Riverside favourite reopens at North Fambridge

One of Essex’s best-loved and oldest riverside inns is open for business again following extensive restoration works

There are six comfortable bedrooms in an annexe at The Ferry Boat Inn, available for bed and breakfast all-year-round.

The picturesque Ferry Boat Inn at North Fambridge has been documented as ‘a very good, substantial Public House’ since 1807, though there are records of a building having been on-site since the 16th century. Nestled beside the River Crouch and the popular local marina of Fambridge Yacht Haven, the timber-clad inn boasts a colourful and sometimes comical cast of former landlords and patrons. Now a Grade II listed building, it has welcomed travellers on foot, by horse and cart, more recently by car, bike, yacht, and – until the late 1990s – by ferry.

The Ferry Boat Inn, Ferry Road, North Fambridge, Essex CM3 6LR

Book your table or room online at www.ferryboatinnessex.com

01621 738844

After major renovations in 2021, the inn opened its doors once more to the public as lockdown restrictions lifted. Major interior and exterior refurbishments have added extra space and 21st-century comfort. The weather-boarded inn is open seven days a week for lunch, dinner and drinks, and there are also six refurbished bedrooms in an annexe, available for bed and breakfast all-year-round. Most importantly, the 16th-century character and charm remains within this much-loved inn.

Visitors will find ample free car parking, electric vehicle charging and visitor berthing for those arriving by boat. The scenic riverside footpath provides the perfect pre-curser to a visit to the inn with views of mudflats and salt marshes which are home to a variety of wildlife. The neighbouring Blue House Farm Nature Reserve is an area internationally important for wildlife and a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Visitors arriving by boat can enjoy one of Essex’s most comprehensive boating facilities. It is not hard to see why Fambridge Yacht Haven is commonly referred to as ‘the jewel of the River Crouch’.

The marina is split across two sites: on the riverside is the Yacht Station with access to the marina’s 120 river moorings, visitor pontoon, boatyard and The Ferry Boat Inn; within Stow Creek is the Yacht Haven and the 200berth marina, indoor and outdoor boat storage, 40 ton boat hoist and marina café.

Suitable for boats up to 16m in length and up to 18 tons, owners get complimentary use of a floating tender pontoon and seven-day ferry service. There’s even a handy pontoon for easy pick up/drop off of crew and belongings.

The friendly nature of Fambridge Yacht Haven is likely owing to the fact that most berth holders have been here for many years and have had the time to get to know each other and the staff. Its location means that it’s far more rural than many other marinas, allowing boaters to sit onboard in peace and quiet, rather than being disturbed by the slamming of gates and hum of machinery. It also means that if you need assistance then you don’t have to wait.

Fambridge Yacht Haven is suitable for boats up to 16m in length and up to 18 tons. Owners get complimentary use of a floating tender pontoon and seven-day ferry service. There’s even a handy pontoon for easy pick up and drop off of crew and belongings.

Fambridge Yacht Haven, Church Road, North Fambridge, Essex CM3 6LU www.yachthavens.com

01621 740370