Ventnor

Ventnor
Facilities
Information
Narrowboat hire
Boat sales
The Team
Contact Us

Welcome to Ventnor Marina

Tel: 01926 815023

One of the UK’s leading inland marinas.

In the heart of Warwickshire near Rugby and on the Grand Union Canal this peaceful non liveaboard marina feels more like a wildlife reserve than a marina.

Fishing lake, dog walking field, BBQ areas, grassy banks concealing the cars, all imbue a wonderfully rural feel. With full narrowboat facilities including a dry dock and two cruising directions, it’s the perfect narrowboat spot.

90% of our moorers chose Ventnor for its location and cruising opportunities, closely followed by the layout and ambience. The marina is split into two basins each with small bays of a dozen berths giving a very private feel.

From a moorers lounge; launderette and disabled facilities to dog showers and even its own resident Barn Owl this 230 narrowboat berth marina is an ideal cruiser’s choice. Plus there are a number of shorter pontoons for river cruisers and smaller boats. And for narrowboat owners seeking a safe and secure marina to leave your boat during the winter Ventnor Marina has staff onsite 24/7.

To read all about Ventnor Marina and what is has to offer, click on our 2019 yearbook below, or for a bespoke berthing quote and to find out about our Flexible Berthing Scheme, please call 01926 815023 or click here for our online enquiry form.

Boat Sales at Ventnor Marina

Boat Sales at Ventnor Marina are operated by Great Haywood Boat Sales.
If you would like to view a list of all boats currently for sale or would like further information please click here
or telephone 01889 881960

Karen Wray

Assistant Marina Manager

Karen has been Assistant Manager at Wigrams Marina since April 2013. Her role combines her love of canal and narrow boats with her experience in office management, customer service and administration. Previous roles have included working for Mars confectionery and the NHS.

Karen includes amongst her responsibilities looking after the moorers interests, new enquiries and share boat and syndicate boat needs, engineering bookings and invoicing, electric invoicing and managing the Black Prince hire boat team for housekeeping, engineering, customer service and administration.

Karen and her lovely rescue dog, Tilly, embrace the marina community and have moored on both Wigrams and Ventnor Marinas. Enjoying long walks in the local area, karen says ‘I am very lucky to have the opportunity for the perfect combination of hobby and work, the marinas are a great place to be in the most beautiful settings in the Warwickshire countrywide with access to fantastic waterways.

If you would like to have a chat with Karen about the marina please feel free to contact her by phone: 01926 817175 or email: karen@wigramsturnmarina.co.uk
Sheridan Fowler

Harbourmaster

Sheridan has worked for Castle Marinas for 8 years. Starting at Wigrams Turn and then he moved to Ventnor 7 years ago.

In his previous life he has been a foundry worker, then funeral director in my home town of Banbury.

He has been married to Tia for 30 years with 2 children, Vanien and Amelia, a ferret called Dell boy and Ruby the owl.

And in Sheridan's words "I’ve got the best job in the world'.
Martyn Tilson

Accounts

Born and bred in Coventry and nearby towns, Martyn spent most of his career in accountancy or employment and health and safety law. He bought his first narrow boat in the late 90's after 10 years of hiring.

He was lured away from the high mileage, high pressure environment in 2004 to manage Calcutt Boats Marina. After 10 successful years he moved onto his narrowboat and set off to explore the system. Over wintering at Wigrams Turn proved a bad move for the retirement plan as the staff proved such a good team he succumbed to the opportunity to join part time as harbourmaster and latterly accounts for Wigrams and Ventnor marina.

He lives at Wigrams Turn on his boat with wife Sue and Connie the dog.
Chris Lee

Harbourmaster

Chris joined the Ventnor team is April 2017 after applying for the Harbourmaster's job whilst mooring at Wigrams Turn Marina.

Chris sold the cottage he lived in with his wife in 2012 and moved on to their narrowboat Sammy. They moored on the North Stratford for over four years before moving to Wigrams Turn in October 2016.

Previously, Chris had been a toolmaker, at Automotive Products for 30 years before moving career to working at British Waterways, where he worked for 15 years. He worked on the agriculture side and was Lock Keeper on the Stratford Canal.

Chris has been married to Caryn for nearly 35 years and they have three children Andrew who is married and now lives in Australia, Kate who is a lecturer and engaged and Matthew who is married and has Chris and Caryn’s grandson Alfie, whom they adore. Chris also has two springer spaniels Rosie and Molly and a 24 year old cat, Kio on board.

Chris thinks living and working at Ventnor "is more than he could have wished for".

Chris says "he is often mistaken as Billy off DIY SOS"
Sarah White

Housekeeper

Sarah joined the Ventnor team as Housekeeper in April 2017. Prior to Castle Marinas Sarah worked as the head housekeeper in a 92 bedded care home. Sarah managed a team of housekeepers dealing with the day to day cleaning and laundry.

Sarah and her husband Rory, relocated to Warwickshire in 2015, having moved from Portsmouth. After years of hiring narrowboats they immediately fell in love with the inland waterways and purchased their first narrowboat 'Unique' in 2012, and in 2016 picked up their new boat Trafalgar 1805.
Rory White

Dry Dock Operative and Deputy Harbourmaster

Rory is our new Dry Dock Operative and Deputy Harbourmaster, he recently transferred across from Wigrams Turn Marina where he was Harbourmaster responsible for the Black Prince fleet. Prior to joining the Castle team he held various positions in facilities and maintenance management within the local council and care industry, and prior to that served many years in the Royal Navy.

Rory and his wife Sarah, relocated to Warwickshire in 2015, having moved from Portsmouth. After years of hiring narrowboats they immediately fell in love with the inland waterways and purchased their first narrowboat 'Unique' in 2012, and are in the process of having a new boat built in Shardlow. In the future they hope to re-home a dog to live onboard with them.
Roz Gallagher

Part Time Admin Assistant (Ventnor/Wigrams Turn)

Roz joins the teams at Wigrams Turn and Ventnor Marinas to help with Admin on a part time basis.

Over the years Roz has worked in admin roles in various industries from software to aerospace. Now she says "I am lucky enough to work in a place where I can look forward to going to, amid beautiful surroundings".

She lives in Rugby with my husband Mark and cat Loki. They love spending time in the mountains here and abroad, but she is looking forward to learning more about canal living. She also enjoy horse riding, wine making, home entertainment and Formula 1.
Steve Chapman

Marina Manager

Steve was Harbour Master for Black Prince before becoming Assistant Marina Manager at Ventnor. He still works across both marinas, preferring to be out and about. He can be seen providing wharf side services, completing routine maintenance and Black Prince handovers. Prior to joining the marina team he had held various front line to senior managerial roles within the building industry, retail and co-operative businesses.

Steve’s’ love of boats has been a lifelong passion. His first vessel was a 16’ powerboat which he used for water skiing off the northeast coast!

Steve and his wife Julie, relocated to Warwickshire in 1994. They immediately fell in love with the inland waterways and purchased their first narrowboat in 1995. They now live onboard their widebeam boat with their gorgeous little Cavalier King Charles, Woody.

Explore the Marina

Peaceful non liveaboard marina in the heart of Warwickshire countryside

Contact Castle Marinas using the following methods:

Email

Telephone

Steve Chapman
01926 815023

Post

Ventnor Marina
Calcutt Lane
Stockton
Rugby
Warwickshire
CV23 8HY

Contact us form

Narrowboat Holidays with Castle Marinas

Castle marinas operates five marinas on the UK's inland waterways network including some of the UK's leading inland marinas catering for all types of narrowboats and river cruisers. From our base at Wigrams Turn Marina, we also run a Black Prince hire fleet of some 15 narrowboats, ideal for holidays of all types.

Black Prince Holidays offer award winning luxury narrowboat holidays from 9 locations across the UK, including Wigrams Turn Marina. All narrowboats have full central heating, 240v electric, Freeview,DVD and mobile WiFi, making the Black Prince Holidays fleet one the best equipped on the canal system.

Ideally situated at the head of the Oxford Canal, Wigrams Turn in Napton is a base that offers a starting point for a large number of interesting routes. The Warwickshire Ring, for the more energetic and experienced, contrasts the beautiful countryside around Warwick with city life and industry through Birmingham and Spaghetti Junction. Trips of beauty and interest can also be achieved, including Stratford Upon Avon, Oxford, Snarestone, or a visit to the Waterways Museum at Stoke Bruerne, depending on the number of locks you wish to negotiate.

Visit the Black Prince Holidays website for more details including special offers canal boat holidays.

www.black-prince.com

Peaceful berths on fully serviced pontoons

Marina Information

There are 260 berths at Ventnor, suitable for all sizes of narrowboat and crusier. Set across two basins, the berths are laid out in bays, preserving a sense of privacy for moorers. Please see our marina layout here

The marina has direct access to the Grand Union Canal, a central position providing excellent cruising potential. Running a distance of 137 miles with branches to towns along the way, The Grand Union is the trunk route of Britain's canal network linking from London, through the Chilterns with Birmingham. It offers a wide variety of landscapes, wildlife, buildings, architecture and historic craft for you to discover.

Berthing at Ventnor Marina allows narrowboat and canal boat owners access not only to the fantastic Grand Union Canal, but also gives other multiple destinations on the Warwick and Napton Canal.

Pontoon Services - Water/Electricity

Ventnor Marina is a non liveaboard marina with 230 permanent narrowboat moorings as well as visitor and seasonal berths.

All of the marina berths have their own designated pontoon, with water and electricity available year round. Water is free of charge.

Electricity is invoiced on a quarterly basis and costs 15p per unit (including service charge and VAT).

Ventnor Marina also has a limited supply of smaller moorings for cruisers and canal boats.

Showers, Toilets and Launderette Facilities

The toilets and shower facilities are available to all customers of Ventnor Marina, open 24 hours a day and include disabled facilities.

There are toilets and showers in the main amenities building and another in the second phase of the marina alongside the dry dock facility

There are launderette facilities in both phases of the marina in the facilities buildings. Washing Machines and Dryers are both operated by coins.

Dry dock, bottom blacking, maintenance and repair facility

A dry dock facility is available for all boating customers at Ventnor Marina. It is a pre-bookable and fully serviced facility. (there is no self service option.

For further details on bottom blacking or to book please contact the marina office or click here. Marina office staff will be happy to help with any query you have regarding the dry dock.

Ventnor Marina has onsite engineers available to help with your canal or narrowboat maintenance and repair work. The information you will need to prebook the engineers is available from the Marina Office. You will need to complete the necessary forms with your information, contact and access details. The Marina staff will be happy to help.

Fuel/Pump Out/Waste Disposal/Recycling

Diesel, Gas and Pump Out for your boat are all available at Ventnor Marina.

Diesel is served at the service bays located on both phase 1 and phase 2 of the marina.

Open daily (except Wednesday) from 9am - 4pm (closed between 1 - 2 pm)

Security/Parking

There is plenty of parking space close to both marina phases and yet cleverly hidden by the marina banks. There are also ample trollies for offloading supplies from your car to your boat.

Security

Ventnor Marina has a team of three staff who live onsite adding to the security of the marina. They are there to provide a safe, secure and enjoyable berthing environment and are happy to help with your narrowboat or canal boat berthing. Being a marina with a ‘non-liveaboard’ status the fact that there are staff living onsite at Ventnor Marina gives our customers an extra peace of mind when they are away from their boat. Harbourmasters make regular boat checks. In addition the security gates only allow customers with an access code entry to the marina.

Ventnor Marina Members Lounge

Within the main amenities building next to the Marina office there is a comfortable and sunny members lounge with a TV for members use and an informal book exchange. Ideal for small get togethers/ coffee mornings with other moorers.

The room is accessible via an access code and is available to Ventnor Marina moorers 24 hours a day.

Marina Safety

At Ventnor Marina our primary function is to offer a safe, secure and enjoyable boating environment for all our boating customers. We want you to get the most out of your canal or narrowboating on the UK’s inland waterways plus be able to keep your boat in a marina with the best facilities and services. To achieve this we draw all moorers attention to the following boat and marina safety points.

There are several potential hazards within a marina environment. Pontoons are slippery when wet and icy. Please take care and wear suitable footwear. Please also take extra care at night and in strong winds.

Please do not leave any clutter, untidy cables or cycles on pontoons, these can cause a trip hazard and can impede access.

Children must be supervised at all times and must not ride in the trollies. Lifejackets are advisable.

In the event of a difficulty please contact the marina office immediately. You may want to make a note of the out of hours contact number. Harbourmasters are contactable 24 hours a day seven days a week.

Life rings and extinguishers are located around the Marina.

There is a first aid station in the Marina Office

Smoking is strictly prohibited along the length of the service quay area particularly near to the Pump Out, Diesel, Bottled Gas and Fuel areas.

Our staff are there to help you. If you doubt your ability to manoeuvre your boat in the prevailing conditions do alert the Harbourmasters who will be happy to assist.

Any damage to pontoons, facilities or boats should be reported to the Marina Office immediately.

Please also do not allow oil contaminated bilge effluent to be discharged into the marina and be aware that hot central heating or engine exhausts can scorch wooden pontoons.

We value our customers opinions

Improving our marinas with our customers help

We regularly collect information from our customers regarding our facilities and services. We would be very grateful as a customer at Ventnor Marina, whether a visitor or an annual berth holder, if you could spare some time to complete our short survey. The results are anonymous unless you would like some feedback. We publish the results of the surveys on an annual basis.

Please click on the link below and thank you very much in advance.

Ventnor Marina Customer Satisfaction Survey 2017

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