MERCIA MARINA NAMED among England’s top 100 for outstanding visitor experience.
The Trent & Mersey marina has been named one of the best places to stay in England after scooping a prestigious national tourism award for outstanding customer service and visitor experience.
The Willington marina has received a respected Visit England ROSE Award—in recognition of Service Excellence—placing it alongside some of the country's best hotels, B&Bs, holiday cottages, glamping sites and holiday parks.
Just 100 accommodation businesses across England receive a ROSE Award each year—beating competition from thousands of others—and Mercia Marina is one of only four Derbyshire recipients and nine across the East Midlands this year.
What makes the accolade particularly significant is that businesses cannot nominate themselves for a ROSE Award. Instead, nominations are made following an independent annual assessment by Visit England’s Quality Scheme assessors, whose findings are considered alongside online reviews from visitors in the UK and overseas.
The judging panel also looks for innovation and those extra touches and services which make a guest’s stay particularly special.
Tony Preston, Sales and Marketing Manager at Mercia Marina, received the award from Lady Victoria Borwick, Chair of Visit England, at a national ceremony held at The Post Barn in Newbury, and enthused:
“We are incredibly proud to receive this award. To see Mercia Marina recognised as one of only 100 businesses across England—and one of just four here in Derbyshire—is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved.
“What makes this award particularly special is what it recognises. It isn't simply about having great facilities or a beautiful location; it’s about how people feel when they come here and the service and welcome they receive.
“We have always been a customer-focused business and attention to detail is hugely important to us. Whether somebody is staying in one of our lodges, mooring a boat here or simply visiting for lunch and a walk, we want them to feel looked after.
“We have a team of 27 staff and someone is available seven days a week, without-of-hours call handling in place too, because good customer service is often about those small details and being there when somebody needs you.
“That’s why this award means such a lot to us—it recognises the people behind Mercia and the effort they make every day to give our guests and visitors the best possible experience."
The national recognition comes as Mercia Marina continues to invest in the visitor experience which helped earn it the accolade.Its latest development, The Nest, is a collection of individually owned luxury lodges centred around escape, wellness and wellbeing, further expanding Mercia's appeal as a destination for short breaks and staycations.
Some owners intend to use their lodges as a second home and private retreat,while others make their properties available as luxury holiday accommodation, allowing visitors to experience the marina and its surroundings for themselves.Set within 77 acres of Derbyshire countryside, Mercia Marina has evolved considerably since opening in 2008 and today welcomes more than 800,000 visits a year following more than £15m of investment.
As well as being home to more than 600 boats, it has become a destination in its own right, with 58 luxury holiday lodges, independent shops, cafés and restaurants, nature walks, outdoor activities and year-round events.
Its waterside setting attracts visitors looking for short breaks and staycations as well as local people who come to eat, shop, walk, meet friends or simply spend time by the water.
The ROSE Awards are celebrating their tenth anniversary in 2026 and recognise accommodation businesses across England which provide outstanding customer experiences and the warmest of welcomes, regardless of their size, style or star rating.Visit England Director Andrew Stokes explained:
“The Visit England ROSE Awards showcase the excellent accommodation available across England.
“They honour the people behind the businesses who go out of their way to provide outstanding customer service, innovative options for all tastes and budgets and a great welcome for visitors.”
