Coquet House Opening on Amble Quayside

After visiting the tenants in the Warkworth Harbour Commissioners’ new building on the ground floor, the Duchess cut the ribbon at the main entrance, and then unveiled a commemorative wall plaque. She joined Commissioners, staff and guests for refreshments (provided by the Old Customs House Café) in the Board Room. The BBC also attended and interviewed some tenants from the new building and the Fish Shack, which coverage featured on BBC Look North on Friday 28th October.

Chair of the Commissioners Maurice Burnett said “it was wonderful to welcome Her Grace to open Coquet House. Northumberland Estate have long connections with Warkworth Harbour and Coquet Island. Completion of this building is a great achievement for the whole team after years of planning. Finally, we have a modern, user-friendly building, fit for the demands of a 21st Century harbour. I would like to thank staff for all their time, hard work and perseverance and welcome Harbour users, whether regulars or visitors, to come and see this wonderful building. “

Coquet House will deliver on a number of objectives for WHC:

it will house the Harbour Master and administrative staff;
it has a large, multipurpose community room which can serve as a board room for WHC as well as being available for meetings and functions for locals. The building is licensed to host weddings and civil partnerships;
it has five lettable units to generate income for WHC costs such as harbour maintenance as well as adding interest and variety to the Amble Harbour offering;
finally, it moves WHC closer to its greener, net zero objectives by delivering a much more energy efficient building with solar panels and air source heat pumps for heating and hot water.

The tenants in the retail units downstairs are:

Bayside Hairdressing
Matt Robson Artwork
The Window Dresser
Salt & Co silversmith

On the first floor the RSPB has a new office for its Coquet Island team.

The building was constructed by local Amble based DP Builders who employed many local sub-contractors to assist in the fittings and finish, making it a truly local project.

One of the follow-ons from the relocation of WHC staff has been the letting of the previous harbour office. That building has now returned to the name of its original purpose – The Old Customs House. In that space Beth Keen and Matt MacDonagh have created a new café for visitors to the Little Shore called the Old Customs House Tearooms. Waggs dog grooming and the Beauty Room also remain with the Old Customs House Building.