SME News Q2 2026/ 18 SME News InLand Marina of the Year 2026 The West Midlands is known for its canals, with Birmingham famously having more miles of canal than Venice. Just down the road in Tamworth, Fazeley Mill Marina plays a major role in supporting the regional and national inland waterways transport and leisure infrastructure, providing the canal network with marina and mooring services. For more on this idyllic marina situated on the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, we caught up with its own Lynette Sweet. “Our marina helps maintain and enable canal-based transport, which – while now often leisure-focused – remains an important part of the UK’s historic and functional transport system.” Fazeley is a small town on the outskirts of Tamworth in Staffordshire, and an area known for its industrial history and beautiful scenery. The nature that surrounds it on all sides – Tamworth is home to a total of 14 wildlife sites and nature reserves – makes this location the ideal spot for a peaceful marina in the vein of Fazeley Mill. This 75-berth marina is also just a short distance away from local attractions such as Middleton Hall, Cliff Lakes, and Drayton Manor, as well as Ventura Park shopping centre and numerous restaurants. It is not just the surrounding area that makes Fazeley Mill a desirable in-land marina, however, as the site itself has a range of modern facilities designed to serve the needs of every boater who passes through or moors long term. For instance, it has recently introduced a laundry room, storage units, fob-activated electric gates, and 24/7 post access to make stays comfortable and secure. Site-wide CCTV and safe parking spaces add to the sense of security Fazeley Mill delivers, and its dogfriendly nature is another huge benefit. Irrespective of how long a person plans on staying at Fazeley Mill, they should certainly check out the community room that brings moorers together. A fantastic space complete with a pool table, dartboard, lounge seating, TV, board games, a kitchenette, and even a book swap, it feels like a second home for many. Modern, fully refurbished shower rooms and toilets also make stays more comfortable. “My grandparents have had their boat moored here for years and absolutely love it. They’ve never looked anywhere else to moor because they’re so happy here.” – Customer On a more practical level, Fazeley Mill Marina offers pump-out services, elsan disposal, water supply and a 16-amp electric supply to each berth, and both coal and diesel. Boats can also be moored over winter thanks to Fazeley Mill’s winter moorings, which take are provided on a minimum three-month basis and require only a deposit. Every jetty across the site is also intuitive and very easy to use, which makes a real difference for boaters. Fazeley Mill also strives to be as green as possible, not only for the sake of the many animals who call its small town home (including hedgehogs, foxes, owls, bats, and numerous species of bird), but also for the community and wider ecosystem. To this end, the whole site is as green as possible, with eco-friendly products and services delivered as standard. Examples include on-site compost bins, tree-planting initiatives, and its ‘green’ cleaning. A sister marina, Mancetter Marina, is then set in the heart of the Warwickshire ring on the Coventry Canal, and offers over 40 miles of lock-free waters nearby which can be explored all year round. Again, there is plenty here for boaters to enjoy, and this quiet and rural location enjoys the same focus on the environment as its award-winning contemporary. Whilst it may be slightly smaller (60 berth instead of 75), it more than makes up for it by offering Wi-Fi across the site, a service area, and even a 250m nature trail. Ultimately, boaters looking for an ideal mooring experience close to Birmingham would be hard pressed to find a better location than Fazeley Mill Marina or Mancetter Marina, both of which are treasured gems in the heart of the West Midlands countryside. We are delighted to recognise Fazeley Mill with the SME News In-Land Marina of the Year 2026 title in this programme, and urge anyone interested to learn more at the website below. Contact: Lynette Sweet Company: Fazeley Mill Marina Web Address: https://www.fazeleymillmarina.com/
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