Shotley

PaulRainbow said:
Erm..... you wouldn't hear a bad word from a bertholder, if a bertholder didn't like it here he'd move, then he wouldn't be a bertholder. :)
Click to expand...

Most bertholders of marinas have a few gripes about their lot but Shotley seems to inspire true devotion, no one who's there notices soot, in fact their boat seems to self clean; they find the lock fun, positively enjoy catching up on their VAT returns whilst waiting for it; the lack of a decent eatery is a charming quirk; the drive from Ipswich is over in the blink of an eye (done it twice in under five minutes old chap) and it's so quiet and peaceful they never notice that it's inside the country's busiest commercial dock. Shotley bertholder devotion is a remarkable thing :D
 
Colvic Watson said:
Most bertholders of marinas have a few gripes about their lot but Shotley seems to inspire true devotion, no one who's there notices soot, in fact their boat seems to self clean; they find the lock fun, positively enjoy catching up on their VAT returns whilst waiting for it; the lack of a decent eatery is a charming quirk; the drive from Ipswich is over in the blink of an eye (done it twice in under five minutes old chap) and it's so quiet and peaceful they never notice that it's inside the country's busiest commercial dock. Shotley bertholder devotion is a remarkable thing :D
Click to expand...

Maybe they put something in the water Simon ? :)
 
We were at Shotley for several years and liked it, and would consider returning.

The good:
The staff are nice, and helpful.
The location for sailing.
The swallows nesting in the entrance to the ablution block every year.

The mixed/dependent on tastes:
Drive from Ipswich (Fox's) was 18-20 mins, with surprisingly rare variation beyond that (I often timed it). Driving that road does take a certain, more relaxed mindset. There's no point rushing it, you'll get there barely any faster unless it's 3am, and if you get held up behind something else it is only going to make a minute or two's difference.

Never noticed any soot on deck (but then our decks are neither white nor gleaming).

The sound of Felixstowe port I didn't find intrusive (and is far better than road traffic noise to my ears), and I found the visual bustle of ships and cranes interesting, but I can see that others might well not.

The lock was a minor nuisance when single handing (as I often do), but otherwise wasn't a problem. Rarely had long to wait. You do need a reliable engine, and a degree of sang froid when things don't go according to plan under the gaze of the audience that tends to gather round the lock in the summer. The lock does keep out any swell. It was nice that because of the lock there's always a member of staff on hand there 24/7, and they know exactly who's come and gone, and which berths are vacant for visitors until when.

The downside:
The Shipwreck pub was a disappointment when we were first there, then seemed to continue to go downhill. Poor quality food, indifferent (and once downright rude) service. (May have changed, haven't been back for a couple of years.) Shame, as it has great potential, both in its own right and in making the marina more attractive.

That after all this time they still haven't done anything about the reflection from the Veluxes in in the Gents, which they have been told about and which is so easily resolved, is baffling and disappointing. Someone should have their knuckles rapped about it, then just get it sorted.
 
LittleSister said:
We were at Shotley for several years and liked it, and would consider returning.

The good:
The staff are nice, and helpful.
The location for sailing.
The swallows nesting in the entrance to the ablution block every year.

The mixed/dependent on tastes:
Drive from Ipswich (Fox's) was 18-20 mins, with surprisingly rare variation beyond that (I often timed it). Driving that road does take a certain, more relaxed mindset. There's no point rushing it, you'll get there barely any faster unless it's 3am, and if you get held up behind something else it is only going to make a minute or two's difference.

Never noticed any soot on deck (but then our decks are neither white nor gleaming).

The sound of Felixstowe port I didn't find intrusive (and is far better than road traffic noise to my ears), and I found the visual bustle of ships and cranes interesting, but I can see that others might well not.

The lock was a minor nuisance when single handing (as I often do), but otherwise wasn't a problem. Rarely had long to wait. You do need a reliable engine, and a degree of sang froid when things don't go according to plan under the gaze of the audience that tends to gather round the lock in the summer. The lock does keep out any swell. It was nice that because of the lock there's always a member of staff on hand there 24/7, and they know exactly who's come and gone, and which berths are vacant for visitors until when.

The downside:
The Shipwreck pub was a disappointment when we were first there, then seemed to continue to go downhill. Poor quality food, indifferent (and once downright rude) service. (May have changed, haven't been back for a couple of years.) Shame, as it has great potential, both in its own right and in making the marina more attractive.

That after all this time they still haven't done anything about the reflection from the Veluxes in in the Gents, which they have been told about and which is so easily resolved, is baffling and disappointing. Someone should have their knuckles rapped about it, then just get it sorted.
Click to expand...
Some 35 yrs to my knowledge
 
pvb said:
Surely the best East Coast example of berth-holders oblivious to a marina's failings has to be Tollesbury?
Click to expand...

It's surely the best Marina on the east coast, best clubhouse, heated swimming pool, friendly staff, superb walks and first rate natural environment.


But not much good if you want to go out for a sail...
 
We've just returned after a break, swapping boats. The Shipwreck was, as said not very good, damn rubbish in fact. We wouldn't go in there last time. The Bristol Arms was good for a meal, we were in there most weeks. Now, the Bristol Arms has changed hands and gone all small portions, big prices. We dropped in the and ordered bubble and squeak with sausages and got and ice cream scoop sized portion of bubble and squeak and three sausages, for £11.99 a head. Won't be going there again. The Shipwreck has also seen some changes and whilst we've not eaten in there, the place is clean and bright, the staff are extremely pleasant and everyone says the food is good, must try it. The Rose, in the village is good, as is the pub in Chelmondiston. The Butt and Oyster at Pinmill is well known for it's good food and local ale. So i'm not sure where "the lack of a decent eatery is a quirk" comes from. Fox's has a part time clubhouse for the yacht club and the pub opposite, which last time we went in was slow, expensive and noting special.

The lock does have the benefit of keeping the swell out, but also keeps the water at an almost constant level. The walkways to the pontoons are almost flat, all of the time. Getting through the lock is easy enough, i can get our Discus through on my own (even pointing the right way at times). Try the London locks if you want a challenge. We once went through the lock at Gallions Point, that was fun......not.

I don't think Shotley is good because i'm here, i'm here because i think Shotley is good. I could have chosen any marina on the East coast. In fact, my boat was in fox's when we bought her and i could have had a berth. Fox's is OK, staff are good etc, but it's a long boring slog up and down the Orwell every time you want to go somewhere. We had a boat on a swinger at Pin Mill for a while, that was bad enough.

We like to sail on the sea, if we'd have wanted to sail on a river we'd be on the broads :p
 
Last edited:
Oh I agree about Foxs. Nice in some ways, limited in others and you missed out the ablution block that owes a lot to 1970's standards of facilities; but you see what I mean about posts by Shotleyites...
 
Colvic Watson said:
Oh I agree about Foxs. Nice in some ways, limited in others and you missed out the ablution block that owes a lot to 1970's standards of facilities; but you see what I mean about posts by Shotleyites...
Click to expand...

At least you have us beaten on the chandlery front :)

Edit : Hang on though, we have to drive past it to get here though.
 
Well.... I did say in my OP 'At the risk of opening a can of worms' :)

I have read all the posts with interest and I think we are going to give it a go (move to Shotley). We were extremely well received by the office staff on Friday and offered a selection of berths. I suppose they would welcome potential new customers, but we have always been well received as visitors in the past.

North Fambridge don't help themselves really, here is the latest example. It may seem trivial to most but I think it is poor customer service. We arrived on Friday to find all the water hoses on the pontoon had been changed from the standard blue stuff to florescent yellow ones probably an H & S or an insurance requirement. My Berth is midway between two water points. The old hose, which was only about a year old reached nicely to the back of my boat (filler point) with plenty to spare without the need to drape it over neighboring boats. The new hose barely reaches the prow of the boat and even when draped will not reach my filler pipe. I now have to dig my own hose out, join it to the florescent stuff and then disconnect when finished. I know its a minor inconvenience, but in my view a lack of thought by the management team here.

I also don't really like the security here either, which I think is by camera monitored from Lymington. The lifting gate is always open, apparently a requirement for the new franchisee in the 'Clubhouse' to encourage non-marina trade.

At weekends the office is often locked up - the staff are working in the yard

and then there was the dredging, ' We only dredge the channel as the mud from the berths will slide into the newly dredged trench'

So, I think we'll give Shotley a shot :)
 
Last edited:
Boz said:
Well.... I did say in my OP 'At the risk of opening a can of worms' :)

I have read all the posts with interest and I think we are going to give it a go (move to Shotley). We were extremely well received by the office staff on Friday and offered a selection of berths. I suppose they would welcome potential new customers, but we have always been well received as visitors in the past.

North Fambridge don't help themselves really, here is the latest example. It may seem trivial to most but I think it is poor customer service. We arrived on Friday to find all the water hoses on the pontoon had been changed from the standard blue stuff to florescent yellow ones probably an H & S or an insurance requirement. My Berth is midway between two water points. The old hose, which was only about a year old reached nicely to the back of my boat (filler point) with plenty to spare without the need to drape it over neighboring boats. The new hose barely reaches the prow of the boat and even when draped will not reach my filler pipe. I now have to dig my own hose out, join it to the florescent stuff and then disconnect when finished. I know its a minor inconvenience, but in my view a lack of thought by the management team here.

I also don't really like the security here either, which I think is by camera monitored from Lymington. The lifting gate is always open, apparently a requirement for the new franchisee in the 'Clubhouse' to encourage non-marina trade.

At weekends the office is often locked up - the staff are working in the yard

and then there was the dredging, ' We only dredge the channel as the mud from the berths will slide into the newly dredged trench'

So, I think we'll give Shotley a shot :)
Click to expand...
On your way to Shotley call into FMYC to get a really good meal & beer of the day @ a reasonable price.
FMYC being a members club open every day for food & drinks, not many clubs on the river offer that, service.
http://www.fmyc.org.uk

Oh & we have brilliant marina & yard staff too.
 
sailorman said:
On your way to Shotley call into FMYC to get a really good meal & beer of the day @ a reasonable price.
FMYC being a members club open every day for food & drinks, not many clubs on the river offer that, service.
http://www.fmyc.org.uk

Oh & we have brilliant marina & yard staff too.
Click to expand...

What do you do if you want something on the 5 out of 7 evenings the club is closed ?

Lunchtime - Monday to Sunday
09.30 to 14.30
food served until 14.00

Friday evening
16.00 to 23.00
food served 18.30 to 21.00

Saturday evening
17.00 to 23.00
food served 18.30 to 21.00
 
Colvic Watson said:
It's surely the best Marina on the east coast, best clubhouse, heated swimming pool, friendly staff, superb walks and first rate natural environment.


But not much good if you want to go out for a sail...
Click to expand...

Also not much good if you want somewhere to eat from Sunday 1600 until Wednesday 1200 except during school holidays!! Mind you the takeaway in the village is pretty good, but you have to meet them at the Chandlery as they are not willing to come onto the "premises".
 
sailorman said:
On your way to Shotley call into FMYC to get a really good meal & beer of the day @ a reasonable price.
FMYC being a members club open every day for food & drinks, not many clubs on the river offer that, service.
http://www.fmyc.org.uk

Oh & we have brilliant marina & yard staff too.
Click to expand...

While berthed at Shotley we are members of FMYC always a decent pint, good food and a warm welcome.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

L
Centaur with osmosis
2 3
Replies
50
Views
1K
nevis768
N
T
Notices to Mariners - Week 4
Replies
0
Views
463
tillergirl
T
geem
Cat A ocean standard need full revision
15 16 17
Replies
335
Views
8K
WindyWindyWindy
W

Share this page

Top