While Parliament was sitting and with restrictions now eased, it was great to visit a number of local businesses including those in boating and maritime sector which is a vital part of our regional economy.
One of these businesses was the Elephant Boatyard which is situated on the site where HMS Elephant, Nelson's flagship in the Battle of Copenhagen, was built in 1786.
The yard is owned by the Richardson family and while they may not be able building battleships anymore, the team build high-quality yachts and sailing vessels while also restoring countless other vessels. I was pleased to hear that Government grants really helped during the pandemic that the business is firmly focused on the future with the re-opening of the floating bridge restaurant in the Autumn. As soon as this open, I will definitely be popping back to sample the food!
