Bristol Marina

[aitchem]

Hi all,
I reckon I will be working near Bristol for an extended period and am thinking of moving the boat to Bristol Marina, instead of renting some flat.
Does anyone have experience of this place, or anything else nearby.?
It a says on the website they have limited space, anyone know if it's full at the moment.?

regds
aitch

 

[kds]

Don't know if it is full - phone them.
However - if you can get a berth in the harbour alongside the North side wall, you get far more Sunshine each day and the Winter is almost bearable.
Ken

 

[Cinnamon]

I lived aboard my yacht in Brist marina for a year - I let them know I would be arriving a few months in advance and there was no problem getting a place.

I really enjoyed it down there and found there is a pretty good social scene amongst the other liveaboards. There are also a few good pubs very nearby and the centre of town proper is only about ten mins walk.

I can't remember the marina charges, but when you consider there are people living a stones throw away who have paid 500 grand or more for their flats, it's pretty reasonable.

Laundry/shower facilities are fine and the staff are friendly.

Go for it!

 

[jeanne]

You say that you will be working "near Bristol" - don´t know if you know that there is also a marina at Portishead.

 

[gtuson]

we spent winter in harbour(not marina) year before last. We enjoyed it a lot. Not as much security - but we had no problems - there were about 4 other liveaboards on the pontoons. We had use of Youth hostel laundry and showers which were a stones throw away. Dont know if the harbour master still allows this - but worth finding out perhaps. You might have to be clear or dishonest about only staying for limited period - and then perhpas go into marina later? We were right in centre of city so very convenient and good fun.

 

[AndrewB]

Met a guy (Matt of "Helene") here in Cape Verde Islands who was a liveaboard in Bristol Marina until last April. Said its a bit hard to get a place there, but they are quite OK about liveaboards.

 

[aitchem]

Thanks peeps,

I didn't know if you had to be seruptitious about the liveaboard bit,

H

 

[damo]

Quay Marinas at Portishead aren't allowing liveaboards anymore unfortunately. Bristol Harbour usually has much cheaper mooring fees than the marina, but you will be lucky to get any parking space for a car. (In fact, if you need a car the Bristol centre is a nightmare.) NB Don't apply for a residential licence from Bristol Harbour - you won't get one! Just keep your boat tidy and your head down, plenty of others do. There used to be a shore-power bollard near the Ampitheatre which, if it is still stuck on 65kw, provides unlimited power!
I was there for a few weeks and tended to keep my car away from the harbour and cycle to and from it.