Penton Hook Yacht Club

Anibal

Anibal

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Today marks the end of PHYC. Went to see the sail by and have a couple of Guinness. Mixed emotions. I was actually going out today on the boat but decided against it to see the sail by. I feel sad for the men and women that for the last 60 years had made an effort to keep this club going. Wishing them and all the members the very best.
I have some videos but need to figure out how to compress them in order to share them.
 
About twenty five years ago I attended PHYC as a guest. The after dinner speaker, IIRC, was Nicholas Witchell, the newsreader. If not him then it was another top line newsreader of the time. I remember he delivered a brilliant, very edgy and hilariously funny speech which I much enjoyed. But I remember also that it went down like a lead balloon with the Blazer & Tie and floral blue dress brigade.There was a ‘“Sail past” that day too, though I didn’t see canvas hoisted aloft.
 
It was really moving today and made me feel very humbled. I have taken a few pictures of the videos just to share something.
 

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Have MDL already found somebody to run that proposed restuarant.
Judging by the current climate for the hospitality sector do wonder if there is a long of que of folks desperate to sign a lease on this business opportunity.
Certainly no drive past customers and wonder if the security gate will left be left open 24/7 to ensure possible diners can get on and off site without hassle, also suspect that most of the club staff were volunteers so not a lot of minimum wage or NI overheads ?
Not enough boaters inside the marina for any new outfit to make any money ?
 
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GEM43 said:
About twenty five years ago I attended PHYC as a guest. The after dinner speaker, IIRC, was Nicholas Witchell, the newsreader. If not him then it was another top line newsreader of the time. I remember he delivered a brilliant, very edgy and hilariously funny speech which I much enjoyed. But I remember also that it went down like a lead balloon with the Blazer & Tie and floral blue dress brigade.There was a ‘“Sail past” that day too, though I didn’t see canvas hoisted aloft.
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Having been there as visitor several times have never noticed the "Blazer & Tie and floral blue dress brigade" in evidence, except when it was noticed that my disabled wife was having a problem getting into the clubhouse and unable to find somewhere to sit during a very well attended club event.
The chaps in the "Blazers and Ties" , noticing a problem soon made sure that club members made some space for us to sit and enjoy their hospitality.

"Those who can, do; those who can't, criticize," ? :)
 
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Having grown up at PHYC in the 70s, and having kept my first couple of boats there, I went along to watch the sail past. So many old faces and memories of those no longer around. A real end of an era.
 
oldgit said:
Have MDL already found somebody to run that proposed restuarant.
Judging by the current climate for the hospitality sector do wonder if there is a long of que of folks desperate to sign a lease on this business opportunity.
Certainly no drive past customers and wonder if the security gate will left be left open 24/7 to ensure possible diners can get on and off site without hassle, also suspect that most of the club staff were volunteers so not a lot of minimum wage or NI overheads ?
Not enough boaters inside the marina for any new outfit to make any money ?
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I honestly don’t know. I don’t use the main entrance as my boat is moored on the opposite side of the basin but I do believe that gate is open during the day. The car park is normally full with berth holders cars, so unless they re design the area to accommodate extra parking spaces, I don’t believe it will be an easy task for the diners to park.
 
oldgit said:
Have MDL already found somebody to run that proposed restuarant.
Judging by the current climate for the hospitality sector do wonder if there is a long of que of folks desperate to sign a lease on this business opportunity.
Certainly no drive past customers and wonder if the security gate will left be left open 24/7 to ensure possible diners can get on and off site without hassle, also suspect that most of the club staff were volunteers so not a lot of minimum wage or NI overheads ?
Not enough boaters inside the marina for any new outfit to make any money ?
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Fred, they cant. Part of the lease to my understanding, is that the club leave it as they found it ie level it to the ground. So there wont be a building there!!
 
Parabordi said:
Fred, they cant. Part of the lease to my understanding, is that the club leave it as they found it ie level it to the ground. So there wont be a building there!!
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If thats the case, its doubly bad for PHYC, not only are they being kicked out but they have to pay to demolish their clubhouse?
 
DogsBody said:
If thats the case, its doubly bad for PHYC, not only are they being kicked out but they have to pay to demolish their clubhouse?
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oh i am sure they will be able to do it themselves, my guess is they will be determined not to give MDL anything at all. I know i wouldnt.
 
I hope Windsor Yacht Club has a cast iron lease.
The clue is in what MDL stands for…..
They don’t care they walked away from the craning at Bray.
 
MDL has made the PH club demolish and remove the clubhouse but wanted the base concrete base left . Not even a week later they post this


As we head into the new boating season, we’re pleased to share some improvements coming to Penton Hook Marina to make your time here even more enjoyable.
A new space to unwind and socialise
Following its closure, demolition of the Yacht Club building is scheduled for May. While we know this space has been an important part of the marina for many berth holders over the years, we’re planning a new waterside café for the 2027 boating season, offering a welcoming and accessible space for berth holders, guests and visitors, with relaxed, good quality dining at a reasonable price.
In the meantime, we’re putting plans in place for a temporary pop-up food and drink option this summer, along with organised events through the Marina Office. There will still be plenty of opportunities to meet, relax and spend time together at the marina.
Making life at the marina even betterYou’ll also start to see a number of improvements across the site, including:
Enhancements to the main entrance area, including removal of unused buildings, new landscaping and upgraded berth holder facilities
An upgraded fuel berth with new tanks and pumps, providing both diesel and unleaded fuel for easier refuelling before heading out
An additional pump-out facility to improve availability
Reconfigured X Pontoon to better accommodate larger narrowboats
Upgraded signage across the marina to improve navigation and give a more refreshed look
Surface repairs to Mixnams Lane, improving access in and out of the marina
These improvements are part of our continued investment in Penton Hook, and we’re looking forward to bringing them to life and enhancing your time at the marina.
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch.
Kind regards,
Ben Moran
Marina Manager

No wonder they wanted the base left
Wouldn't trust them an inch
 
quote..."No wonder they wanted the base left"

It's possible they cant get pp for new building, but they can get for renovations on existing site.....only a thought....
 
Newbroom said:
"we’re planning a new waterside café for the 2027 boating season, offering a welcoming and accessible space for berth holders, guests and visitors, with relaxed, good quality dining at a reasonable price.
Click to expand...
H,mm, with pubs closing due to cost of staff, do wonder how MDL will be able to make any new eatery viable.
They will have to franchise it out or employ in house staff.
Either way MDL will have overheads that PHYC were able to function without and the gross margin of profit for MDL will need to be greater.
All the marinas have stayed in with food facilities have been run by a private club managed by club members and volunteers with a few paid part time staff, cannot recall one that that had catering supplied commercially .
Or one that lasted very long ?
Have a suspicion that MDL may have also regarded those visitor moorings outside the club house as a loss of possible income ?
 
Lots of problems with the cafe / restaurant idea. It will not be on the main road so may miss out on passing trade. Rumour is that TBS were pushing the cafe idea. It should be on the main road, next to TBS. Parking round by entrance 1 / the club house is already problematic on a summer Sunday. With a cafe / restaurant it could get worse, especially with parents using it whilst waiting for Thorpe Park pickup. Currently there's no security down into the pontoons, not great if Jo Public having access to the site. Shepperton Marina are likely to get yet more boats moving to them
 
"It will not be on the main road so may miss out on passing trade."

To be fair though, you could say the same about the restaurant at Bray marina, but they seem to be very busy all the time, and not just with berth holders. I think maybe MDL are trying to replicate the same thing at Penton Hook.

We often visited Penton Hook, but to be honest, going to the Yacht club never appealed to us, nothing wrong with it, just wasn't our thing. I would personally like to see more of a restaurant / cafe type place there, as that is something we would more likely use, but we would only be visiting probably twice a year by boat.
 
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