Hythe Marina

[volvopaul]

As Saturday was so nice but the forecast for rain on Sunday we wanted a run out but not too far as the boats bottom now has a nice skirt hanging off it making planing speed very heavy on fuel.

We rang Hythe and booked 2 berths, we arrived in the sunshine then the heavens opened just as we moored up.

We hit the town, its not changed much since I was a berth holder in 1999, Hobits was still there and the Nelson welcomed us for an afternoon pint.

The marinas retail seemed empty with the restaurant owners doing a runner, the marinas shop empty and ceased trading notice on the door, the Italian still looked good, the chef giving us an onion for our home made indian.

James Dickens brokerage seemed the only highlight of the retail area, so all in all a little sad compared to how it was last time I was there, some berth holders very friendly taking our lines was nice, we then had the nasty shock when we paid £40.00 per night with no winter discount on offer. Its still a nice place but the locking in and out would be a chore for us especially in the summer months.

Will leave it another 10 years before I take another look.

 

[aquapower]

I worked there a couple of times in August and the staff were the most helpfull I have had in a long time but the shop wasnt much use then and even in the middle of August things were a bit quiet.

Saturday we decided to do Lymington market and got soaked, not the best of weekends but still had a good break

 

[gjgm]

You should have taken a tour of the vast empty blue sheds after Sea V also left !
Cant say we ever used the boozer; 30 years too old,I guess. Shame the corner shop closed, but I guess everyone goes to Waitrose.
What I do like though is you can actually walk to something- supermarket,post office,restaurant (seashells does a cracking carvery),hell -a library even !
But, its not the "in" spot of the Solent, no.
Winter discount.. are you mad !

 

[Firefly625]

You should have taken a tour of the vast empty blue sheds after Sea V also left !
Cant say we ever used the boozer; 30 years too old,I guess. Shame the corner shop closed, but I guess everyone goes to Waitrose.
What I do like though is you can actually walk to something- supermarket,post office,restaurant (seashells does a cracking carvery),hell -a library even !
But, its not the "in" spot of the Solent, no.
Winter discount.. are you mad !

But having been a berth holder there I do think, like Mercury, its a good home port.... i.e. you would never go and visits as there is not a lot there... but as such its nice and peaceful!

 

[paul salliss]

I am so pleased that I read this thread today, I have just ordered my first boat and was considering keeping her at Hythe!! (Delivered in Feb 11)

I have to admit that it does feel very quiet there, which may be a good or a bad thing depending on what you are after. Firefly refers to the " in spot" on the Solent, and I would be genuinely interested on views as to what this is.
Berth's in good marina's are not cheap so picking the correct place is important. We are trevelling from Kent so close ish to the M3 is good as for us. If we go deep into Dorset it adds an extra 30 mins to the drive which is a real chore. I have checked out Swanwick which I understand is about to go through a lot of change, I have also looked at Ocean Village, all thoughts most welcome, our gang is my wife and I and a 9 year old so access to some sort of town or village would be nice...................

 

[Moody]

If we go deep into Dorset it adds an extra 30 mins to the drive which is a real chore.

In my experience deep into Dorset will take you longer than 30 mins on a Friday night. Left my boat at Portland for a week in the summer, and it took us over an hour and a half from the M3. The M27 West and beyond were a nightmare.

I keep mine at Swanwick, and can tell you that we've been informed that the planned development has been postponed for at least 12 months. The access from the motorway is probably better than any other marina on the Hamble as you don't have to contend with the Tesco roundabout and Hamble Lane, which again can be a pain.

There's always some downside, and that is it takes about half an hour to get out of the river, if that bothers you.

Not an awful lot do without using the car, but there are some nice walks, and a few good pubs nearby, and a dinghy ride across to the Jolly Sailor, or upstream to the pub (can't recall it's name) can be a nice diversion

 

[paul salliss]

Thanks for the advice, I have heard many stories about the traffic nightmares on a Friday and a sunday. I do like Swanwick, and I would seriousely look at that, are there any others that you feel may be worth checking out??

 

[crazy4557]

I am so pleased that I read this thread today, I have just ordered my first boat and was considering keeping her at Hythe!! (Delivered in Feb 11)

I have to admit that it does feel very quiet there, which may be a good or a bad thing depending on what you are after. Firefly refers to the " in spot" on the Solent, and I would be genuinely interested on views as to what this is.
Berth's in good marina's are not cheap so picking the correct place is important. We are trevelling from Kent so close ish to the M3 is good as for us. If we go deep into Dorset it adds an extra 30 mins to the drive which is a real chore. I have checked out Swanwick which I understand is about to go through a lot of change, I have also looked at Ocean Village, all thoughts most welcome, our gang is my wife and I and a 9 year old so access to some sort of town or village would be nice...................

Paul,

We are in Ocean Village and also travel from Kent (Tunbridge Wells). The journey takes from 1.5 to 2 hours on average and is dead easy due to it's proximity to the motorways. It's straightforward to get out on your boat onto Southampton Water with minimal slow 6 knot passageway until you reach the WOT area.
OV has a Tesco, couple of good restaurants and cinema's in case the weather changes. You can also walk into town so no need to touch your car which is a bonus.
The staff are excellent and very helpful and all in all we are very happy and about to start our 3rd year there. It's not the busiest place but then neither is it like a morgue.....

Downsides can be parking at peak times and sometimes no pesky trolleys just when you need them. Apart from that I highly recommend it.
Having previously been on the Hamble and experienced the traffic on peak Sunday's in the summer we are convinced that OV is the better bet although possibly a bit further to travel on the boat than the Hamble but then our car journey is shorter.

 

[Wiggo]

Paul, having been based in Hythe for two years, and Ocean Village for 3 now, I can highly reccomend OV especially if keeping SWMBO happy is high on your list. Hythe is very pretty, but with a 9 year old you will find there is nothing to do there at all.

 

[Tom Price]

There are some nice walks, and a few good pubs nearby, and a dinghy ride across to the Jolly Sailor, or upstream to the pub (can't recall it's name) can be a nice diversion

Under Bursledon bridges (gauge for air draft on RHS) and either stop before the junction where you can land and walk through the trees, or continue along the Eastern arm to Curbridge and the Horse & Jockey PH. The Western branch leads to Botley and a choice of alehouses. Both are accessible with 3ft draft on a big Spring tide - remember the double HW.

 

[RogerRat]

Hythe is alright

Would have to agree with all the comments but 'nothing to do' is one of the best reasons for being there, unless you a have a young child. (but good dinghy and beach fishing) Yes it's quiet but with plenty to look at and the lock in is easy and quick, not had to wait yet!

We are really pleased that we took 'Houston' there and as with most of the MDL teams, Hythe is excellent, staff always available and always helpful. Local berth holders all friendly too, plus I can even wash my boat down with a hose that has enough pressure to reach across my boat!

£40 a night a bit strong but then it's free if you're an MDL berth holder. We travel often to MDL marinas in the hamble and Itchen, free short stay and 30 nights per year elsewhere. Premier are a bit behind on this in the Solent area.

Shame about the shop but maybe it'll be open next year.

 

[Firefly625]

Thanks for the advice, I have heard many stories about the traffic nightmares on a Friday and a sunday. I do like Swanwick, and I would seriously look at that, are there any others that you feel may be worth checking out??

Hythe was nice, we did enjoy the place and there is more to do there as Hythe village is in easy walking distance. I did worry about the boat at Hythe more than I do where we are now. A couple of times I witnessed local kids climbing over boats... The biggest PITA was the lock. Naturally we would endeavour to time things right for free flow but some weekends we waited for upto an hour to get out... that is just a bit of a nuisance.. however I would say for our old Merry Fisher the price was the reason we went there, MDL had a lower rate for boats upto 7m and we were measured around 6.4m at Hythe so it was around half the price we are paying now for a boat which is 8.2m

I do recommend Mercury, but there is not a great deal to do there, but a short drive and you are in Hamble village, traffic off m27 past tesco is busy by the longest it has taken us to crawl past there is probably not more than 10 minutes maximum....so hardly a problem. On site Restaurant is good and lots of good dingy rides around & our 8yr old daughter enjoys it... and its just a very pleasant place to be...

 

[sunquest]

I am surprised there are no recommendations for Shamrock Quay. Having berthed during the boat show at both OV and SQ over the years, my preference is SQ which is not too far from the city centre. I appreciate it is around a mile further but parking has never been an issue and trolleys more readily available.

 

[paul salliss]

Paul, having been based in Hythe for two years, and Ocean Village for 3 now, I can highly reccomend OV especially if keeping SWMBO happy is high on your list. Hythe is very pretty, but with a 9 year old you will find there is nothing to do there at all.

Thanks again for the advice, OV sounds like a good bet, where do OV berth holders go for fuel, also I assume you go next door to Shamrock for a lift out in the winter??

 

[peterandjeanette]

Thanks again for the advice, OV sounds like a good bet, where do OV berth holders go for fuel, also I assume you go next door to Shamrock for a lift out in the winter??

Another vote for OV.
Fuel just under the bridge at Itchen Marine or we just amble up the Hamble to Port Hamble on the way back from a trip.
Winter lift out at Shamrock Quay. No problem.
Staff friendly and helpful. Trolleys better now that extras have been provided with £1 in slot.
Only anoying thing is the rubbish left by inconsiderate owners who cannot be bothered to visit rubbish bins or take it home with them. Same anywhere, though, I suppose.
Other berth holders very friendly. Being next to Wiggo and crazy4557 is acceptable

 

[volvopaul]

I am surprised there are no recommendations for Shamrock Quay. Having berthed during the boat show at both OV and SQ over the years, my preference is SQ which is not too far from the city centre. I appreciate it is around a mile further but parking has never been an issue and trolleys more readily available.

I have been a berth holder at SQ I left after 1 year, the boat was always filthy due to the heavy industries in the area, scap metal recycling, ARC tarmac/stone company just downriver.

Nowhere niceto walk, only 2 pubs onsite river quite strong flow at times making berthing sometimes not easy,not much character.

Moved to the upper Hamble, thats the north of the A27 road bridge and love it!, its 2k less than the south side of the bridge and thats a good saving.

 

[Boatshed London]

Thanks for the advice, I have heard many stories about the traffic nightmares on a Friday and a sunday. I do like Swanwick, and I would seriousely look at that, are there any others that you feel may be worth checking out??

Have a look at Universal Marina, on the Hamble just before Swanwick. Enough empty pontoons for you to be able to get a good deal.

 

[nicho]

I am so pleased that I read this thread today, I have just ordered my first boat and was considering keeping her at Hythe!! (Delivered in Feb 11)

Congratulations Paul. You may remember you spoke to us on our Swanwick pontoon, then joined us on board our S48 for a while, discussing the relative merits of the marina.

What did you end up buying?

Cheers

M & M

 

[paul salliss]

I remember the hour on your S48 very well, and what a stunning baot she was, we walked away saying what a lovely boat.

Thank you again for the insight that you gave us into Marina's etc as you were most kind.

In the end we ordered a new Beneteau Antares 32, as an all round package we feel it fits the bill very well, Feb seems a long way off, but for once we will have to wait for what we want, we have lot's to do to kit her out, as we have next to nothing re kit and equipemt, we are in the Solent this weekend, so if we bump into you drinks are on us.

all the best Paul

 

[Elessar]

I am surprised there are no recommendations for Shamrock Quay. Having berthed during the boat show at both OV and SQ over the years, my preference is SQ which is not too far from the city centre. I appreciate it is around a mile further but parking has never been an issue and trolleys more readily available.

SQ seconded.

in OV parking can be a problem and SQ nearer to the OV office on foot than some of the OV pontoons themselves! Seriously some of them have a very long walk to car par/facilities.

I regularly walk into Southampton from SQ takes about 20 mins.

The tide can be strong on a spring ebb but the berths point up/downstream so it is easy to ferry glide along the whole pontoon run and slip back into your berth. I can get in and out single handed at the strongest of tides - I ask for help if there's a cross wind to add to the confusion! But radio the office and they're there in a flash to help.

But the main thing is if you go to an MDL, you can try the others free. Then they will let you switch mid year and keep all the annual rates etc. They will just refund any difference pro rata or you pay the difference as appropriate. You could go to any of them and not be disappointed therefore.

I used to swap between the Thames and south coast mid season and it was never a problem.

They aren't cheap but you do get a lot for your money, cheap fuel, 30 nights free visitor, unlimited short stays, 50% off boatyard and in my experience staff that will invariably go the extra mile.