THE new Dudley Canal Trust's new multi-million pound visitor centre, ‘The Portal', is now complete and is to open to visitors.
The new centre that features an interactive exhibition gallery, a new restaurant, a large gift shop and space for school workshops, community events and wedding receptions, will open to the public on Monday, 19th October.
Significant improvement
Supported by funding from the European Regional Development Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund, Biffa Award and Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership, the new centre marks a significant improvement to facilities at the Dudley heritage attraction, with Nick Morris, Chief Executive at Dudley Canal Trust Trips Ltd, enthusing:
"This is a very exciting time for us. We're particularly excited about our new licenced restaurant, Gongoozlers—it's the perfect space for a canal side bite to eat."
The new centre is open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm. The restaurant will be open 10am to 10pm. For more information, or to book for special events or Gongoozlers call 0121 557 6265.
Events
At Halloween the tunnels will play host to special Halloween boat trips, with spooky entertainment early in the evenings and scarier trips only for the brave later on at night. At Christmas, the Trust will be running its Christmas boat trips, now in their 30th year, giving visitors the chance to meet Santa in his underground grotto, and to enjoy a pantomime in one of the caverns.