Hamble-Warsash Ferry Shelter

The Hamble-Warsash Ferry, which serves the River Hamble in Hampshire, England, has operated for centuries — its earliest records of operation date back to 1493. Providing “on-demand” ferry service between the villages of Hamble-le-Rice and Warsash, the Ferry is also known for its pink-clad fleet of boats and ferry shelter.

Built in the 1900s, the Ferry Shelter is located on the Warsash side. Commissioned by The Bugle Pub, the shelter was originally used to store kegs. It also served as a place for travelers to wait out unpleasant weather conditions like rain. For years, the Ferry operated using rowing boats. During the 1960s and 70s, the Ferry was run by local boatman Ray Sedgwick, who would also hire out boats to visiting tourists.

The service later transitioned to motorized boats and in 2002, the Ferry changed ownership. That same year, its boats were painted in the vivid pink color. The current service is run with two ferry boats, “Claire” and “Emily”. Each boat carries a maximum twelve passengers.

A foot-passenger-only service, the Ferry can be accessed by a wooden jetty on the Warsash side and a steel lattice bridge on the Hamble-le-Rice side. Once a vital connector between the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton, the Ferry continues to provide a link to popular footpaths including the Solent Way and the National Cycle Route #2.