A SMALL seaside town has reported a significant boost in tourism after investing £12 million into revamp work.
The regeneration project, most of which was completed at the beginning of the year, saw upgrades to the town centre and seafront.
Maryport, which has a population of around 10,865, to medieval times with the Georgian era introducing the town’s lighthouse while the Victorian period brought the local .
By 1845 , the port town had established itself as a bustling hub for trade, shipping 300,000 tons of coal along with other imports and exports including iron ore, timber, cattle, and cotton.
A century on, the aftermath of the 1926 General Strike and the new deep-water dock in Workington saw the area become a ghost town.
Despite a brief reprieve during , the town never fully recovered, with the docks closing to cargo ships in the 1960s.
In the decades since, the scenic area focused more on its industry.
A series of regeneration works have been carried out in Maryport, with some still in progress.
Maryport Town Hall underwent a £200,000 renovation and now serves as a community hub as well as housing the local council.
Automatic sensors on the building have recorded more than a third increase in footfall since the upgrade began.
Overall, tourism in the town has increased by 35% since spring 2024.
The town hall is located on Senhouse Street, the main route connecting the town centre with the Harbourside and Promenade, all of which have undergone various revamps.
A Shopfront Scheme has transformed the look of many properties, attracting new businesses such as retailers, wellness providers, a photography studio, and a banking hub.
Meanwhile on the Harbourside, the new Shiver Me Timbers splashpark and play area has been erected.
Upgrades have also been made to the Maryport Activity Centre, with new attractions added, including a play area, climbing attractions, a gym, studio spaces, and a café.
The new Shipping Brow Gallery and a new skatepark on the Promenade have also boosted footfall in the town.
And Maryport’s regeneration continues as the Christ Church to Maritime Museum conversion still underway.
The work will see the historic Christ Church transformed into a new Maritime Museum, with an expected opening later this year.
And a former cinema is also being converted into a cultural hub, with an opening date expected early next year.
Leader of Cumberland Council, Councillor Mark Fryer spoke about the boost the work has given the town.
“When Maryport Maritime Museum opens in Christ Church, the former Carlton Cinema becomes a cultural hub, and the new café opens on the Promenade there will be even more reasons to visit,”; he said.
“I am very pleased to see that footfall is already on the up – even before the summer tourist season.
“This is great for the local economy which is the whole point of this work.”;
Other attractions in the town include the Lake Distict Coast Aquarium at Maryport Harbour, which reportedly boasts more than 2,000 specimens in over 75 display tanks.
Family tickets are available from just £26.
And while the town has a mixed shingle and sand that disappears during high tide, its bay is still recognised as a good spot for windsurfing and kite-surfing.
Visitors can also enjoy the stunning views of the Solway estuary at all times of the year.
