Aston Marina

What Aston Marina does

Aston Marina Ltd operates a multi-venue hospitality destination on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Stone, Staffordshire, combining a waterside restaurant (No.26), a wedding and events venue (The Boat House, capacity up to 180), private event spaces (The Hideaway, The Potting Shed, and Dome Dining), the Dragonfly narrowboat for on-site accommodation, and a 200-berth inland marina with associated boat services. The company serves four principal customer groups: couples booking weddings and private celebrations, corporate clients hosting meetings and events, boat owners taking annual or transient moorings, and regional diners and families visiting the restaurant and ticketed experiences.

The business model is a mix of high-frequency, lower-ticket restaurant and café revenue; event hire with deposits and minimum spends for weddings and corporate bookings; recurring marina mooring subscriptions and ancillary boat services; and accommodation income from the Dragonfly. Pricing is largely direct-to-consumer through the venue's own booking systems (ResDiary for restaurant covers) and direct event enquiries, with corporate bookings handled in-house. Anchor corporate clients named publicly include UCB, Peronda, the Aston Martin Owners Club, the Canal & River Trust, and Nipro, used primarily for events and hospitality.

Sustainability and operational resilience have become a stated strategic pillar: a 300kVA solar array with battery storage was commissioned in September 2025, air-source heat pumps are already deployed, EV charging infrastructure is planned for 2026, and the company is pursuing B Corp certification. Staffing of 146 employees is supported by an apprenticeship pipeline with Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group. The company is a private limited company, founded in March 2010 and operated as a family business with no disclosed external venture or private equity backing.

Name

Aston Marina

Legal name

Aston Marina Ltd

Website

https://astonmarina.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Aston Marina is a family-run, multi-venue hospitality operator in Stone, Staffordshire, combining an award-winning waterside restaurant, wedding and events venues, and a 200-berth inland marina serving couples, corporate clients, boaters, and regional diners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality Services

NAICS

Marinas (713930), Inland Water Passenger Transportation (483212)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Marina & Waterfront Full-Service Hotels (THAGAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Canal & Coastal Barge Cruises (Boutique) (THAEADAF)

Keywords

• Hospitality venue operations
• Waterside restaurant dining
• Wedding and event venue
• Inland marina moorings
• Private dining experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Stone

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Restaurant Dining (No.26 Bar & Dining): Award-winning waterside restaurant serving seasonal British cuisine with local sourcing. Generates revenue through table reservations, dome dining experiences, private dining, and bar sales. Operating 7 days a week for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner service.
2. Wedding Venue Hire (The Boat House): Exclusive use venue hire for weddings with capacity up to 180 guests. Revenue generated through venue hire packages, catering, beverages, and associated wedding services.
3. Events & Celebrations: Corporate conferences, private dining, celebrations, christenings, baby showers, and wakes hosted at The Hideaway (up to 50 guests) and The Boat House (50-180 guests). Revenue from venue hire, catering packages, and event services.
4. Marina Moorings & Services: 200 berths for long-term and temporary moorings with metered electricity, water, and security. Additional revenue from fuel sales, chandlery supplies, laundry, pump-out, boat maintenance services, and brokerage referrals.
5. Ticketed Events & Experiences: Comedy nights, musical tribute acts, murder mystery dinners, comedy dining experiences, family events, and seasonal celebrations. Revenue from ticket sales at £5-65 per person depending on event type.
6. Dome Dining Hire: Private heated dining domes on the marina deck available for hire. Dome hire charge of £35 for 2 hours (up to 8 people), plus food and beverage from restaurant menus. Dome Dining Experience packages at £65 per person including 3-course meal and prosecco.
7. Accommodation (Dragonfly Boat): Luxury wide beam canal boat accommodation for up to 4 guests with full cooked breakfast included. Unique waterside accommodation offering.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Aston Marina is a family-run multi-venue hospitality destination on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Staffordshire, offering waterside restaurant dining at No.26, dome and private dining experiences, exclusive-use wedding and event venues (The Boat House and The Hideaway), a 200-berth inland marina with moorings and boat services, and luxury accommodation aboard the Dragonfly boat. It also hosts a calendar of ticketed events including comedy nights, musical tributes, murder mystery dinners, and family activities.

Product overview

Aston Marina operates as a multi-faceted hospitality venue combining a restaurant, wedding and events venue, and inland marina on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Staffordshire. The core offering includes No.26 Restaurant (award-winning waterside dining), supported by distinctive dining spaces (The Potting Shed, The Courtyard, The Quayside, The Bar, and Dome Dining domes). Events are served through two venues: The Hideaway for intimate gatherings up to 50 guests and The Boat House for larger celebrations up to 180 guests. The marina provides 200 berths for moorings with full facilities, plus boat services through Stone Bespoke Narrowboats and CanalScapes skippered experiences. Accommodation is available aboard the Dragonfly wide-beam boat. The venue also hosts live music, comedy, comedy dining experiences, and family seasonal events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dragonfly: Luxurious wide beam canal boat accommodation offering deluxe waterside accommodation for up to 4 guests, also serves as a bridal suite for wedding parties.
• Club No.26

Products and services

• No.26 Restaurant Award-winning waterside restaurant named for the neighbouring canal lock, offering seasonal modern British dining with locally-sourced ingredients. Serves brunch, lunch, and celebratory meals with menus that change quarterly.
• Dome Dining Private heated dining domes on the marina deck accommodating up to 8 guests for 2-hour sessions, offering alfresco waterside dining year-round with options ranging from basic dome hire to full Champagne experiences.
• The Boat House Sleek, minimalistic events venue for celebrations of 50-180 guests (150 seated) with exclusive hire, private licensed bar, car park, and landscaped grounds overlooking the Trent & Mersey canal. Suitable for weddings, corporate events, christenings, and celebrations.
• The Hideaway Luxury private dining and events space accommodating up to 50 guests, offering intimate celebrations, business meetings, and bespoke menus with dedicated planning support from the events team.
• The Potting Shed Rustic casual private dining space for gatherings up to 20 guests, offering informal celebrations from the No.26 seasonal menu in an enchanting marina setting.
• Marina Moorings Inland marina on the Trent & Mersey Canal with 200 berths for long-term and short-term moorings, featuring metered 16amp electricity, water, fob-access security gates, luxury shower facilities, Elsan disposal, pump-out, diesel, chandlery, and laundry services.
• Dragonfly Accommodation Luxurious wide-beam canal boat accommodation sleeping up to 4 guests, custom-designed for waterside stays with breakfast served in a private dome the next morning; also available as a bridal suite for wedding parties.
• Wedding Venue Hire Waterside wedding venue at The Boat House with licensed civil ceremony capabilities both inside and outside. Exclusive venue hire includes private grounds, car park, and dedicated wedding coordination.
• Conference and Corporate Events Professional conference facilities with flexible seating, AV equipment, secure high-speed Wi-Fi, natural daylight, and catering for corporate meetings, team away days, and training sessions at The Hideaway and The Boat House.
• Ticketed Events and Experiences Calendar of ticketed entertainment including comedy nights, musical tribute acts, murder mystery dinners, comedy dining experiences, family events, and seasonal celebrations at £5-£72 per person.
• Boat Building and Maintenance Services Boat building, blacking, and engineering services operated from the marina's twin bay workshop via partner Stone Bespoke Narrowboats, offering launch and recovery for crafts up to 72ft and 26 tons.
• Boat Brokerage Services Comprehensive brokerage service for boat sales through partner Boat Finder Brokerage, including lift facilities for surveys and on-site workshop for remedial work.
• CanalScapes Skippered Narrowboat Experiences Exclusive skippered narrowboat experiences departing from Aston Marina, offering day trips (4 or 6 hours) and short breaks (2-10 days) along the Trent & Mersey Canal with a focus on wellbeing and quiet retreat.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400% energy efficiency increase through air source heat pump installation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stone Bespoke NarrowboatscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoat building, maintenance, and launch/recovery services operating from Aston Marina's twin bay workshop. Specializes in unique narrowboat manufacturing with UK-sourced shells. Offers blacking service using purpose-built boat lift trailer capable of handling crafts up to 72ft and 26 tons. Operates adjacent gated hard standing area for DIY and storage.
• Boat Finder BrokerageminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational boat brokerage with high quality service and excellent track record. Provides comprehensive brokerage service for boat sales with Aston Marina. Moorings with Boat Finder craft available to view at Aston Marina with staff escort.
• CanalScapesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive skippered narrowboat experiences departing directly from Aston Marina. Day trips (4 or 6 hours) and short breaks (2-10 days) along Trent & Mersey Canal. Focus on wellbeing, connection, and quiet retreat experiences.
• MencapcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity partnership providing employment opportunities to adults with learning disabilities and additional needs. Part of Aston Marina's commitment to inclusive employment practices.
• Alzheimer's AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for specialized staff training in serving customers with dementia. Ensures team is knowledgeable and sensitive to unique needs of customers living with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
• Chartley CoffeeminorOthersFamily owned and run coffee roaster since 1979, now in second generation. Supplies Aston Marina's unique blend of Honduran and Indonesian coffee, 100% Fairtrade and 100% Arabic beans. Roasted to order only 7 miles away. Certified by Fairtrade Foundation, Soil Association (Organic), and Rainforest Alliance. 5 star EHO rating.
• Buttercross ButchersminorOthersFree range pork farmers turned butchers with innate understanding of welfare and quality connection. Products sourced from local farmers within 50 miles. Advocates 'nose to tail' eating philosophy. Working on carbon emission measurement using 'Normative' software for Scope 1 & 2 emissions.
• KingfisherminorOthersSustainable fish supplier with links to Marine Conservation Society (MCS), International Aquaculture Certification, GAA-BAP, and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Zero to landfill - general waste to material recycling facility, food waste and fish bi-products turned into fertiliser.
• Bros Distillery / SIXTOWNSminorOthersSustainable gin and vodka supplier operating 70% more efficiently through Genio distillery equipment. Part of holistic approach to sustainability including water and heat capture technology. Located 6.5 miles away.
• Katharine House HospiceminorOthersLocal hospice charity supported by Aston Marina as one of three charitable causes for the year. Target to raise over £5,000 through events, raffle prizes, auctions and donations. Co-hosting 'Bubbles & Blooms' lunch fundraising event.
• CoppaFeel!minorOthersBreast Cancer Awareness charity supported by Aston Marina as one of three charitable causes for the year.
• Stroke AssociationminorOthersStroke charity supported by Aston Marina as one of three charitable causes for the year.
• Staffordshire CeremoniesminorOthersCivil ceremony registrar service for wedding ceremonies. Couples contact Staffordshire Ceremonies on 0300 111 8001 to arrange registrars.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hoar Cross Hall: Luxury spa hotel and resort in Staffordshire with award-winning restaurant, wedding venue, and event facilities. Competes in the same regional market for weddings, corporate events, and fine dining experiences, but operates as a broader hospitality incumbent rather than a marina-anchored venue.
• Moddershall Oaks: Luxury country house venue in Staffordshire with restaurant, spa, wedding, and corporate event facilities. Directly comparable for Staffordshire wedding and corporate event competition, with broader hospitality positioning but no marina component.
• The Ashes Barns: Exclusive-use wedding barn venue in Staffordshire offering weddings, civil ceremonies, and events. Competes directly with The Boat House for wedding bookings in the Staffordshire market, but lacks the marina, restaurant, and waterside differentiation.
• Pendrell Hall: Exclusive-use country house wedding venue in Staffordshire accommodating up to 160 guests. Regional competitor for mid-to-large wedding packages with similar exclusive-hire positioning but lacking Aston Marina's waterside setting and full hospitality portfolio.
• Swinfen Hall Hotel: Historic country house hotel in Staffordshire offering wedding venue, restaurant, and event facilities. Regional competitor for weddings, corporate events, and dining in the same West Midlands market, operating a broader hospitality portfolio rather than a marina-anchored concept.

Direct peers

• Overwater Marina: Inland marina on the Shropshire Union Canal in Shropshire with restaurant, chandlery, and boat services. Comparable inland marina + hospitality venue operating in the UK canal network with similar target customer base of boat owners and event diners.
• Mercia Marina: One of the UK's largest inland marinas in Willington, Derbyshire with retail village, restaurants, and extensive boat services. Comparable scale of marina + lifestyle destination concept serving boaters, diners, and day visitors.
• Barton Marina: Inland marina on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Barton-under-Needwood with on-site restaurant (The Redwood Restaurant), shops, and boat services. Directly comparable geography (same canal system as Aston Marina), business model, and waterfront hospitality offering.
• Great Haywood Marina: Marina on the Trent & Mersey Canal only a few miles from Aston Marina, providing moorings, boat services, and chandlery. Closest geographic peer operating on the same canal stretch with comparable mooring and service infrastructure.
• Crick Marina: Large inland marina on the Grand Union Canal in Northamptonshire operating 270+ berths with on-site restaurant, chandlery, and boat services. Most comparable UK peer — multi-faceted marina + hospitality venue serving boaters and event customers, similar scale and venue diversification.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/astonmarina_
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aston-marina-limited

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aston Marina