Wheeler on Board for Spectacular Grand Opening Weekend

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 8 October 2014

UPDATED: 17 October 2014

SOUTH DERBYSHIRE MP Heather Wheeler will officially open Mercia Marina’s new £1.7m Boardwalk shopping and leisure development this weekend.

Mercia Marina is staging a free public Grand Opening Weekend on Saturday, October 11 and Sunday, October 12 to launch The Boardwalk.

The Boardwalk includes a farm shop, fashion stores, beauty salon and a central bar-restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the marina’s stunning 24-acre lake. More shops will be opening before Christmas.

The Grand Opening event will feature street performers and magicians, live music all weekend, boat rides, children’s entertainment and fireworks.

Visitors will also be able to sample the new sensory garden and several nature and wildlife trails around the 74-acre site in Findern Lane, near Willington. There will also be a helicopter fly-by by the marina’s chosen charity, the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance on Saturday morning.

Mrs Wheeler will mark the opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the close of the weekend celebrations, at around 6.30pm on Sunday.

Robert Neff, general manager of Mercia Marina, said: “We’re delighted that Heather Wheeler is able to give up her time to help us mark this extremely important chapter in the growth of Mercia Marina as a visitor destination.

“We look forward to welcoming hundreds of new and familiar faces over the weekend – and I’m sure they will be both hugely impressed by the new Boardwalk development as well as entertained by all the things we have on offer. It promises to be quite an event!” 

The Boardwalk also includes four office units on the upper floor and a unique new events area outside, in addition to space for six commercial boats.

The live music line-up during the Grand Opening Weekend includes: Teen singing sensation Jess Kenton, from Findern; Derbyshire acoustic duo Bobby & Lindsay; Sounds with a Spanish flavour from Sugartree; The Fab Beatles tribute band; and a Frank Sinatra tribute act.

Other entertainment includes The Fairly Fresh Fish Co., a comedy duo who will perform among the crowds; 1623 Theatre Company, a Shakespearean acting troup who will perform on-board a canal boat; Geofest Collective, who will wow visitors with a spectacular circus-based fire-spinning performance; up and coming artist Jinky, who will display some of his work and do sketches throughout the weekend; as well as a Jack Sparrow street performer, stilt walkers, street magicians, face painting, giant swan pedaloes and fireworks.

The Grand Opening Weekend will run from 9am-9.30pm on Saturday (with fireworks starting at around 9.15pm), and from 9am-6.30pm on Sunday. All are welcome. Admission is free.

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