WATCHET'S brand new Visitor Centre and repaired Boat Museum opens its doors to the public.
From tomorrow (Thursday, July 21) it will open seven days a week, from 10am to 5pm and act as a first-stop-shop for visitors to Watchet. 


The project is the first major capital build by community-led social enterprise Onion Collective CIC and represents one of a series of regeneration projects planned for the town. 
The Visitor Centre is a new-build extension onto the Boat Museum on Harbour Road and has been funded by EDF’s Community Impact Mitigation Fund, Trusthouse Charitable Foundation, with a contribution to the build costs from Watchet Town Council for their new office space.


The project has taken just two years, from initial concept ideas to build completion and follows extensive community consultation in 2014, when local people were asked: ‘What does Watchet need for a stronger future?’

The results clearly showed that a stronger tourism offer was needed, that better use should be made of the facilities that Watchet already has and that Watchet’s maritime and cultural heritage should be better and more loudly celebrated. 


The building includes Town Council offices, and the main Visitor Centre area is flexible space, so it can be used as Town Council chambers when needed, as well as a space for community events, meetings and talks.
Taxi company Cliff’s Cabs has its office based in the building and the Centre also includes retail space selling gifts and Watchet branded items.

Onion Collective Director Rachel Kelly said: “This project is very close to our hearts, it represents the beginning of a clear strategy to build on the enormous potential that Watchet has as a visitor destination. 
"Watchet is a fabulous place to visit and there is plenty to do here. The Visitor Centre will help to attract people from further afield to come and explore, relax and spend their hard earned cash here! 
"We aim to show visitors that they can spend the whole day exploring Watchet, and use it as a base to explore other local attractions in the area. 
"It has been an exciting and often challenging two years, and we are absolutely thrilled to be able to open the doors, talk to visitors and celebrate all the wonderful things Watchet has to offer.”

Watchet Town Mayor Cllr Peter Murphy added:"Watchet Town Council is looking forward to working from its new office space in the Boat Museum extension. 
"The enhanced facilities will enable us to offer better access to the public who need to contact us and we are pleased to be able to contribute to an exiting new project which should help regenerate the town.”

The building, designed by architects Louise Crossman and Invisible Studio had a remit to create a contemporary building that was sensitively attached to the old Boat Museum. 
It was originally designed by Brunel and started life as a goods shed, as the terminus for the Bristol and Exeter Railway. 


The Boat Museum has kept its original quirky and idiosyncratic feel, but with some substantial repairs to the main building and the addition of large glazed doors and windows to attract light into the building. 
The internal structures to exhibit the boats have been built entirely by local volunteers as part of a project called Watchet Community Makers, where skilled volunteers share their skills with others in mutual support. 
This project is another Onion Collective initiative and has been led by builder Iain Lambert.


The Visitor Centre has a new part-time manager who will be working closely with Onion Collective team, as well as a crucial and valuable team of volunteers. 


If you are interested in working as a volunteer either in the Visitor Centre or Boat Museum please do get in touch, volunteers will always be an essential element to the success of this new project. For more information on volunteering please contact Onion Collective at info@onioncollective.co.uk