Penton Hook Yacht Club

[Anibal]

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

Funny that you mention this. About two weeks ago, I went for a walk with my dog and the wife realised that she left the poo bags inside, so she ran back to the boat only two find what she described as an older man and a 30 something man peaking through the cockpit windows on our boat. She asked if they needed something and the younger guy only responded “nice boat” and both left. I didn’t have to ask her but she immediately said she has never seen these two guys before. When you are in a small marina, you tend to recognise faces in a very short period of time, you definitely will recognise everyone in your pontoon and know many by names. Was this once of those scenarios of Joe Public wandering around? I would have understood if we were close to the sales pontoon but we are not.

 

[oldgit]

A Clubhouse anywhere.
A pivot point around which virtually all groups with an interest in any hobby or groups with similar interests communicate (or argue) .
A place where you will have to interact at some point with other people, both those you get on with and those you cannot stand. ?
Where on occasion you will be forced to actually meet and talk to people you do not know ie. new club members and even visitors.
There will always be a few souls prepared to put up with the slings and arrows of command to come out on freezing cold nights in mid February and keep this club afloat for the enjoyment of the high summer boaters when they eventually creep out of hibernation.

When on a cruise to strange lands , usually with a crew of thousands demanding to be fed/watered at regular intervals, the prospect of a proper boat club with a galley at the end of the pontoon ensures at least an overnight stop, sometimes more.
Cannot recall, having stopped at most of the marinas on the Thames, another location that did not require a long walk/or taxi to find something to eat or worse, ordering a shot in the dark takeaway, Indian or Chinese no choice.
All of those posh franchised destination riverside eateries, fine , if there is only two of you, however all have gone and bitten the dust.

A restuarant will never replace this, the last thing any sensible owner will want is folks just hanging around not spending money ?
MDL have over 400 berths at Chatham yet no cafe ?

 

[harvey38]

They have the same issue at Bray Marina.
Contact Us - Mediterranevm Bray

We started our boating life at Bray and fondly remember the South African family that ran The Galley. At best, The Galley could be called a Bistro but in reality, a fabulous cafe serving coffee, cake and pretty much anything with chips, their Full English was excellent.

The block building was pulled down and a fancy glass and steel structure appeared and branded a Mediterranean Restaurant appeared. Even in the mid Nineties it was bloody expensive for tasteless food, we never went back.