London a No-Go zone?

[No Regrets]

Things are not looking good for 2014

Imperial Wharf is now pretty well full to capacity, and unlikely to be able to accommodate more than one or two boats.

St Kats is not accepting any bookings more than a few weeks in advance, making it very hard to plan a cruise with any certainty.

Limehouse staff (In a rather brusque South African accent) claim that visitor bookings will not be accepted for next year, and existing bookings are probably going to be cancelled when they can be bothered to inform people.


That leaves West India Dock, a vast tedious wasteland with no facilities for man nor beast, and a couple of **** infested holes in which to moor ones vessel (Unless you Gentlemen have any other ideas!)

I can see us whizzing past London to the comforting Mudflats of Fred & Co's back garden at this rate...

 

[sailorman]

Things are not looking good for 2014

Imperial Wharf is now pretty well full to capacity, and unlikely to be able to accommodate more than one or two boats.

St Kats is not accepting any bookings more than a few weeks in advance, making it very hard to plan a cruise with any certainty.

Limehouse staff (In a rather brusque South African accent) claim that visitor bookings will not be accepted for next year, and existing bookings are probably going to be cancelled when they can be bothered to inform people.


That leaves West India Dock, a vast tedious wasteland with no facilities for man nor beast, and a couple of **** infested holes in which to moor ones vessel (Unless you Gentlemen have any other ideas!)

I can see us whizzing past London to the comforting Mudflats of Fred & Co's back garden at this rate...

Emar

 

[teddington_lock]

The SA guy at Limehouse is very rude , ask to speak to Jeremy instead.

 

[No Regrets]

Emar. Thats the one. Manners of a Donkey, no help at all....

Jeremy is departing for pastures new, far too polite for his own good of course, but won't be far away apparently! He was unable to answer any questions, but referred me to BWML who failed to call me back as promised.

The whole Limehouse thing is pathetic and makes me want to seriously abuse the idiots concerned for their lack of basic manners quite frankly.

I may have to use the phone tomorrow...

 

[Chris_d]

We've been in Limehouse before and not used the Marina, for an overnight you can just sit on the wall opposite which is free visitors moorings, usually NB's there but its another option. No good for a club booking though.

 

[sailorman]

The club rates are very good, the comms not

 

[rosssavage]

Whats happening in 2014 then? Any reason for this behaviour?

 

[oldgit]

South Dock is OK ish.....and is cheap.Prob not suitable for clubs outting due to small lock size.Being sarf of the river it is miles from civilisation but as a last resort it does have its merits.
However last summer on our way back from the Thames we failed totally to get into any of the tidal marinas due them all being booked solid by upper Thames clubs.
We did manage to squeeze into St Expensive due to the fact that some of the boats booked in failed to appear.
The dangerous journey down from Teddington obviously proving to daunting.

 

[No Regrets]

They may have been travelling from the coast...lol

 

[oldgit]

They may have been travelling from the coast...lol

After I had got off my knees and stopped snivelling about how grateful we were to be allowed into St Kats marina,the staff mentioned the real reason for the message of no room at the inn was "being booked solid by upper Thames clubs on their regular summer outings."
This may well account for no room next year.
Simple answer would be a nice FAT non returnable deposit per boat to discourage no shows.
You could always hold it in credit for the next time that boat actually visits the marina.

 

[No Regrets]

I offered to pay in full up front. They still refused to accept a booking less than a month beforehand...

I suspect the lure of long term moorers and the extra profit for less work is preferable.

We will have to find a new game to play which doesn't involve London. Their loss....

 

[sailorman]

I offered to pay in full up front. They still refused to accept a booking less than a month beforehand...

I suspect the lure of long term moorers and the extra profit for less work is preferable.

We will have to find a new game to play which doesn't involve London. Their loss....

They have loadsa fekin space in the basin. if they doubt that they should visit Oostende & Boulogne, St Vaast in the summer. they dont know what "Busy" is

 

[vjmehra]

This has confused me, I live about 10 minutes away, so walk past frequently.

Ever since they put in all the new pontoons last summer they have had absolutely tons of space (post Olympics), yet are adamant they are full.

It makes absolutely no sense!!!

 

[sailorman]

This has confused me, I live about 10 minutes away, so walk past frequently.

Ever since they put in all the new pontoons last summer they have had absolutely tons of space (post Olympics), yet are adamant they are full.

It makes absolutely no sense!!!

They have little idea how full is full

 

[534l4rk]

Therei is a statement on the ATYC website on this matter

 

[Lucky Duck]

Therei is a statement on the ATYC website on this matter

i.e. Visitor's berths are being reallocated to residential uses;

Within the moorings we have on site, 20 have been historically classified for visitor use, as and when required. The uptake of these over the whole of the year is generally at 40-50% occupancy. Due to the interest received in the recent annual moorings that we have made available at Limehouse, all available moorings to date having been sold, and with an obvious shortage of moorings in London, BWML have taken the decision to remove a number of the current visitor moorings from their present location, but we will however be making available visitor berths at an alternative location within the marina. Overall I anticipate the number of visitor berths for 2014 will remain around the same. The use of the wall will not be affected and still remain available for visiting boats.

 

[Chris_d]

Therei is a statement on the ATYC website on this matter

ATYC quote "Tow-path gossip", nice to see they are embracing the language of the canals

 

[boatone]

I see in the agenda for the next meeting there is a "suggestion that ATYC is open to non club boaters" !

I wonder where they got that idea from?

 

[Chris_d]

I see in the agenda for the next meeting there is a "suggestion that ATYC is open to non club boaters" !

I wonder where they got that idea from?

They might have to change their name then, something along the lines of err.... Association Thames Motor Boats !

 

[David2452]

Just got back from doing a job in Limehouse, loads of room in there at the moment, I have to say I always find them accommodating whether boating or working, including the SA guy and they always let me park in the lock area. South Dock (where my workshop and offices are) is undergoing improvements, the comms to central London are great, take the Thames Clipper from the marina to all the tourist areas. Facilities are basic but improving and the recent addition of a Tesco Metro right outside the main basin has made provisioning easy. The staff are second to none and there are good onsite facilities for emergency repairs etc. Oh, and the resident berth holders are very friendly and helpful.