Restaurant revamp brings taste of Spanish sunshine to Mercia Marina
Published On Saturday 16 Nov 2024 by Sticky Beak
See Recent News Articles
A six-figure investment is set to take a much-loved bar and restaurant at Mercia Marina to new heights at one of the Midlands’ most popular tourist and beauty spots.
Left to right: Ben Wilkinson (head chef) Charlotte Betts (assistant manager) Ian Silverwood (owner) Richard Petitjean (general manager) Amy Petitjean (marketing manager).
The renovation and rebrand costing over £200,000, will see The Boardwalk Bar & Restaurant transformed into Compamigos, from the Spanish ‘compartir con amigos’ or share with friends.
The new name reflects the venue’s transformation into a tapas bar and restaurant, with exciting new dishes especially created for sharing with friends coming to the menu.
Overlooking the peaceful waters of the marina, the restaurant refurbishment began this week and will continue one floor at a time, ensuring they remain open throughout the work for customers to still receive their favourite coffee, teas, cocktails and tapas. The team has scheduled launch parties for the end of November.
Richard Petitjean took over as general manager and, along with his wife Amy, who drives the marketing for the restaurant, has taken the much-loved restaurant from strength to strength
Richard said of the newly named Compamigos: “We’re gearing up for an exciting new chapter for the team and our customers here at Compamigos, as we unveil our transformation and rebrand in the coming days and weeks.
“Amy, Ian and I have spent the last year getting to know our customers and their needs, before we took the decision to transform the Boardwalk Bar & Restaurant into Compamigos, a special place to share with friends.
“Along with our new name and look, we will be launching an incredible menu with mouthwatering tapas dishes created by our very talented head chef Ben Wilkinson.
“Compamigos is a name which truly reflects our essence, inspired by the Spanish phrase meaning ‘to share with friends’. That’s how we want people to feel when they visit – that they can get lost in time, sharing great dishes with friends and family in a vibrant, warm and cosy ambience.
“Mercia Marina is the ideal spot for this, with beautiful views over the water. In fact, with a little sunshine and our delicious tapas, it would be easy to imagine yourself in continental Europe!”
Mercia Marina is home to around 630 boats, making it the largest inland marina in Europe.
Robert Neff, general manager at Mercia Marina, said: “It’s wonderful to see the team take the bar and restaurant here to its full potential, creating an experience that visitors will savour.
“We’re excited for everything November will bring, including sampling the tasty new menu and seeing the new rebrand for Compamigos unveiled.”
Mercia Marina boasts a wide range of shops, restaurants, bar, beauty salon and a fine art gallery, alongside its walking trails, holiday lodges and boats, which are all catered for by the all-important free on-site parking.
The transformation at Compamigos will be celebrated with two private, invitation only launch parties on the evenings of November 28 and 29.
Customers can enjoy their usual coffees and tapas throughout the refurbishment period.
For more information, visit www.theboardwalkbar.co.uk and www.merciamarina.co.uk.
| Opening date announced for The Spirit Run Distillery and Bar at Derby Market Hall Get ready for an exciting new addition to Derby Market Hall! The Spirit Run Distillery and Bar will launch on Saturday 19 July. The venue is the latest venture Read The Article | |
| Casa Hotel and Peak Edge Toast a Derbyshire First with Premium Alcohol-Free Offerings Two of Derbyshires leading four-star hotels - Casa Hotel in Chesterfield and Peak Edge Hotel in the Peak District - are raising the bar for mindful Read The Article | |
| The Cupola Kitchen and Rooms in Stoney Middleton launches 'The Cupawla' - a menu just for dogs A stylish new cafe and visitor centre in one of the Peak District's most scenic walking destinations has gone to the dogs - in the best Read The Article | |
| BEAR named finalist in the 2025 Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards Midlands, UK - BEAR has been named a finalist in the 2025 Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards, shortlisted in the Equity-Backed Entrepreneur Read The Article | |
| Celebrate The Summer Season At Award-Winning Fischer's Baslow Hall What better way to enjoy summer than an experience at Fischers Baslow Hall. Whether you're venturing for a long-earned getaway or simply calling for Read The Article | |
| The Ashford Arms Shortlisted For Best Country Pub In The Great British Pub Awards 2025 The Ashford Arms, a beautifully restored country pub with rooms in Ashford-in-the-Water, has been shortlisted in the Best Country Pub category at the Read The Article | |
| The Cavendish Hotel at Baslow Wins Gold at the Visit England Awards for Excellence 2025 The Cavendish Hotel at Baslow has been awarded Gold in the Taste of England category in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2025 Read The Article | |
| Top Nottingham chef celebrates one year with star collaborations The highly successful first year in business of a popular restaurant in Nottingham’s Bridlesmith Gate is being celebrated with a unique series of guest chef collaborations. Read The Article | |
| Casa Hotel Celebrates 15 Years of Hospitality Excellence in Chesterfield and Welcomes 370000th Guest Casa Hotel is celebrating 15 years of success and has welcomed its 370,000th visitor this month, having firmly established itself Read The Article | |
| Experience Golfing Bliss at Peak Edge Hotel with the Stay and Golf for Two Package For golf lovers seeking a perfect escape, Peak Edge Hotel is delighted to offer a Stay and Golf for Two package, providing a seamless blend of relaxation Read The Article | |