A big Amble welcome to our new customers many of whom sight the superior facilities and not just the best sailing and fishing the North East has to offer as their reason for coming to Amble Marina. We may be biased but we have to agree.

We are almost there with 80% of the new fingers in place. Many of you will be aware of the enormous job we are undertaking at Amble Marina at the moment. We have been taking out, restoring, removing the wooden planks and replacing them with anti-slip grating in a £100,000 investment. Berthholders, who are already back in their permanent berths with new fingers alongside, are already reporting back that they are pleased with the change and believe that the new surface is far better than the old timber. After all the hard work, we do ask that NO work or painting or alterations are carried out on the new grating. Please be especially careful with fuel spills as this will mark the decking.

New stock has been arriving in the Chandlery. One of our most successful items, believe it or not, is a heavy duty rubber bucket. We keep selling out! Even the hard-to-please skipper of Medmerry has acquired one and seems quite thrilled! Says it's the best item we have ever had. Other new items include shanks of English Braid ropes, Hempel antifoul, Yacthicon water tank cleaners and purifying additives, Waterbuoy key floats, Teflon lubricant spray, and a range of Quicksilver oils plus much more.

Tohatsu - Aidan Charlton has completed a training course with Tohatsu in Lymington and is well prepared to service both new and old outboard engines. If you are ready for a new one, see our stock in the Chandlery and remember we can beat most competitors prices. Please ask for a quote.

Now you have the boat, how about a canoe or a kayak? We have the latest Sevylor Inflatables in stock which pack down to a smaller size than standard dinghies making them better tenders for the smaller boat.

Visitors are beginning to arrive again and we know they will get the usual great welcome from everyone. MV KISS from Holland was with us for a short time on her voyage heading North. When she left, the skipper told us that Amble Marina was the best marina for 300 miles around! We hope you agree.

Amble Marina staff have moved immediately from one major project to the next with the planning, sourcing and installation of new Green Fibreglass grating on 82 fingers across the marina. While the new grating is installed, all the support frames and buoyancy will be inspected and upgraded as necessary. The work will represent a £100,000 investment when complete. This project will take all winter to complete, every finger will be lifted out and over 2000 metres of plastic fendering to be fitted.

The dredging of the Marina was completed in record time with few problems being reported by customers and only very minor hold-ups when boats prepared to enter or leave. It is now hard to believe that the six week operation is over and took place during an Indian summer with only one bad day's weather. Plans are already underway for the next dredge...

Karl Brunton would like to offer his own personal thanks to all the customers for their patience and the staff who have all worked above and beyond expectations.

VAT reverts back to 17.5% on 1st January 2010. There is an opportunity for customers wishing to make a small saving on their annual contract for the year April 2010 to March 2011 by signing their contract and paying in full by December 15th 2009. Apologies, this offer is not available to anyone wishing to pay by standing order. To discuss further please talk to a member of staff in the Marina office. The normal discounted rates will apply to all customers wishing to join us for the 2010 season and signing up before 1st March 2010. New contracts and tide tables will be sent to all Annual Bertholders in January.

Christmas presents - The Marina chandlery contains all sorts of ideas for presents to go under the Christmas tree. A new Tohatsu outboard engine, a collection of brightly coloured fishing hooks, new fenders, lifejackets for the whole family and much more to ensure a good start to the 2010 season. Come in and browse and if you are unsure what is needed on the boat, we can help with pre-paid vouchers to enable the skipper to come in and choose his or her own products.

Sunday 20th 9 - 5

Monday 21st 9 - 1

Tuesday 22nd 9 - 1

Wednesday 23rd 9 - 1

Thursday 24th 9 - 1

Friday 25th Christmas Day - Security and safety checks only

Saturday 26th Boxing Day - Security and safety checks only

Sunday 27th 9 - 1

Monday 28th 9 - 1

Tuesday 29th 9 - 1

Wednesday 30th 9 - 1

Thursday 31st 9 - 1

Friday 1st New Year's Day - Security and safety checks only

Saturday 2nd 9 - 1

Sunday 3rd 9 - 1

Monday 4th 9 - 1

Tuesday 5th 9 - 5 Normal office hours resume

Security rounds including warps and fender checks will be carried out daily as normal throughout the holiday period and owners will be contacted if there is any reason for concern.