A Day at the lake at Nine Acres: Stocking Up Lakeside

 

There’s something special about a lake that catches you off guard—not just with its beauty, but with how it makes you feel miles from anywhere familiar. That’s exactly what happened when Jon and I set off to stock the shop at The Lake at Nine Acres, tucked away in the heart of Rayleigh. It was one of those days where everything seemed to go wrong from the start. We left just before lunchtime, filled up the Panda (which sounds like a Mustang but handles like a go-kart), and hoped the day would turn itself around.

It did.

We arrived at the lake and were instantly greeted by Richard and his wife Emma—warm smiles and genuine welcomes. Soon after, we met Darren, the owner, along with his uncle and Richard’s son Charlie. Within moments, it felt like we’d known them for ages. We got talking about the lake’s history, the incredible fish it holds, and how surreal it was to be standing in Southend while feeling like we were somewhere in the Mediterranean. The water shimmered in a vibrant sky-blue hue, so clear and still it could’ve been a painting.

Their little shop, perfectly positioned right on the water’s edge, was where we got to work. While Emma and Charlie took to stocking the shelves, Jon and I caught up with Richard, diving deep into fishing talk—reflecting on the past year, the growth of our brand, and all the moments in between that brought us here.

Jon wandered off with his camera, trying to capture the lake’s best angles. Not an easy task when every view looked like a postcard. The place was immaculate—serene, untouched, and totally at peace with itself. Laughter filled the air, stories were shared, and time quietly slipped away without us even noticing.

Eventually, we packed up, said our goodbyes, and climbed back into the Panda—our not-so-Mustang—and hit the road. But the day had one more surprise in store.

A young angler had stopped into the shop earlier, after blanking his first night. He grabbed a tub of our Lemon Sherbet pop-ups, hoping to turn his luck around. That night, a message pinged through—a picture of him holding a stunning carp, smile from ear to ear.

Happy days, indeed.