Brighton Marina

[phatcat1]

Hi all, We are heading SW for a couple of months and Brighton could possibly be a stop-over. Last time we were there the entrance was extremely shallow and the visitors pontoon was very shallow indeed, meaning we could get in anywhere near low and once in we were stuck in the mud. Does anyone know what the situation is like now? we draw 1.8 metres.

 

[Lucky Duck]

They did dredge last year but according to another thread here depth at the entrance is 0.9 below datum

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I'd avoid Brighton personally. Doesn't seem to get any care and attention, it's very shallow in places as noted. Not an appealing place to spend any time. Eastbourne only 15 miles or so E is much nicer, and no depth problems.

 

[oldgit]

Have been in both and aware of those depth problems in Brighton but with a MoBo the depth has not been a problem.
If your stay is only for single night, then perhaps Sovereign might just cut the mustard but cafes are sparse with very limited opening hours and with only one "chain pub" at the end of a convoluted walk, depending where they put you in marina.
No problem going in (sheltered entrance ) but some considerable delays regards leaving one afternoon when we were very "keen" to get out to get to Ramsgate before light failed.

Brighton on the other hand has far more "entertainment" (food and drink) literally at the end your pontoon with even more stuff a short taxi ride or a bracing walk away.
Brighton is very cosmopolitan, Eastbourne is somewhere to open that Frey Bentos pie in a rusty tin before an early night.

 

[ashtead]

If you find yourself favouring Eastbourne then research the fish and chip shops -there are some quite good ones where a sit down meal can be had for a very good price . I think potentially entering Brighton after what might have been a long sail on a falling tide could be stressful . As you might have noticed Brighton marina is nowhere near Brighton proper but a rundown suburb. Eastbourne marina seems better maintained generally from a shoreside perspective . I guess it might depend on where you next stop is planned and plans on day travel lengths preferred in terms of time at sea and conditions.

 

[Blueboatman]

My two bobs worth if you’re on passage

Newhaven would be my choice

Eastbourne adds delay x2 because of the locking in and out

 

[veshengro]

As a near local I often heard Brighton Marina referred to as Brighton Docks...The local comedians would get on the Bus.. No: 7 and ask for a return to Brighton Docks..

 

[DownWest]

My two bobs worth if you’re on passage

Newhaven would be my choice

Eastbourne adds delay x2 because of the locking in and out

Long time ago, but Newhaven was our choice of a rest on a V windy down channel trip. Entrance a bit narrow? Moored up against the key, but assume pontoons now?

 

[Gixer]

Last year Brighton did extensive dredging of the visitor area. There is an Amel 50 which has a draft of 2m in there and have been for a few weeks.
I’d give the marina a call.
I have a draft of 1m so don’t worry

 

[Lucky Duck]

According to this thread the marina staff don’t seem to know much about depths

Brighton entrance

 

[RunAgroundHard]

You guys are not really selling the south coast to us northerns: convoluted walks, chain pubs, rusty tinned Fray Bentos, bracing walks, sit down chip shops, awkward marinas.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Yeah that’s deliberate

 

[phatcat1]

As an aside, I have just tried Newhaven and they were useless! They have just told me they have one visitors berth available, and you can't book it - First Come - First gets the berth! They suggested to call up as we approached Newhaven, and if it was taken, then go to Brighton. The point I made to then was that I was trying to avoid Brighton as we may be arriving towards the bottom of the tide.

Looks like it will be Eastbourne, but then the schlep round Beachy to head for the Solent.

 

[Blueboatman]

Wow I’m sorry
Two screen grabs

The first is from the current Newhaven marinas website

And the reality as you have found is this from Visitmyharbour.Com


Which is a great shame

 

[lustyd]

You guys are not really selling the south coast to us northerns: convoluted walks, chain pubs, rusty tinned Fray Bentos, bracing walks, sit down chip shops, awkward marinas.

No different to the stories of Scotland!

The trick, we’ve found, is to go slightly further south. The French coast has been half the cost for both marinas and provisions, and 3L of good wine costs the same as 75cl of bad wine in Blighty.

@phatcat1 we also draw 1.8. Brighton is fine from 2 hours either side of low water unless there is swell. It was 0.9m in the entrance a month ago but the staff refuse to discuss and simply point to the NTM.
Facilities are fine but 50% of showers broken and the place is usually dirty due to overuse by the mostly live aboard berth holders. Brighton is nice though, spend a couple of days if you can spare them

 

[Lucky Duck]

Wow I’m sorry
Two screen grabs

The first is from the current Newhaven marinas website

And the reality as you have found is this from Visitmyharbour.Com


Which is a great shame

View attachment 209975View attachment 209976

The google earth picture gives a good summary, much of the marina on the cusp of drying out and the shortened visitors pontoon largely given over to commercial vessels.

I last visited just over two years back and while it was one of my least expensive nights berthing fees, the facilities were the worst that I had seen in a while and the redevelopment of the general area hadn’t made it to the marinas immediate surroundings.

Made an interesting diversion but not in a hurry to return.