page_title: Portishead, Somerset
section_title: Modern Marina Development
hierarchical_section_title: Portishead, Somerset / History / Modern Marina Development
caption_attribution_description: English: Portishead Marina, north dockside looking south-west.
context_page_description: Portishead is a coastal town on the Severn Estuary, close to Bristol - but within the unitary district of North Somerset, which falls within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It has a population of around 25,000, with a growth rate considerably in excess of surrounding towns.
  Portishead has a long history as a fishing port. As a Royal Manor it expanded rapidly during the early 19th century around the docks, with supporting transport infrastructure. A power station and chemical works were added in the 20th century, but the dock and industrial facilities have since closed and been redeveloped into a marina and residential areas. Portishead was also the telephone control centre used by British Telecom for non-direct dialled calls to maritime vessels, a service known as Portishead Radio.
  The town's population is expanding, and Portishead is now primarily a dormitory town for Bristol and its environs, although a range of service industries has grown up. The headquarters of both Avon and Somerset Constabulary and Avon Fire and Rescue Service are in Portishead.
context_section_description: Much of the growth of Portishead's population can be attributed to the development of the former docks. The former deep-water dock, used to supply coal and goods to the power stations, has been fully redeveloped into a modern marina with 250 pontoon berths.
  The areas on each side of the marina, formerly occupied by the two power stations and chemical plant, have been redeveloped to provide a wide range of housing, from town houses to social housing to exclusive flats. Development has also completed on the Portbury Ashlands to the east of the harbour (so-called because they were the dumping ground for power station waste) extending the area of the town further towards Portbury.
  Next to the Ashlands development lies Portbury Ashlands Nature Reserve.
  This waterfront development is known as Port Marine. The area has varied styles of houses and apartments, including an area built in the style of a fishing village, which is modelled on the Cornish seaside town of Polperro with narrow streets and multi-coloured properties.
  New waterside bars and restaurants, including Hall & Woodhouse, Aqua, Bottelinos, Costa Coffee have opened around the marina as well as a nearby Wetherspoons.
  At the top of the marina sits a new RNLI lifeboat station, opened in 2015 and run by around 40 local volunteer crew.  An RNLI shop, open daily, is attached to the lifeboat station.
caption: Portishead Marina
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