Mooring at Linton Lock

[Bowman Bradley]

When 'out and about' we have heard various discussions about problems mooring at Linton Lock.

When we passed through yesterday, we enquired and were advised by the guy running the marina as follows:

The floating pontoon above the the lock (signed 'lock operation only' and '24hr moorings') and the floating pontoon below the lock (signed 'lock operation only') belong to British Waterways and can be freely used in accordance with BW rules. (The guy running the marina advised that he 'policed' these pontoons 'in partnership' with BW)

All other moorings in the area, including the fixed bollards below the lock are the property of the marina and will incur a charge of £5 for overnight mooring.

I did not ask, but no mention was made of charges for shorter term use such as lunch or using the pub.

We also visited the lock by car a week earlier and had coffee in the pub. It was welcoming, clean and tidy and the coffee was excellent. It was serving food and drinks (acoholic and non alcoholic). I would say it was well worth patronising.

The pub and the marina are seperate businesses, but owned by different members of the same family.

I have heard talk of the marina using the 24 hr moorings for its brokerage boats. I saw no evidence of this at either visit.

[Freedom]

We were at Linton this September and found that if you were moored on the visitors pontoon you were not allowed to use the toilets (we asked Phil the owner). We asked "if we were on the visitors moorings and we used his pub could we use the toilet" and he also said "no"!
Pity realy, he missed out on loads of passing trade custom over that week end.
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John & Kate

[Frank]

Yes the miserable buggers don't deserve any support from boaters.

If they continue these unfriendly policies, boaters will simply avoid the place and the pub will suffer. My understanding is the Benson's don't actually run the pub so there's no incentive for them to welcome boats. They seem to be as bad, if not worse than the previous numpty brain who was just rude to everyone.

The shame of it is that the place could be made into a boaters mecca.

How about a sign saying "Boaters Welcome" instead of all those unfriendly signs telling you what you can't do.

Of course I don't for one minute think they care one jot - all a bit "should have gone to specsavers!"
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Frank (Admin)
NB Midnight

[old_geezer]

The cafe/pub now has customer toilets, and John & Judy who run it are very welcoming. They're shut on Tuesdays.

[Frank]