The River Tyne is soon to be home to a new marina in the heart of Newcastle city centre.

12 permanent pontoons will open in time for the Great North Run on September 18, launching formally the following weekend between the Millennium (pictured in the background) and Tyne bridges (in the foreground).

Currently the nearest place to the city centre to moor is St Peter’s Marina, one mile downriver of the new marina.

Adrian Waddell, the marina’s director of operations, said: ‘We hope the Newcastle City Marina will help restore life and vibrancy to a stretch of the River Tyne that has fallen out of fashion with leisure craft, largely through a lack of any facilities.

‘Historically, the Tyne has been a commercial thoroughfare for centuries, but the city centre stretch has fallen out of use. We are keen to bring new traffic and life back to the Quayside and into the city centre.’

The pontoons, which have a combined length of more than 130 metres, will be able to accommodate yachts up to 40 foot long.

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