There is much happening at the tranquil, picturesque Port Edgar Marina
Just across from San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, the waterfront community of Sausalito is where movie and music stars hang out in a cool Californian vibe alongside folk from tech start-ups. Recreating a Scottish coastal version at Port Edgar – which lies between two of the three great bridges on the Forth – is a worthy ambition.
The new owners of the marina at Port Edgar, in South Queensferry, want to make this site a world-class destination in a most scenic part of Scotland: a rare pearl which can be prised from its shell. From the end of April, 44 large cruise ships will be berthed off South Queensferry, coming ashore at the Hawes Inn jetty, while another 24 small cruise ships will be coming into the port of Rosyth. While most of these visitors will be bussed into central Edinburgh, many are expected to make their way along to Port Edgar.
Hugh Jackson, Port Edgar Marina’s general manager, and a former finance director of an SME, has been busy since taking over late last year.
“I’m really enjoying this challenge. Every day is so different and as we move into the warmer months, it is going to be fantastic watching us building on the existing reputation of Port Edgar, which is loved by those who already know it well,” he said.
Jackson has undertaken a marine management course to understand the specific elements and regulations of running a marina.
“Part of this was seeing Largs and Kip Marina on the west coast. It’s very different on the west coast where the sailing is out to the Firth of Clyde and the islands. At Port Edgar, it’s into the Firth of Forth for day-sailing, although we do have boats that sail across from Denmark, Norway, the Baltic states, and Scots sailing to Europe,” he said.
“We are just in the door. There are a lot of old buildings that we need to decide what to do with. It is a massive project and in ten years’ time this place will be transformed. Any profits we make will be re-invested into the long-term business,” he says.
Port Edgar Marina, the company which is backed by West Coast Capital, has been given a lease from City of Edinburgh Council, and is already hoping to extend it.
“There are so many different options that we can consider. There will certainly be business opportunities with people coming to work in a place with such fantastic sea views.”
In the short term, it is a matter of improving the aesthetic and ensuring visitors come and enjoy the facilities, which include three places to eat: Scotts Bar and Restaurant, already a massively popular eaterie, the Down the Hatch diner, and Outboard, which is set to host several small-scale music festivals this summer.
“We’re also very keen to encourage visitors to shop in Beacon, our retail outlet, which sells a range of top clothing, such as Harley of Scotland, Dubarry of Ireland, R.M. Williams of Australia, Schöffel and Joules. This is beside our extensive chandlery, which is the largest in Scotland.”
An attractive feature of Port Edgar is that it is still a working environment where boats are being repaired and engines replaced.
Around 30 people are employed full-time on the site, including metal workers and even COCO Chocolatier, the specialist sweet makers. The jetties are also used for visitors embarking on Forth Boat Tours of the Firth of Forth.
Health and safety remains a vital aspect of running the marina. The new management has already spent nearly £100,000 in dredging to allow yachts to have a two-metre draught at low tide, while the pontoons are being upgraded. The annual berthing fee is £387.40 per metre.
The port remains home to the Port Edgar Yacht Club, the Edinburgh Marine Academy, and is the base for numerous water sports as well as the local Scout troop hall. It all adds to the clamour of activity that makes this such a vital place.
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Visit Port Edgar Marina and the Beacon shop.
