1 year on Amble regeneration transformation continues

This month The Amble Inn celebrates 1 year since officially opening its doors.

The .£4m contemporary seaside pub with rooms on Sandpiper Way opened last January as Northumberland’s newest inn, operated by award-winning pub company, The Inn Collection Group (ICG). The Amble Inn has filled a long-standing gap for year-round, affordable accommodation of this type as well as contributing to the town’s tourism offer by increasing the town’s accommodation availability while helping to attract additional visitors.

Located off the A1068 leading into Amble from the south, the inn has created the equivalent of 30 full time jobs and with 30 bedrooms including a mix of family and twin rooms, and a 150-seated restaurant and bar.

The development was the catalyst for a wider plan to create Amble Retail Park, a joint development between Advance Northumberland and national supermarket operator Morrisons. This transformational scheme comprises an exciting new retail led development, anchored by a 25,000 sq. ft. Morrisons food store, which will be complemented by a number of other national and local retailers, a petrol filling station and a Drive Thru facility.

This significant private investment is set to transform the southern gateway into Amble and provide a destination of choice. It will bring new local jobs to the area, additional car parking and infrastructure and ensure Amble has the shopping experience it deserves. Morrisons' skilled foodmakers will prepare fresh food every day for residents including the many visitors that flock to Amble every year. Work is progressing well with the store opening due this spring. 

Advance Northumberland has a strong platform upon which to attract further investment into Amble and will be taking forward the delivery of the new Retail Park on behalf of NCC. Amble Retail Park, also includes a petrol station and kiosk, four other retail units of varying sizes, a drive-thru coffee shop and 352 parking spaces. The site has been vacant since the former food factory closure in 2011.

Richard Wearmouth Chair of Advance Northumberland said: "I was delighted to help officially open The Amble Inn last year –it is a fantastic asset both for visitors and the local community. Amble is an excellent example of a town which is undergoing a great economic transformation.

This includes attracting private investment into Northumberland, creating new opportunities while boosting the economy of Amble and surrounding towns.”

Coun Jeff Watson, ward member for Amble West with Warkworth, added: “The progress made by Amble in recent years has been tremendous and this is another great boost for the area - both in terms of the retail offer and job opportunities for local people.”

James Smith, Morrisons Senior Development Manager added: “The new Morrisons in Amble will offer customers fresh food made by our talented foodmakers as well as creating new local jobs. We look forward to the site taking shape and welcoming the community through our doors in the next couple of months.”