05/11/2025
🚤 The Real Story Behind the Cross-Harbour Ferry
Lately, there’s been a bit of confusion about who actually runs the Cross Harbour Ferry — and whether it’s a Bristol City Council service.
Let’s clear that up once and for all 👇
We’re not the council.
We’re an independent team who’ve been running the ferry since 2006, when the original charity funding ended and the service went out to tender.
Back then, the council gave us £36,000 a year to operate at limited hours — but we thought Bristol deserved better. So we ran all day, from 7:30am to 6:15pm (now 8:00-6:15), without extra pay. Over time, passenger numbers grew, and within five years, we turned it from a loss-maker into a self-sustaining service.
When the contract came up again, we bid to run it for zero subsidy — and won.
Since then, it’s cost Bristol taxpayers nothing.
Over the years, we’ve faced our share of challenges:
🌉 The long Vauxhall Bridge closure has hit us hard — costing around £20,000 a year in lost takings.
⚓ The council doubled our mooring fees, while offering very little support.
💡 We’ve asked for better lighting on the landings for passenger safety — half achieved (lights on one side).
💷 During the pandemic, we received no real help, yet we kept the ferry alive.
Even in the snow, when buses stopped and trains froze, we kept going — smashing through the ice to get people across. It even made Australian TV! 🇦🇺
Today, we’re proud to still serve Bristol — every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day — from 8:00am to 6:15pm weekdays and from 10:30am to 5:30pm on weekends. But costs keep climbing, and we want to do more.
Our goal now is to extend service until 10pm, so more of you can use it in the evenings.
To do that, we need to finish work on our second boat, Reckless, which will cost around £35,000–£45,000 to complete.
Were seeking ways to finance this step up— and we’d love your thoughts.
Would you support a longer-running, locally operated ferry that’s served Bristol faithfully for nearly 20 years — without costing the council a penny?
💬 Tell us what you think in the comments.
🚤 Every share helps keep Bristol moving.
