25 July 2025

Watchet Marina, part of the Western Marinas group, proudly hosted a highly successful relaunch celebration on Saturday 19th July, marking a major milestone in the ongoing rehabilitation of the marina.

The event welcomed over 150 guests, including berth holders, guests from 42 visiting boats and community members who have been instrumental in the success to date.

Following significant support for Western Marinas from our funding partners, Harwood Private Capital and Trevally Capital, the celebration highlighted both the marina's physical transformation and the strong community support that has been key to its success.

“This re-launch was more than just a celebration—it was a thank you to everyone who has helped bring Watchet Marina back to life,” said Andrew Cornish, Chair of Western Marinas.

“The turnout and enthusiasm from boaters and the local community alike has been incredibly encouraging as we continue to invest in the marina’s future.”

The visiting boats added a lively atmosphere to the harbour, reflecting Watchet’s returning appeal as a vibrant boating destination on the Somerset coast now the dredging campaign has been completed, and the marina gate is in operation again. Many attendees praised the marina improvements and shared their excitement about its future potential, with one visitor from Cardiff stating “Western Marinas have done the impossible” when describing the progress
made.

The event also served as a moment of appreciation for the local community, whose continued support has been instrumental in the rehabilitation project so far. Western Marinas reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with local partners as the next phases of development unfold.

“There definitely seemed to be lots of people about and a nice little buzz in the town” said one business owner when reflecting on the weekend, with the town’s visitor centre seeing an influx of boat owners who had never been to Watchet before. Western Marinas is passionate about ensuring that the marina’s progress and the return of visiting boats to Watchet has a positive and lasting impact on local businesses and tourism across the town.

Western Marinas would like to extend its sincere thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to making the re-launch a success.