About Us...

Established in 1977 by the City Dock Venturers, who purchased and refurbished one small open boat; the local boat 'Margaret'; who had been the last operating Lamplighter / Pill ferry (connecting Shirehampton and Pill; either side of the River Avon) until the early 1970s.

The City Dock Venturers raised the funds after a canny purchase of four cranes (still stand outside the old Industrial Museum) to save them from demolition, then sold them back to the Council at a profit on a later date; had funds available.

At that time the floating harbour had become the backwater of Bristol; no longer seen to be of value and with pollution levels far below par ( and a large rat population to boot!). However, passion for the old harbour still ran through the city; feelings that it did have a future, despite no longer being the centre of trade in the city; and that it was a precious resource worth fighting for. In fact, feeling had been so strong in the 1960s that one individual travelled to London to successfully lobby parliament against a scheme to fill in the entire harbour and turn it into a major road scheme!

In 1978 Ian Bungard bought the business. It operated as 'one man and his dog' (the famous 'Jango'; who was a huge character around the docks; even making headlines on the local news 'Points West' on his death!), and of course 'Margaret' too.  Ian slowly built up the business and worked through all seasons; running private charters, a ferry service and even started a commuter service. His fleet grew too; collecting various vessels from different parts of the country, and; of course; additional staff. By the end of Ian's time with the company it was based on a dutch barge in the harbour (which he had personally sailed over from Amsterdam), and the ferry fleet had expanded to 5 boats; with Independence in 1981, 'Countess' (now with different owners and being rebuilt at The Underfall Yard, within the Harbour) in 1983, Emily in 1992 and the purpose built Matilda in 1997.

Today the company is owned by Jane Salvidge (centre front in photo) and her husband Rob Salvidge (second from left). Jane runs the many and varied strands of the company, which has burgeoned even further since they took over the company 9 years ago. Both had worked for Ian; Jane in the role as office manager.

Since the Salvidges have taken over the fleet has swelled further with the aquisition of Elizabeth (named after Jane's mother), and in 2006 the purchase of 'Boats At Bristol' with her two ex-lifeboat ferry boats; Taurus and Mercury and also the launch of the purpose built Brigantia. In 2007 the company celebrated 30 years of business with a big celebration (see photo)!  Summer 2010 sees the company going ashore, enjoying the benefits of a land-based front-of-house so we can see folk in person and talk about all our lovely trips.  Our new place will be next to the new Tourist Infromation centre on the waterfront, so watch this space, or should we say that space which will be called 'Harbour-Side'!

The range of trips has blossomed from the well-established booze cruise, river trip and Avon Gorge trade to include; comprehensive curriculum-based educational commentary and interactive tours, wine-tasting cruises, pirate trips and hen dos. In addition the commuter service still delivers workers to and from home, daytime timetabled ferry services have increased dramatically, and the company works closely with many festivals and events that now grace the revitalised harbourside delivering visitors to the door. Public trips have also expanded their net; with a series of performance poetry and prose events called 'Word Boat', cream teas, wildlife tours and the incredibly popular 'Sail with Santa' trips too!