Beauty at Mercia

The latest tenant for the new Broadwalk development at Mercia Marina is a beauty therapist  Anna Bovey who will open her new salon at the premises.

Anna, of Hilton, South Derbyshire, is hoping Elegant Touch Beauty will be the first business to open at the marina's new £1.7m waterside retail, leisure and office development.

Six retail units

She is the latest business owner to sign up for a tenancy agreement at The Boardwalk, which will consist of six retail units, a central pub-restaurant and four first-floor offices.

As well as the pub-restaurant, which is being operated by Hillary & Scott, other tenants include flagship farm shop The Butcher, The Baker, The Ice Cream Maker; womens wear retailer Blue Water, which also has stores in Belper and Sadler Gate in Derby; and Molly & Co accessories store, a sister company of Blue Water.

Negotiations are underway for the remaining units, though expressions of interest are still welcome.

Fitting out

Meanwhile, finishing touches are being made to the development as Anna Bovey and the other tenants begin to fit-out their units before a public Grand Opening event planned for the weekend of the 11th and 12th of October.

Anna, who has previously run her business from a rented room at another salon, explained:

"When one of my clients told me about the new development at Mercia Marina, I knew it would be the perfect location for my first salon. I can't think of any other beauty salon that can boast such a fantastic and tranquil waterside view."

Anna, who offers a wide variety of treatments including massage, waxing, ‘Elemis' facials and ‘Jessica' manicures and pedicures, said Elegant Touch Beauty would have a 'relaxing and very high quality feel' to complement Mercia Marina and the other businesses on the 74 acres site.

Elegant Touch Beauty at Mercia Marina is set to open to the public sometime between the beginning and middle of September.

Robert Neff, General Manager of Mercia Marina, Europe's largest inland marina, remarked:

"Elegant Touch Beauty will be a fantastic addition to the make-up of businesses that have currently signed up for our new units. We have no doubt that Anna's salon will be a huge success"

Floating businesses

In addition to the retail and office units at The Boardwalk, Mercia Marina has also received the go-ahead for six floating businesses operating from moored canal boats. The waterfront development will also include an outdoor events space, a sensory garden, new nature trails and free parking areas.

The Grand Opening celebration will include street performers, live music, activities for children, boat trips and fireworks. Details will be announced closer to the date.