of harbour facilities and pontoons . I sure if you visit the harbour and ask at the BSC club or the Scottish harbourmaster when you arrive you will hear more detailed accounts from each side though as it is a very local debate .

 

[SC35]

Sparkes is quieter, but you need to be more self-sufficient as the nearest shops are a 20 minute walk away.
Drift Bar is good, if a little noisy at weekends. It's not far out of the harbour to the sea.

Northney is close to Langstone Pubs such as the Royal Oak, closer to the main road (road noise?) , and further to get to the sea.

Swings and Roundabouts.

 

[Blue Sunray]

Sparkes is quieter, but you need to be more self-sufficient as the nearest shops are a 20 minute walk away.
Drift Bar is good, if a little noisy at weekends. It's not far out of the harbour to the sea.

Northney is close to Langstone Pubs such as the Royal Oak, closer to the main road (road noise?) , and further to get to the sea.

Swings and Roundabouts.

The only problem with that is that the Royal Oak is so awful that they've had to resort to getting staff and their families to write their TripAdvisor reviews. They are of course not unique in this (HarBar in OV is another notable offender), the give away is the stream of very similar one or two sentence reviews by people who have no other contributions and know the staff's name.

A pity as it has so much potential in that location.

 

[ST840]

The only problem with that is that the Royal Oak is so awful that they've had to resort to getting staff and their families to write their TripAdvisor reviews. They are of course not unique in this (HarBar in OV is another notable offender), the give away is the stream of very similar one or two sentence reviews by people who have no other contributions and know the staff's name.

A pity as it has so much potential in that location.

So is there a pub near northney that IS worth visiting?