St Kats - and London marinas - Not exactly customer focussed.

phatcat1

phatcat1

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We have been cruising to London as a club at Easter for quite a few years now and have been regular apart from 2012 as the Olympics rather put paid to the trip.

This year we have had lots of dialogue with St Kats, and spoken to various different staff who all give differing stories but suffice to say they are full and we can't visit. We have been trying to book with them since pre-Christmas and repeatedly get told we are not taking bookings until XXXX date, which has shifted on and on this year. Eventually we were told that they would take booking from last Monday (even though they already had the details of the 6 boats wanting to visit and the dates from various emails etc we have sent over the months). We then duly called on the Monday as instructed where we were told they are now full and can't take us.

We are 6 friendly boats that have used St Kats for many years and are happy to raft out as we have done in previous years. St Kats advertise an "Events pontoon" where they can raft visiting boats but apparently we don't qualify for that.

St Kats seemed to be getting less and less customer focussed over the years and it seems impossible to get a visitors berth there now. Maybe four 36's and two 33's for 4 days aren't big enough for them when it comes to revenue.

The real annoying part is that they have waited so long to tell us there is no room. We have all booked time off work to make the trip and were looking forward to it, only to be kept hanging on for some weeks. The 3 or 4 staff we have spoken to all seem to have different ways of working and different attitudes to customers on the phone, from down-right rude through to mild politeness.

I then rang Limehouse in the hope they may want us - only to be told we're not taking bookings for Easter yet......... call us 4 weeks before!!!!

Aaaaarrrrgghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Is it just me?????????
 
in fairness when you do get in it is a prime location and actually relatively low priced when taking that into account. The no advance bookings thing is a pain though and I was once told to just turn up and they would fit me in somehow (38 ft) They did too, but a bit nerve racking when the plan b options within the tide parameters are so few.
 
st599 said:
What's Gallions Point like? It looks near a DLR stop.
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Its about a 15 minute walk (you have to walk all the way round as you can't walk over the bridge that shows on the map). There is definitely no petrol (although there is a petrol station nearby if you have a car), also they try to help out if pos by arranging to get some in from somewhere if you ask! I can't remember if they have diesel, I have a feeling that they theoretically do, but check before going. Its also worth checking to see how long before/after HW the lock is open as its not always the HW +/- 5hrs advertised (it may be now, I haven't been there for a year or so).

All that aside, the staff are friendly and helpful and its much cheaper than anywhere in central London, you are also almost guaranteed a berth!

The other downside is that there isn't really anywhere nearby within walking distance (other than the DLR stop).
 
Isn't another downside that it is pretty much right under the flight path of London City Airport?

Aside from that the lock opens for a larger part of the tidal cycle than the other London marinas, I can't really seen the attraction of Gallion's point as you are long way from where the action is.

Edit - I understand Limehouse now also has a maximum number of weeks in advance that you can make bookings
 
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Chattinglil who has a boat in St Kats told me yesterday that they were intent on bumping up berthing fees to a level where the place would be full of gin palaces who don't care about the cost of a place in London. This is because the new manager is on a mission to turn a profit instead of losses as previously. She still doesn't know what her berth will cost on renewal on 1st April. No respect for berth holders or visitors.
 
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Gallions point has one slight problem in that it is actually the end of the runway for London City. If you Google Map it you will see. Its also quite a way out of the city.
 
South Dock is run by the local council, so it is difficult to book a berth. They are also not sure of their locking times at the mo - great start!
 
Is West India/Millwall dock an option?

Went there with MYC a few years ago. To my knowledge not available to individuals but take bookings for groups.
Lock in and out around HW once each way over the weekend.
Might be worth a phone call.
 
Seajet said:
Every comment I have seen about St Kat's is negative; must be the London syndrome, ' make everything as scruffy, rude and expensive as possible '...
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Perhaps that's giving them a bit more planning and organisational ability then is actually available ;)

All started to go downhill a few years ago when they were bought out and got rid the then manager.

Limehouse are a nice bunch though, and South dock once you get there. Gallions point have always said no.
 
Gallions is handy if you need to be in that area, e.g. at Excel. But the airport traffic is a turn-off if you plan to be on board for any length of time during the day. No flights for most of Sunday, though. There is diesel but it's behind the lock.
West India is definitely for groups, this is because of the huge lock. When I last asked they needed groups of 10 or more.
South Dock is not a bad place at all. It's council run, as someone has already pointed out, so you get the attitude you'd expect. But they are fine if you make the allowances. Transport links are good.
Disturbing to hear about the changing attitude at St.Kats. It's basically a great place to stay if you want to 'do' London for a few days, but it does sound as though it's becoming impractical.
 
Limehouse and South Dock are from March this year resident only, St Kats I suspect is trying to do the same. They tell me if you ring a few days before they my have one or two spaces if a resident is out. It s all about maximising income I am afraid. Basically the capital city of our country is no longer accepting marine visitors.
 
MoodySabre said:
Chattinglil who has a boat in St Kats told me yesterday that they were intent on bumping up berthing fees to a level where the place would be full of gin palaces who don't care about the cost of a place in London. This is because the new manager is on a mission to turn a profit instead of losses as previously. She still doesn't know what her berth will cost on renewal on 1st April. No respect for berth holders or visitors.
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if that's what I said, then it's not quite what I meant.:o As far as I know, none of the berth holders here know anything about anything. We were originally told that our renewal notices would be delivered in mid January, but noone I know has yet heard anything. I have been told by the manager that everyone who is currently here will definitely be offered a berth, but it will be an annual contract and it will be more expensive than before. It's all about bums on seats and keeping the marina full. Annual contracts will guarantee that, but it does mean that it's the end of short planned visits. You will only get in as visitor if they know someone else is away. The central basin will be kept relatively free so that the 10 or so boats in there can easily be moved to the east or west basins to make room for the regattas (clippers and classics, for eg).

toad said:
Limehouse and South Dock are from March this year resident only, St Kats I suspect is trying to do the same. They tell me if you ring a few days before they my have one or two spaces if a resident is out. It s all about maximising income I am afraid. Basically the capital city of our country is no longer accepting marine visitors.
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This is true, but I would argue that it's not really the capital city that is not accepting visitors. It's the privately owned businesses that now own the docks that noone else wanted when they were derelict - one of which is not really anything now but a water feature in the middle of a gated community surrounded by a few restaurants. There was nowt here 30 years ago!

I thought South Dock were still doing day and weekly rates though.
 
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