History

Premier Marinas Limited was formed in 1994, when the then owner of Port Solent Marina, ‘Arlington Properties Corporation’, and the then owner of Chichester Marina, ‘First Leisure Corporation’, combined their marina assets to create the new company. The latter has since grown through the further acquisition of Falmouth Marina in December 1996, Brighton Marina in March 2000, Southsea Marina in November 2002, Gosport Marina in December 2003 and subsequently Endeavour Quay, a boatyard adjacent to Gosport Marina, in August 2014.^[6]) The programme of acquisitions went on to add Swanwick Marina in December 2005, Sovereign Harbour Marina in Eastbourne, in July 2007 and Noss on Dart Marina in April 2016. In July 2021 the company further expanded with the acquisition of another marina on the Hamble River, Universal Marina, taking the number of owned marinas to ten. ^[7]

In 2015 Premier Marinas Limited was acquired by the Wellcome Trust.^[8]

Awards

Premier’s marinas are recognised under The Yacht Harbour Association’s Gold Anchor scheme.^[9][10] Sovereign Harbour in Eastbourne, Brighton Marina, Chichester Marina, Southsea Marina, Port Solent Marina, Gosport Marina and Falmouth marina all hold the ‘Five Gold Anchors’ award.^{[citation needed]}

Facilities

Each marina has boatyard services, marine diesel and petrol, security, electricity and water, toilet, shower and laundrette facilities, car parking and on-site dining options. Collectively, Premier has over 5,000 marina pontoon berths and onshore boat storage for more than 2,000 vessels. Across ten marinas, Premier has over 300,000 square feet of property for commercial rent; the greater part of this space is occupied by services complementary to the marinas, including food and beverage, marine chandlery, boat maintenance and repair, boat sales and brokerage and sail making.