Ellesmere visitor numbers treble after revamp

Visitor numbers at a Shropshire beauty spot which underwent a controversial £2 million revamp have more than trebled, a meeting heard.

The Mere in Ellesmere had 66,000 visitors in 2010, compared to an annual average of about 20,000 before the major investment in 2009.

Shropshire Council officials told members of Ellesmere Town Council that the Boathouse Restaurant, which is part of the wider revamp project, is on course to become profitable after losing almost £35,000 in its first year of trading.

The Boathouse Restaurant is jointly owned by the two councils and operated by Shirehall.

Carolyn Healy, Shropshire Council parks and countryside manager, said: "We had 66,000 visits and that's lots of people through the doors and an increase on the same period the year before. The Mere and the Boathouse restaurant in their entirety are becoming much more popular as an attraction."

She added that the restaurant turned over about £200,000 in year two compared with £82,000 in year one and that managers were looking to keep costs down.

Neil Willcox, Shropshire Council head of leisure and outdoor recreation, said: "I'm not here to pretend things are perfect but there is a silent majority who are really satisfied with the revamp."

The restaurant, which is not yet open to customers in the evenings, is to close its doors this month to allow contractors to replace a water-damaged floor and re-touch paintwork, he added.

The revamp included the redevelopment of the boathouse restaurant, gift shop and visitor centre with The Mere promenade given a facelift and the next phase of the scheme will see a new play area created at Cremorne Gardens.