Poole - very quiet

BlueChip

BlueChip

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What's happening to Poole? We went there on Saturday and its starting to look very shabby and run down. Lots of empty shops and pubs, even on Saturday night the town was quiet and we had no problem getting in a restaurant, the bars on the front near the marina were much quieter than we remember and the little group of kiosks on the roundabout by the marina were all closed

The new Dolphin Quay development looks like as big a white elephant as it always did with no real signs of life. Poole used to be such a lively place its a bit dissapointing.

Great sail back to Gosport though, we had the spinnaker up all the way to North head at which point the wind had got up to 24knots and we chickened out.
 
I used to work at Poole council so have an inside view of things.

I am afraid to say that the total decline of poole town quay is totally on the councils shoulders. Policy is made without much regard to what currently happens and to the people who use it.
I have spent many a night on the town quay before the marina. t was a great way to meet people on other boats and the pubs were always busy and good fun.

But since the marina opened a serious decline in the number of boats arriving has been the result. I have recently been by road on a saturday night and was shcked by how quiet it was.

The new thing for poole is the second bridge. Is it really needed..??

It's all part of the councils plan to turn this part of poole into a new and bright place.

All i can say is that this is what happens when a council chases money and nothing else.


What say you all..???
 
Used to like poole when you could use the town quay cheaply, but not now. Just too expensive for what it is. Good old council, not a labour one is it?
 
Re: Poole - not everybody will accept being fleeced

Have not been to Poole Town since the new Marina resulted in the price for a nights stay exploding. As a result its on my blacklist.
If the cost of going alongside the Quay was brought back to the old days then i would visit again, until then they will not see my custom or my crews money in the town again.

Brian
 
Re: Poole - not everybody will accept being fleeced

I don't think it's just a price thing - biggest issue for most seems to be the uncertainly of getting on the Quay at all.
I would bet that Yarmouth has at least double the visitor spaces that Poole Quay now has between Dolphin and the alongside Quay rafts - and getting in late rules out Cobbs leaving anchorage as the only real option. That however is likely to be too far for a tender trip to the Quay either so it's basically dying as a boating experience.
Even being based in the harbour there I have given up on short staying on the quay with the boat during the season so I can appreciate the comments I have had from others on visiting.
Larger craft (ie able to make the trip in most conditions) , booking well in advance, still make the trip but Weymouth seems to be considered a better option by many now.
The loss of the kid's accomadating Quay pub, on the quay, has also had a negative impact for many families.

All this change in only 2 years!
 
Point of info Mr Chaiman...

I'm being pressured by daughter at Bournemouth Uni to sail down to Poole for a visit. How much are they going to sting me for a 12m berth? (And do they surcharge multis?)
 
Re: Contradictory postings

I don't get this thread. One poster observes that Poole Quay is in commercial decline and another claims it is difficult to find berthing space alongside on the quay.

Have not personally visited Poole Town Quay for 10 years.
 
Re: Contradictory postings

A simple answer to your question.

You can no longer berth by the quay.

You will be forced into the marina and to pay it's prices. But if the marina is ever full you are then put on the wall but with no price drop.

The problem with the marina is that it's montly full with large power boats. Nothing wrong with that i know but in 5 years it's gone from 100 plus yachts on a sat night to a matina ful of power boats that mostly never go anyhwhere.
 
Polle - multihulls

They don't surcharge multihulls.

We often go on the Quay wall and are charged about £20 for 35ft cat. Marina is more expensive probably looking at £28 - 30.

Sometimes we pop in there to top up with water and go.

You can use the shower / facilities oppositer the marina even if you are on the Quay wall.
 
Re: Contradictory postings

Part of the problem on the quay wall is that only a small area is given over for mooring of yachts because the ferry / leisure tour craft take up alot of room.

First May bank holiday there was a problem because a few smaller boats had moored up and larger vessels were not being allowed to raft alongside them
 
Re: Contradictory postings

[ QUOTE ]
A simple answer to your question.

You can no longer berth by the quay.

You will be forced into the marina and to pay it's prices. But if the marina is ever full you are then put on the wall but with no price drop.



[/ QUOTE ]

Not so, in my recent experience. You can choose to go on the quay wall if there is space - they can't force you into the marina.

In fact, it seems to work the other way round - if the marina is full, they send you to the quay - whether there is room available or not.
 
Re: Contradictory postings

Jonjo, The specific factor to the apparant contradiction is the reduction in available berths for visiting yachts; this inevitably leads to a cycle and in about a year there will be no visitors and available berths but no restraunts etc!
I would add that the staff do seem to try and do what they can but it's somewhat less of a concerted effort than somewhere like Yarmouth because it has significant and diverse comercial users as well as leisure. Would probably benefit from a dedicated 'leisure HM' to rationalise things!
 
Re: Contradictory postings

they can't force you into the marina
______________________________
Dolphin Marina staff also operate the quay & will only allow visiting yachts overnight if (1) the marina is full (2) if your boat is too big for them to berth.
 
Re: Contradictory postings

I've given up on Poole as everytime I go there, the marinas are full and I can't use the town quay because at 44ft I'm too big to raft up to the smaller boats that are already there. Was forced into Cobbs Quay, where we ended up grounding when tied to the pontoon and then had to move the boat at 5am due to lack of water and hang around the bridge until 7am when it would open for us. Other times I ended up anchoring in Studland bay.

Would never go back now.
 
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