MORE berth holders and visitors in Watchet Marina are expected following sweeping changes by its new owners in time for its 25th anniversary this summer.

A spokesperson for Western Marinas, which took over the previously failing business in September, 2024, said: “Watchet is seeing significant improvement as ongoing works restore a key part of the town and rebuild confidence.

“Since taking over the marina, the focus has been on tackling the issues that had built up and making clear, visible improvements across the site.”

Watchet Boat Owners’ Association treasurer Martin Stevens said: “After years of disappointment over the mismanagement of the marina, the atmosphere is now completely different.

“Western Marinas are doing what they said they would do and all the investment plans are going ahead.

“The tide has turned and the place is coming back to life again, just in time for its 25th anniversary.

“Visiting boats are starting to return now owners realise that the mud and other problems are being tackled seriously and there is a steady increase in the number of new berth holders.

“After what went on in the past, it is great to be able to pass on some good news.”

Western Marinas, which also operates three other marinas, took over in Watchet from Swiss-based entrepreneur Christopher Odling-Smee, whose Marine and Property Group went into liquidation in 2023 with £16 million debts.

In February, 2025, Western Marinas was granted a 176-year lease by harbour-owners Somerset Council.

The company reported this week that the latest phase of work was now underway, with upgrades to power and water services across the pontoons, improvements to marina access and parking, and a major programme to strengthen the marina gate system.

Together, the changes are designed to make the marina more reliable, easier to use, and better equipped for the future.

Western Marinas managing director Johara Sykes-Dale said: “Watchet Marina rightly matters to the town.

“From the outset, our focus has been on getting it back to a place people can be proud of.

“We have made strong progress over the past year and this next phase is about building on that, making sure the marina is fit for the future, feels well looked after, and is somewhere people are proud to be.”

Ms Sykes-Dale said the latest investment was building on a substantial programme of work already delivered over the past year.

Early efforts focused on getting the marina back into a proper working condition, including restoring water depth through dredging, clearing large areas of the site that had fallen into disuse, and carrying out critical safety improvements.

Ms Sykes-Dale said: “These changes mark a clear shift from under-investment to active management, with steady progress being made to re-establish Watchet Marina as a place that berth holders, visitors, and the wider town can be proud of.”

She said the company was aiming to complete key elements of the current works, including new hammerhead pontoons, new pontoon electrical and water systems, and marina gate improvements, ahead of the 25th anniversary in July.