Rowing boats return to Portishead's Lake Grounds

Rowing boats have made a welcome return to Portishead's Lake Grounds after being off the water for several years.

Steve Coles, who runs the Lakeside Cafe with wife Emma, has agreed a concession with North Somerset Council to operate sailing boats on the picturesque lake.

Small boats have been on the Lake Grounds for around 40 years, with many generations of local families enjoying the attraction.

But they were taken off the water several years ago when the council put the concession on hold and leased the boathouse to a sailing club so it could store its boats and use the lake for training purposes.

The boats were back on the lake for the first time on Saturday, with scores of people using them.

Mr Coles, 45, who took over running the cafe four years ago, has been negotiating with North Somerset Council to bring back the boats since early this year.

Mr Coles, who has refurbished the cafe since he took it over, has now taken the boat concession alongside his work running the cafe.

He has spent several thousand pounds buying a fleet of 10 new rowing boats and hopes to increase the number available in the future.

Mr Coles said: "To see the boats back on the water is fantastic and we had a very busy first weekend.

"People have been asking for many years for the boats to return and were delighted to see them back sailing on the lake.

"Many local people remember the boats being on the water when they were little and are now coming with their own children."

A number of other improvements are also in the pipeline for the Lake Grounds.

The town's tourism group has launched a campaign to raise money to put a new bandstand at the beauty spot.

It is hoped, that if enough money is raised, the bandstand could be used for outdoor theatre and concerts.

The Portishead Skatepark Project (PSP) is also about to submit plans to the council to install a skatepark on land behind the children's play area.

The open air pool is also doing brisk business after opening this season under the management of a trust following a £200,000 lightning quick TV makeover.