Partridge Lakes in Culcheth, near Warrington, has decided summer needs a bit more sparkle, so in come themed pedalos, a new lakeside walk, extra places for food and drink, and yes, a sandy beach. A beach in Culcheth. Not quite the Maldives, granted, but for those of us who enjoy fresh air without airport security, it will do nicely.
The big new feature is the Partridge Park Walk, a 1km trail around the lake designed to be fully accessible for wheelchairs and prams. That bit deserves proper praise, because too many outdoor spots still act as if accessibility is some sort of optional garnish. This route includes benches, picnic benches and play installations, including giant Connect 4 and Kerplunk, because apparently walking now comes with competitive family tension built in.
Barbara Ikin and Callum Morgan, owners of Partridge Lakes, say the lakes are looking stunning in the spring sunshine and that they are gearing up for a memorable summer. Fair enough. The place has always had that peaceful, tucked-away charm, and when the weather behaves, it can look rather smugly picturesque.
The headline-grabbers are the pedalos, which come in bird, dragon and unicorn designs. Visitors can hire them on selected weekend dates during spring and summer, with sessions costing £15 for 20 minutes. Lovely? Yes. Cheap? Not exactly. That is the price of modern whimsy, apparently, and the unicorn does not even come with magical inflation protection.
Bookings for the pedalos must be made online through the Partridge Lakes Events website, and they run from 10am to 2pm on selected dates. Sensible enough, though it does mean spontaneous lake-based dragon adventures are slightly less spontaneous than one might hope.
There is also a newly created sandy beach, refreshed seating areas and extra food and drink outlets alongside the established Partridge Lakes Café. The café remains open daily from 7.30am to 4.30pm, including bank holidays, and is dog-friendly, with treats for pets plus food for feeding the fish and ducks. The dogs of Culcheth will no doubt accept this tribute with their usual humility.
The new outdoor lakeside seating area includes refreshment huts, and there is now a bar serving alcoholic beverages. That will please plenty of grown-ups who enjoy a view with their drink, though let us hope the lakeside atmosphere stays relaxed rather than turning into a flip-flop version of a stag do.
These additions follow the success of Partridge Lakes’ Springland event, a seasonal fairytale experience aimed at families. This summer the venue will also host the Cheshire Wellness Festival on Sunday, June 28, billed as a day to pause, reset and reconnect. In plain Culcheth terms, that probably means breathing deeply, drinking something green, and trying not to check your phone every seven minutes.
Ms Ikin and Mr Morgan say they have worked hard on the 2026 attractions, including the Partridge Park trail, extra refreshment outlets and the colourful pedalo fleet. Credit where it is due, Partridge Lakes is clearly investing in becoming more than just a pretty spot for a brew and a wander. It is leaning into family days out, outdoor leisure and the sort of gentle escapism people are clearly after.
The Partridge Park Walk is open daily from 7.30am to 5pm. For visitors apparently coming from Blackburn, it is being pitched as around 45 minutes away. For those of us in Culcheth, it is rather closer, which is one of the rare occasions where living here gives us a smug logistical advantage.