Which Ipswich marina ?

[Oldgeezer]

I'm thinking of sailing up to Ipswich on Wednesday and a quick google suggests there are two marinas - Haven and Neptune.

Can anyone recommend one - with a decent pub nearby for food?
And how do I negotiate the lock gates ?
And any idea on prices ? (8m yacht)
Any recommendations?

I've tried trawling the forum, but being a bit computer illiterate I'm not finding much help!

Many thanks

 

[Marmalade]

Lock gates - call Ipswich Port Control on Ch68 but not til you're through the Orwell bridge - inside the lock there's a pontoon to starboard and you come alongside it as with any marina pontoon. If busy go to front of lock obviously.

The 2 marinas:
Neptune: nearer the town although noisier (marginally) on a Saturday night. Showers and loos - you have to leave the secure dock area and they're behind the marina office
Haven: Further to walk if you want to go into town. Showers and loos in secure dock area ie closer.

From memory prices were v similar - we used to berth at Neptune for a couple of years so not sure if that's true for visitors - someone will come along and confirm, I'm sure.

 

[simplyred]

Haven marina probably best, quieter and a bit more space to maneuver between the pontoons, Good food at the Last Anchor on site, rare to have a marina in the center of town specially on the East Coast , I'm sure you will enjoy which ever marina you choose.
Lock easy to use as stated above, and if you arrive at high tide it may be on free flow, which makes life even easier.
Happy Daze

 

[MoodySabre]

Haven every time. To get to the loos at Neptune you have to walk up the road and through the marina office car park. It feels unsafe. It can also be noisy on the Neptune side.

The visitors berths at Haven are near the loos and showers. The walk into town is not more than a few minutes extra. The restaurant in Haven has a very good menu at sensible prices. There is an onsite bakery, wholesale mostly, where you can order the day before or have what is left in the morning. Very good stuff.

Haven a couple of weeks ago was £23.37 a night for a 31ft including electricity which was a bit extra. Staff not on duty after 6 pm so just find a slot outside their office - about pontoons J,K,L.

 

[pioneer]

Agree with moody sabre. Laundry on site is £3 for wash and dry. Suggest you get fuel on way in, on stb side as you enter Haven. £1.23 per litre incl VAT at 60/40 split. Water and leccy on pontoon, free wifi, also try Issac Lord for good range of beer and good range of veggie options. frre flow is up to high water but not after - call Ipswich Port Control on ch 68 for times. It's a good stop if shopping is needed, Sainsbogs near at hand and a Waitrose too. Bigger stores further away i.e. bus ride.

hope that helps,

Pioneer (spent too long in Ipswich recently!!)

 

[Tomahawk]

In Haven at the moment...

 

[Cantata]

Personally, Haven, without question, for all sorts of reasons.
I did a fair bit of walking around there a few months ago and I don't believe the Neptune is any nearer the shops you need, at all.

 

[pioneer]

When I said fuel on stb side as you go in I meant port side, of course. Fuel on the stb side is Neptune and if you're not staying there I'm not sure how they would view your custom. If refuelling it's worth doing it on the way in or leave plenty of time on the way out as you have to walk back to the office to pay.

 

[Tomahawk]

As in setthe lines to to port, ..

No other port....

 

[Oldgeezer]

Many thanks to all.

Haven here I come! Once I've dried out a bit (me, not the boat!)