Southwold

Turkeys voting for Christmas syndrome here I think. Oh well, there's one born every minute if they think £20 for a 9m boat with no facilities on offer whatsoever is good value.

Or just a cheap chance to snipe at someone who isn't so foolish as to want to waste their money and is willing to speak out about it...

How much for a night at the Nobs and Snobs? £24 isn't it? Full facilities inc washing machines in one of the most glorious yacht clubs on the E coast. Reastaurants, bars, you name it.

Shotley, about the same price. Full facilities, £millions spent on infrastructure. Bradwell £20. Ditto.

Southwold. No facilities if you arrive at the "wrong" time or the couple of pontoons provided are "busy" with a handful of boats.

Does not even start to compare.

Be a little careful to think before flaming people if you please, its got noting to do with Southwold being a nice place or that the cafes are good, all I commented on was the extortionate rates for lousy or non existent services on the moorings.

They're just way, way out of line with the other facilities on the same coast.
 
Had a lovely stay there this year.
Harbourmasters are the best - really good chaps. The harbourmasters put those bathrooms in themselves because of the limited budget. OK they are shower-rooms, not bathrooms, but they are as big as a domestic bathroom with shower, sink and heads - really nice to use and Mrs P particularly liked them. As they are part of the harbourmaster's office it has to be locked out of hours.
Harbour Marine helpful. Javelin was away and Greg gave me ten minutes of advice re the engine issue that arisen and seemed to have sorted itself.
Kippers for breakfast from Samantha K's fish stall.
Town if you like that sort of thing - harbour of a very different character.
Enough fresh water for everyone with long hoses.
If the electric is busy, get a splitter to get yourself a supply (electric a bit expensive)

Think we stayed six nights (waited for the late August storm to blow through) for about £150 and had a lovely time in the loveliest surroundings and we met some very nice people.
 
teredo said:
...
Be a little careful to think before flaming people if you please, its got noting to do with Southwold being a nice place or that the cafes are good, all I commented on was the extortionate rates for lousy or non existent services on the moorings. ....
Click to expand...
If that was true, why post it twice on old, unrelated threads... looks like you got a grouse to me.
 
teredo said:
Oh well, there's one born every minute if they think £20 for a 9m boat with no facilities on offer whatsoever is good value.
Click to expand...

But there are facilities.

I was on a floating pontoon with electric and water very close by.

My boat was personally welcomed by two harbourmasters having kept in required contact with them. For some reason the engine conked out as I spun her round in the tide under their watchful eye (boat had motored all the way from the Deben so work that out if you can !). I managed to get her going again at minimal revs and nursed her towards them whereupon they took her warps and had me alongside in short order. Those of you who know Southwold and its 'strong' tide will know the amount of relief this brought to Mrs P and me. This is an example of the kind of facilities I prefer.

When we were not on the boat during the day, she was under the watchful eye of the harbourmasters' office - who knew us well already. Our boat was secure. If we had not been aboard when the storm came through and there had been an issue, they would have got off their backsides and done something because they cared.

With a great cafe (daytime) and a great Adnams pub serving good food (evening) what more can you want. Ah, more, well there are great foody shops in town and great wine to be bought. Bicycle hire at the campsite where there is washing machine (I think).

When I discussed the engine with HM, "Go and see Greg at HM" and Greg gave freely of his time and advice. We have Javelin of this parish based there whose knowledge and willingness to help is publicised here.

Coming in late shouldn't be a problem. Peeps who turned up next to us (Hi Phil) had been in touch with HM and were expected late and told clearly where to go. The Dutchies just turn up when the wind tells 'em - they don't have a problem.

It is a destination harbour not a convenient boat park. When you sit in the cockpit and look around you see glorious Suffolk countryside and an unspoilt harbour. With a limited budget they have continually improved facilities - certainly from when we first started going there.

All about expectations really. If you want a marina, why go to Southwold. If I wanted a gorgeous, authentic harbour with knowledgeable staff on hand I wouldn't turn up at Woolverstone.

Perhaps the better comparison is Halfpenny Pier. Nice chaps, no facilities for anyone, rollercoaster 'ride' and, from recollection, about £15. Well, you pays your money....
 
teredo said:
Turkeys voting for Christmas syndrome here I think. Oh well, there's one born every minute if they think £20 for a 9m boat with no facilities on offer whatsoever is good value.

Or just a cheap chance to snipe at someone who isn't so foolish as to want to waste their money and is willing to speak out about it...

How much for a night at the Nobs and Snobs? £24 isn't it? Full facilities inc washing machines in one of the most glorious yacht clubs on the E coast. Reastaurants, bars, you name it.

Shotley, about the same price. Full facilities, £millions spent on infrastructure. Bradwell £20. Ditto.

Southwold. No facilities if you arrive at the "wrong" time or the couple of pontoons provided are "busy" with a handful of boats.

Does not even start to compare.

Be a little careful to think before flaming people if you please, its got noting to do with Southwold being a nice place or that the cafes are good, all I commented on was the extortionate rates for lousy or non existent services on the moorings.

They're just way, way out of line with the other facilities on the same coast.
Click to expand...


Southwold seems to be making you very angry, my advice would be to stay away from it and only go to places that make you happy.
 
Poecheng said:
If I wanted a gorgeous, authentic harbour with knowledgeable staff on hand I wouldn't turn up at Woolverstone....
Click to expand...

Depends what you mean by knowledgable. For facilities and helpful staff Woolverstone takes a lot of beating. A few years ago recovering from a replacement knee op walking wasn't my strong point. knowing the walk up to the bus stop on our way to Ipswich they used the marina truck to take us up and on our return met us at the bus stop to run us back. That's what I call service.
No bias just another MDL berth holder:)
 
Poecheng said:
But there are facilities.

I was on a floating pontoon with electric and water very close by.

My boat was personally welcomed by two harbourmasters having kept in required contact with them. For some reason the engine conked out as I spun her round in the tide under their watchful eye (boat had motored all the way from the Deben so work that out if you can !). I managed to get her going again at minimal revs and nursed her towards them whereupon they took her warps and had me alongside in short order. Those of you who know Southwold and its 'strong' tide will know the amount of relief this brought to Mrs P and me. This is an example of the kind of facilities I prefer.

When we were not on the boat during the day, she was under the watchful eye of the harbourmasters' office - who knew us well already. Our boat was secure. If we had not been aboard when the storm came through and there had been an issue, they would have got off their backsides and done something because they cared.

With a great cafe (daytime) and a great Adnams pub serving good food (evening) what more can you want. Ah, more, well there are great foody shops in town and great wine to be bought. Bicycle hire at the campsite where there is washing machine (I think).

When I discussed the engine with HM, "Go and see Greg at HM" and Greg gave freely of his time and advice. We have Javelin of this parish based there whose knowledge and willingness to help is publicised here.

Coming in late shouldn't be a problem. Peeps who turned up next to us (Hi Phil) had been in touch with HM and were expected late and told clearly where to go. The Dutchies just turn up when the wind tells 'em - they don't have a problem.

It is a destination harbour not a convenient boat park. When you sit in the cockpit and look around you see glorious Suffolk countryside and an unspoilt harbour. With a limited budget they have continually improved facilities - certainly from when we first started going there.

All about expectations really. If you want a marina, why go to Southwold. If I wanted a gorgeous, authentic harbour with knowledgeable staff on hand I wouldn't turn up at Woolverstone.

Perhaps the better comparison is Halfpenny Pier. Nice chaps, no facilities for anyone, rollercoaster 'ride' and, from recollection, about £15. Well, you pays your money....
Click to expand...

Totally agree with all you say about Southwold especially the cheerful helpful HMs, only one small point, if you do venture in to Ha'Penny Pier and stay overnight there are 2 first class shower rooms with WC and washbasin, the HM will give you the code. The cafe on the Pier does excellent breakfasts as well.
 
Wells might be another comparison. Very few pontoon berths, few (but good) facilities and a lovely place to be. 9m boat would be £23.

I wouldn't say £20 for Southwold was a bargain, neither would i say it was a ripoff, looks to be about where it should be to me.
 
sunquest said:
Depends what you mean by knowledgable. For facilities and helpful staff Woolverstone takes a lot of beating. A few years ago recovering from a replacement knee op walking wasn't my strong point. knowing the walk up to the bus stop on our way to Ipswich they used the marina truck to take us up and on our return met us at the bus stop to run us back. That's what I call service.
No bias just another MDL berth holder:)
Click to expand...
For us 18 yrs ago Woolverstone was pennies short of £20 ( non MDL ) we havnt been back
 
Leighb said:
Totally agree with all you say about Southwold especially the cheerful helpful HMs, only one small point, if you do venture in to Ha'Penny Pier and stay overnight there are 2 first class shower rooms with WC and washbasin, the HM will give you the code. The cafe on the Pier does excellent breakfasts as well.
Click to expand...

Ah, thanks. Memory fading as we didn't go to Ha'Penny Pier this year. I remember them now and very nice too. Like Southwold you get a complete room to sort yourself out. Agree about the cafe as well.
 
sunquest said:
Depends what you mean by knowledgable. For facilities and helpful staff Woolverstone takes a lot of beating. A few years ago recovering from a replacement knee op walking wasn't my strong point. knowing the walk up to the bus stop on our way to Ipswich they used the marina truck to take us up and on our return met us at the bus stop to run us back. That's what I call service.
No bias just another MDL berth holder:)
Click to expand...

It's really nice to know that - Suffolk kindness. In truth I picked Woolverstone a bit at random to make a point. I thought of Shotley but know the chaps there are well thought of.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top