MDL’s Hythe Marina Village celebrates 40th anniversary with spectacular weekend
We have marked the 40th anniversary of our iconic Hythe Marina Village with a weekend of celebrations, bringing together berth holders, residents and visitors to honour four decades of boating and waterfront living.
The festivities began on Saturday 20 September with a community hog roast, hosted by Hythe Marina Association. The ticketed event provided an opportunity for residents and friends of the marina to gather and celebrate this important milestone together.
The celebrations culminated on Sunday 21 September with the highlight of the weekend – a colourful Sail Past Spectacular. From 11am to 4pm, a parade of decorated boats set out in convoy from Hythe Marina, sailing a buoyed course in Southampton Water. Visitors enjoyed live commentary, prizes, live music and a vibrant atmosphere on the waterfront, complete with food and drink stalls.
“Hythe Marina Village is such a unique and special part of MDL’s portfolio, and it was wonderful to celebrate its 40th anniversary with the people who make it so special – our berth holders, residents and local community,” said Tim Mayer, MDL’s Sales and Marketing Director. “The success of the weekend reflects the spirit and vibrancy that has defined Hythe Marina since it first opened.”
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate our 40th anniversary. We’re so grateful to all who attended and made the celebrations unforgettable. This anniversary has been a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the marina’s incredible history while looking forward to its exciting future. Here’s to many more years of life on the water at Hythe Marina Village!
Opened in 1985, Hythe Marina Village was the UK’s first purpose-built marina village and remains one of our flagship destinations, combining a 206-berth marina with waterside homes, shops, restaurants and leisure facilities. Inspired by Port Grimaud on the Côte d’Azur, it was a pioneering concept in the UK, blending luxury waterfront living with first-class boating facilities.
The development was officially launched on 4 December 1984, when Sir Christopher Cockerell, inventor of the hovercraft, laid the first brick. Its gala opening the following year attracted national headlines when the first boats through its lock included actor Arthur Lowe’s Edwardian steam yacht Amazon and Richard Branson’s record-breaking speed boat Atlantic Challenger. The marina also featured prominently as one of the filming locations for the BBC drama Howards’ Way, showcasing its marina facilities and adding to the glamour of the series.
Forty years on, Hythe Marina Village continues to thrive as a unique destination, offering easy access to the Solent, first-class boating facilities and a vibrant community on the water.
For more information on Hythe Marina Village and its facilities, visit: www.hythemarinavillage.co.uk.
