Mooring holders have helped to celebrate the grand opening of Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour boatshed after a £2m redevelopment to create workshops, waterfront offices and meeting rooms with panoramic views across the Beaulieu River.
Lord Montagu invited Olympian Vita Heathcote to cut the ribbon and open the impressive building at the annual berth and mooring holders’ summer party. The special guest, from Lymington, became Team GB’s youngest member competing in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Joining them in the VIP line-up was one of the yacht harbour’s first customers Joanne Husband – who, with her husband Tom, has made the Beaulieu River home for their British Folkboat Tomic for over half a century – as well as one of the newest mooring holders, Dewi Thomas.
Lord Montagu said: “The redevelopment of the boatshed is an important next step following the major renewal and extension of Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour in 2021. It is good to see this 54-year-old building given a new lease of life and brought up to the standards required by today’s marine industry. The refurbished boatshed provides the opportunity for marine businesses to relocate to the Beaulieu River so that we can offer the best facilities and services to our mooring holders.”
Mooring holders’ party
Guests were entertained throughout the day by a display of classic American cars and Lindy Hop dancing, a surf machine, vintage games, animals from the Countryside Education Trust, plus stands by the Ellen McArthur Cancer Trust, Parker Adams on-site yacht broker, Hudson Marine and New Forest Marque. Tours were also offered on board the newly transformed and renamed Fair Lady of Beaulieu. The 100-year-old vessel was a pleasure vessel around northern France and the Solent before serving as a patrol boat during WWII, then renovated by new owners to become a beautiful modern classic.
Harbour Master Wendy Stowe said: “Our summer party has become a key date on our calendar to bring together the Beaulieu River Community for great fun, live music and a friendly catch-up over a cold drink and bite to eat. We receive lovely comments about how much our berth and mooring holders enjoy it.”
Boatshed tours
Mooring holders were invited to tour the new boatshed for a first glimpse inside its five first-floor offices and two meeting rooms, plus a workshop which is tall enough to accommodate the full height of a boat, and two further bays which are also fully insulated with roller shutter doors for boatyard services.
Rentals are going fast but for more details and enquiries visit:
Letting terms include parking, a communal kitchen, electricity and Wi-fi (subject to service charge). Office lets can also include the use of meeting rooms and a secure leased line share to offer guaranteed bandwidth. Or meeting rooms can be hired by the day or half-day. Preference will be given to tenants who provide value-added services for boat owners on the marina’s 200 fully-serviced walk-ashore pontoon berths and 300 river moorings, as well as more than 10,000 visitors who stay there each year.
A new marina shop, chandlery and reception have also opened, providing quality food and drink, newly designed gift ranges, boating supplies and a cafe area where customers can sit and relax with service provided by the Beaulieu River team.
The new boatshed and facilities are now open in time for the 2025 summer sailing season.
For more details about Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour and the Beaulieu River, berths or moorings visit www.beaulieuriver.co.uk or call 01590 616200.
