Sutton marina

The Barbican area of Plymouth around Sutton harbour has recently been 'upgraded' to include Bistro type food outlets alongside the Marina, with tables and chairs for the diners. Last year you could still easily walk along this 'promenade', sit on the benches provided and eat your fish and chips and watch the yachts on the pontoons, but not now. Even the free loos have been upgraded, and cost 20 pence.

I guess this 'improvement' has encouraged Sutton Harbour to upgrade its own prices
 
Seven Spades said:
They are clearly pricing to keep visitors away.
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I think they are pricing to get the visitors they would prefer, (which won't be you or I by the sound of it :apathy:). Seems like Sutton Harbour have realised that they are the 'best' located marina for Plymouth central and are gambling (probably correctly) that they can capitalise on this and still get plenty of visitors.
 
stuey said:
I think they are pricing to get the visitors they would prefer, (which won't be you or I by the sound of it :apathy:). Seems like Sutton Harbour have realised that they are the 'best' located marina for Plymouth central and are gambling (probably correctly) that they can capitalise on this and still get plenty of visitors.
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I think that's probably true, I spoke with a bert holder there and he tells me there are plenty of visiting boats in Sutton right now. I do wonder thought, how many of them are aware of the current prices before they enter the lock............
 
I loved Sutton harbour marina but was caught completely on the hop by these price increases.
As ive mentioned it's out of my bracket for a few nights stay now, so will have to go elsewhere.
The irritating part (with the exception to the price hikes) is the very hard working, polite and friendly staff whom I can't sing their praises highly enough, will possibly witness less and less visiting boats.
This can only be to drive away visiting custom on purpose, as no decent management team would be stupid or reckless enough to implement such a disastrous dicision.
 
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Well it won't do tourism via yacht any good, I always went to Sutton - and the alternatives don't compare for ease of access to the town.

While I'm pleased to hear any news of economic development in the SW - like the IOW there have been a lot of good people getting the s*****y end of the stick for too long - it saddens me that the ordinary visitor - to Plymouth not just Sutton - is being driven away.

Can't help feeling a little ungratefully treated, seeing as yotties and ' ordinary ' tourists by road have been a large lifeline for decades !
 
A few years ago Salcombe got too bog for it's boots and lost a lot of trade. It then had a change of mind and went out of its way to correct the situation. I am sure that the same will happen to Sutton Harbour, it may take a while but if they keep stinging people then they will go elsewhere in future. They are well located but it is not a long walk from QAB to the town.
 
Seven Spades said:
They are well located but it is not a long walk from QAB to the town.
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The problem with QAB is not the location but the rafting out (sometimes far enough to make connection to power awkward) whilst paying £3.50/m for the privilege and the danger of the swell that gets in there. Even once the bridge is closed it's quite a nice walk back now you can get all the way round the harbour which I don't remember you being able to do a few years ago.
 
Seven Spades said:
A few years ago Salcombe got too bog for it's boots and lost a lot of trade.
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We were at Salcombe earlier this month. A lovely welcome from Phil on his launch, a super anchorage at Salt Stone and very clean showers. We will be back again and not too expensive.
 
Seven Spades said:
A few years ago Salcombe got too bog for it's boots and lost a lot of trade. It then had a change of mind and went out of its way to correct the situation. I am sure that the same will happen to Sutton Harbour, it may take a while but if they keep stinging people then they will go elsewhere in future. They are well located but it is not a long walk from QAB to the town.
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I hope you are right, but, I think Salcombe Harbour needs the income from visiting boats, so probably not a good comparison. If you read the article in the link in Giblets post #26, you will read that their key growth areas in revenue are from car parking and fisheries! So it seems Sutton is far less dependant on the cash from visiting boats, if they get fewer visiting yachts, but those few are generally larger vessels, then they will probably have lost nothing at all. I would not bank on them rolling back on this decision.
 
clyst said:
£40 for an 11mtr boat in Darthaven Marina this week . Won't be going back .
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Actually Darthaven charges are below the average. What makes a Dart stay expensive is the addition of the harbour dues charged by DHNA via the marina that pushes up the cost significantly.
 
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clyst said:
£40 for an 11mtr boat in Darthaven Marina this week . Won't be going back .
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Surely that's about the going rate? And a real bargain compared to The rebranded Marina at Sutton!! (No longer Sutton Harbour Marina). Apparently all the staff uniforms changed at the same time.
 
Am currently stuck at Plymouth Yacht Haven at Mount Batten. Staff is friendly, showers are fantastic, good Wifi included, but apart from one pricey restaurant and a small chandlery there isn't much on this side at all. Closest shops need a taxi or a ride on the water taxi which goes from the nearby hotel to the mayflower steps (from where it is a short walk to QAB). Day rate is £3.25 per metre, weekly £16.25/m.

Pretty quiet apart from todays jet fighter madness (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKpgLDcWgpU) panicking every dog and setting off all the car alarms.
 
I have visited Plymouth Yacht Haven in times of need and just for fun and both times they couldn't be more helpful, great place with great people - but yes, it's a trek to Plymouth.

Alternatively try http://millbaymarina.co.uk/berthsandfacilities.html Not very big, but very welcoming! Great little place, not too far from the City and great rates! Well worth giving them a shout.
 
Yngmar said:
Am currently stuck at Plymouth Yacht Haven at Mount Batten. Staff is friendly, showers are fantastic, good Wifi included, but apart from one pricey restaurant and a small chandlery there isn't much on this side at all. Closest shops need a taxi or a ride on the water taxi which goes from the nearby hotel to the mayflower steps (from where it is a short walk to QAB). Day rate is £3.25 per metre, weekly £16.25/m.

Pretty quiet apart from todays jet fighter madness (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKpgLDcWgpU) panicking every dog and setting off all the car alarms.
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The food at the Mountbatten Hotel is ok or you could take a nice walk the other way where you'll have the choice of a couple of pubs. We sometimes follow the South West coastpath around to the Mountbatten ferry from QAB.
 
There is no problem getting provisions when at Haven. It is a short walk from Plymouth Yacht Haven into Hooe where there is a very well stocked mini market. Alternatively a very frequent and inexpensve No 2 bus ride to The Parade shopping centre for Lidl and Iceland amongst other stores or stay on the bus for a few more minutes to Morrisons supermarket.
I'm sure the marina staff could have given this advise if asked.
For me the only advantage of the ferry to Plymouth is for excellent fish and chips at the Rock Fish next to the Sutton Marina lock.
 
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