It’s all taking shape in Whitehaven
It’s all taking shape in Whitehaven
Exciting prospects in sight for Whitehaven this year!
by Danni Murphy
There’s exciting times ahead for Whitehaven with the recent announcement on the plans for The Edge; there’s music in the air with the return of the Harbour Sessions; and it seems there are loads more plans in place in a bid to bring the town back to life.
It was recently announced that The Edge, or the Sandcrawler, as many locals have named it, will be opening its doors in the autumn of this year. The building is set to be a community-driven centre with a cafe, 16 hotel rooms, conference rooms, and a unique water sports centre. Implementing a stage will also mean it will act as a small music venue.
“We want to utilise the space and bring more events and more footfall to not only the harbourside but to the town.”
With music in mind, the return of the Harbour Sessions is set to be a huge hit this year. Launched in summer 2023, the Harbour Sessions allows local artists to perform and also acts as a free music gig for those enjoying a harborside walk.
Each month, there will be two artists taking to the ‘stage’ beneath the Hub to perform. Organised by the Harbour Commissioners alongside Tom Salmon, the aim is to provide free entertainment for the public and also give local artists a platform to showcase their talent.
The Hub is also getting its own makeover. The tired and worn-down canopy is receiving some much-needed TLC thanks to funding from the Rural England Prosperity Fund.
They will be installing brand-new removable weather covers as well as new lighting and a paint job! Once completed, The Hub will then be available for hire for meetings, workshops, and other events.
As well as the Harbour Sessions, these weekends will also feature a brand new instalment to Whitehaven, a harbourside car-boot sale! Pop down to the harborside and enjoy a meander along the piers while also picking up some bargains.
And it’s not just the harbour that’s getting all the love. The Rum Story recently received funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and is working closely with Anti-Racist Cumbria to completely reimagine the venue. Efforts will go towards creating a more sensitive, historical, and educational experience. There will be more exciting updates to come, so keep your eyes peeled for more information later in the year!
There’s lots to look forward to this year in Whitehaven. Deanne Shallcross, CEO of the Harbour Commission, said,
“It’s really exciting; we wanted to bring something different to Whitehaven and give the town some much-needed attention, especially the Harbourside.”
“People love to walk around the harbour because it really is lovely, but we want to utilise the space and bring more events and more footfall to not only the harbourside but to the town. We are aware that the orange water is something that is of huge concern to locals, and we want to assure people that we are working really hard to resolve the issue; it just might take a bit more time, but we are working on it.”
For more information on the upcoming car-boot sales, contact the Harbour Commissioners; www.facebook.com/WhitehavenHarbourCommissioners
To learn more about what’s happening follow Cumbria Guide on our social media
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What about doing something about the brown spillage in the top harbour. That’s really nice for bringing tourists in?
Could get more visitors if you put a public convenience on sight ??