New tourist attraction on Broads

Families will be able to experience a taste of the Broads in more than one sense when a new tourist attraction opens at the end of the month.

The Waterside in Rollesby, near Great Yarmouth, offers boating, fishing and wildlife spotting with a new tearoom and restaurant.

The opening of the family attraction on March 29 will represent the realisation of a dream for the four Broads-loving partners behind the venture which has taken more than five years of planning and an investment well into six figures.

To complement the unspoilt and tranquil setting of Rollesby Broad - a site of special scientific interest - the chalet-style restaurant and neighbouring boathouse have been elegantly built out of wood.

Soon to arrive at the boathouse will be 12-seater Victorian launch, built in Woodbastwick by Classic Boatworks, which will provide hourly tours around the broad, including a running commentary on the site's history and wildlife.

Families will also be able to hire out rowing dinghies, electric boats and kayaks and enjoy a putting course on the site. There is also a new children's playground with a pirate ship design.

The attraction will create about 10 full-time and part-time jobs, including a chef and sous-chef for the eaterie that will serve as a licensed caf� and tearoom during the day and a restaurant in the evening.

Mother-of-two Belinda Minors, 46, of High Street, Acle, the partner concerned with the everyday running of the business, said her family had fallen in love with the Broads and enjoyed regular summer boating trips from Wroxham.

She said: “What's so lovely about Rollesby Broad is the peace and quiet and calmness of the water. If you have had a stressful day, it is the perfect tonic.”

The venue will be available for private hire for individual and corporate bookings and a number of special events are planned from April onwards.