“Poorly invested marinas will be at greatest risk of business failure, and we may anticipate further potential distress involving both secured lenders and HMRC seeking to protect their positions,” writes Jon Patrick, director – head of leisure & development at Christie & Co.
The company’s released its annual business outlook report which covers the UK’s leisure market, including holiday parks, marinas, visitor attractions, gyms and cinemas. It reflects on key market activity, trends and challenges of 2025 and forecasts what 2026 might bring – including what marinas need to do if looking to attract investment.
Marina market outlook 2026
While the UK’s marina market is characterised by limited supply due to planning constraints, environmental protections and the very considerable cost of development, which underpin valuations and restrict new development opportunities, the report says it remains a resilient segment supported by strong demand for berthing and associated services.
It notes that the pandemic-driven boating boom has eased, but says occupancy rates at established marinas remain high.
Patrick predicts that, for investors, greater emphasis will be placed on the quality of berthing income in 2026. He also notes: “New boat brokerage sales are expected to remain more challenging, with operators pivoting towards greater churn of second hand/lower value stock.”
Marina acquisitions buoyed by portfolio sales
Transaction activity in 2025 was buoyed by the sale of the Aquavista and Boatfolk portfolios, along with a number of independently owned high-profile sites, and investor appetite persists for prime assets underpinned by stable cash flows and scarcity value.
“We expect to see further cross-sector acquisition activity from the holiday and residential park markets as well as high net worth individuals making selective acquisitions.
“Marinas with more than 200 berths and with opportunities to diversify the business will be in greatest demand.
“Retirement sales will continue to increase as family succession options and potential capital gains tax liabilities influence decisions to come to market.
“Investors are increasingly focussing on assets which combine immersive experiences with strong ESG credentials, and operators who innovate in these areas will stand out,” says Patrick (pictured above). “With cautious lending and selective expansion shaping the market, 2026 offers opportunities for those prepared to adapt and invest strategically.”
Across the leisure market Christie & Co expects to see continued investor interest in assets which offer immersive, experiential and wellness-oriented offerings. ESG will become a core investment criterion and competitive differentiator. Staffing pressures will drive workforce innovation through flexible contracts, upskilling and automation. Energy and insurance costs will remain volatile and interest rates, though expected to fall, will keep financing comparatively expensive and bank lending will continue to favour established operators. The full report can be read online.
Marina acquisitions in 2025 include:
- Blackstone acquired Safe Harbor Marinas for $5.65 billion in February. Safe Harbor owns and operates 138 marinas across the US and Puerto Rico and is the industry leader in boat storage and servicing.
- Farndon Marina (River Trent, Nottinghamshire, UK) was sold to Tingdene Group. The acquisition added over 300 berths to Northamptonshire-based Tingdene Group’s growing national marine portfolio.
- Aquavista Marinas acquired Fettlers Wharf Marina near Ormskirk, together with Furness Vale and Marple Marinas near Stockport adding c. 233 berths to its portfolio in August.
- Holy Loch Marina, a 250-berth marina in Sandbank, on the Firth of Clyde, was also sold to Tingdene Group in August. This took Tingdene’s marine portfolio to 12 sites across the UK with its first expansion into Scottish waters.
- Wellcome Trust-backed Premier Marinas acquired Mansford-backed Boatfolk Marinas with 4,200 berths across 11 marinas for an undisclosed sum in September. The acquisition takes Premier Marinas to 22 locations and over 9,200 berths.
- Also in September, Antin Infrastructure Partners signed a binding agreement to acquire Aquavista Watersides & Marinas for an undisclosed sum. With 32 inland and coastal marinas, Aquavista is the UK’s largest marina infrastructure provider.
The post Why well-run marinas will still attract investors in 2026 appeared first on Marine Industry News.
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