Premier Marinas says its annual berth holders used more than 37,000 complimentary visitor nights during the current berthing year, representing an estimated value of more than £1.6 million. Overall visitor nights across the network increased by 39 per cent between 1 October 2025 and 26 August 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier.
The figures come after Premier expanded its South Coast and Isle of Wight network through several acquisitions. For owners, the result is a wider group of destinations that can be used without paying the normal nightly visitor rate.
Annual berth holders receive up to 42 visitor nights
Premier's Advantage package allows annual berth holders to use up to 42 complimentary visitor nights at marinas other than their home berth, subject to availability and scheme conditions. Same-day visits can also be made without using the visitor-night allowance when the published timing rules are met.
The benefit effectively turns one annual berth into access to a broader cruising network. That can be valuable to owners who regularly move between Solent, South Coast and West Country destinations during the season.
The marina network has expanded quickly
Deacons, East Cowes, Haslar, Portland and Weymouth joined Premier after the acquisition of Boatfolk in September 2025. Dartmouth was then added following the acquisition of the Dart Marina Group in April 2026.
Those additions increase the usefulness of the visitor-night scheme because the value of a network benefit depends heavily on how many practical destinations are available. A berth holder can now plan multi-stop cruising while staying within the same operator's system.
Berthing cost is only part of ownership economics
Annual marina fees are one of the more visible recurring costs of yacht ownership, but the value of a berth can vary substantially depending on what is bundled into the contract. Visitor berthing, yard discounts, storage and fuel arrangements can change the effective annual cost.
Premier says the £1.6 million figure is based on the average paid visitor rate at each marina. It is therefore a measure of avoided published berthing charges rather than cash returned directly to customers.
Network benefits can influence marina choice
Owners often select a home marina around location, access, service facilities and berth availability. A larger network adds another consideration by giving regular cruisers a practical benefit beyond the home port itself.
For LYG owners based in southern Britain, the data suggests the scheme is being used actively rather than existing mainly as a marketing extra. The 39 per cent increase in visitor nights also indicates that expansion of the network is changing how berth holders move between Premier locations.
