Marie Celeste of the Dudley Canal

Published: Monday, 15 March 2010

FOLLOWING the report in narrowboatworld of businesses leaving the Waterfront complex on the  Dudley Canal, two more bars have now closed.

Celebrated as the flagship development at Brierley Hill on Dudley No 1 Canal, with at one time literally thousands flocking to its bars and business, these have been deserting in droves, leaving it now not a flag ship but a ghost ship.

Double attempted murder

Two more bars—the Envoy and the Beach House have now left the massive development, which was not helped by a shooting at the Envoy, with one owner stating that the double attempted murder had caused irreparable damage, with staff refusing to work there.

Though the company Westfield, had offered rent reductions, these had not been taken up, but the business closed down.  It is told that many of the units are now empty, with the only result of  advertising being a firm of solicitors moving in.

Over the past months companies deserting the complex include Virgin Media, Business Link—part of Lloyd's, Barclay's, Egg, BHRP and Siemesson's.

50 t0 80 in 370 capacity bar

One club owner, that has since closed, told that he was getting just 50 to 80 people to his 370 capacity bar on Friday nights, and no more than 100 at weekends.

For the company, a spokesman told:

"We continue to work hard to secure operators for the Waterfront to ensure a vibrant mix of retail, leisure and dining to complement the wider offer within Brierley Hill."

Which really means very little.