Welcome to Birdham Pool Marina

Tel: 01243 512310
Office opening hours:
Monday to Saturday: 9am - 5pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm
Open every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Bank Holidays.
 

Located six miles inside the entrance to Chichester Harbour, in an area of outstanding natural beauty, Birdham is a sheltered, locked marina of 290 berths. 

You'll be charmed by its unique character and wonderful blend of old and new. With the Old Mill building still standing next to the Lock, the 'Pool' still retains its original fascination as one of the last working tidal mill pools in Sussex. It is quaint and beautiful, yet provides modern facilities, a fully equipped boatyard and onsite marine tenants. The lock operates at free flow at the top of the tide.

A mix of pontoon berths for larger boats of up to 14.5 metres as well as pile berths and bow or stern to berths. Birdham has first class marina facilities and offers winter storage ashore and afloat.

For more information on any apsect of Birdham Pool Marina, to get a bespoke berthing quote, or to find out about our Flexible Berthing Scheme with Royal Clarence Marina, please call 01243 512310 or click here for our online enquiry form.

To read all about Birdham Pool and what is has to offer, click on our 2020 yearbook below:

 

​Lock Capacity
Beam: Max 4.0m/13.1ft
Length: Max overall 14.5m/47.6ft 
Draft: Max 1.9m/6.2ft
Depth: Depth over the sill @3 hours before and 4 hours after 1.2m

 

Castle Marinas is a member of TransEurope Marinas, a group of select marinas offering reciprocal visitor discounts to their berth-holders.

www.transeuropemarinas.com

Boat Sales at Birdham Pool Marina

RBS Marine are the official onsite brokers offering YBDSA accredited brokerage services for both Power and Sail yachts, they are also the UK distributors for the Rodman Fisher and Cruiser series of boats.

Sales assistance and advice is offered for both new and used boats, details of their services can be found HERE. 

A current list of boats available can be found here

Contact  +44 1243 512 101 or email ben@rbsmarine.com

 
  • Fiona Stott
    Book Keeper

    Fiona qualified as a bookkeeper in 2009 and based at Birdham Pool, works on the accounts liaising closely with colleagues from the Castle Marinas head office, both the coastal marinas and all five of the inland marinas.

  • Daisy Madgwick
    Accounts officer

    Daisy lives locally and is working in the Accounts department at Birdham Pool. Daisy is currently training to become an accountant and recently qualified as a bookkeeper. Daisy enjoys working closely with all the inland and coastal marinas and has said that she feels lucky to have found a job with great colleagues, amazing views and looks forward to furthering her career here.

  • John Hiltunen
    Marina Manager

    John has 38 years of management experience in the marine industry, including marine engineering, boat building, selling marine equipment, and boat sales. If John can’t answer your questions, he knows someone who can.

  • Susanne Mould
    Office Supervisor

    Sue started work at Birdham Pool Marina in April 2004, bringing over 18 year's experience in customer service whilst previously working at the Prudential Insurance Company and Woolwich Bank.

    Sue enjoys the variety of challenges that her job brings her and can be found in the smart new office often accompanied by her Border Collie, Bryn.

  • Alison Dunne
    Office Administrator

    Alison started at Birdham Pool in April 2017, and although she doesn’t have a ‘boating backround’ she is enjoying learning all the aspects of the Marina. 

    Alison says, “What a great place to work with stunning views”.

Explore the Marina

Marina in an area of outstanding natural beauty

Contact Castle Marinas using the following methods:

Email

Telephone

Marina office
01243 512310

Post

Castle Marinas Limited
Birdham Pool 
Birdham
Chichester
West Sussex 
PO20 7BG

Contact us form

Narrowboat Holidays with Castle Marinas

Castle marinas operates five marinas on the UK's inland waterways network including some of the UK's leading inland marinas catering for all types of narrowboats and river cruisers. From our base at Wigrams Turn Marina, we also run a Black Prince hire fleet of some 15 narrowboats, ideal for holidays of all types.

Black Prince Holidays offer award winning luxury narrowboat holidays from 9 locations across the UK, including Wigrams Turn Marina. All narrowboats have full central heating, 240v electric, Freeview,DVD and mobile WiFi, making the Black Prince Holidays fleet one the best equipped on the canal system.

Ideally situated at the head of the Oxford Canal, Wigrams Turn in Napton is a base that offers a starting point for a large number of interesting routes. The Warwickshire Ring, for the more energetic and experienced, contrasts the beautiful countryside around Warwick with city life and industry through Birmingham and Spaghetti Junction. Trips of beauty and interest can also be achieved, including Stratford Upon Avon, Oxford, Snarestone, or a visit to the Waterways Museum at Stoke Bruerne, depending on the number of locks you wish to negotiate.

Visit the Black Prince Holidays website for more details including special offers canal boat holidays.

www.black-prince.com

 

Marina Layout & Information

Birdham Pool Marina has 290 pontoon berths which include a mix of finger berths, alongside, pile berths and bow or stern to berths. To see a full marina layout please click here.

Birdham Pool Marina has a good range of facilites to offer berth holders and visitors. The marina office is open Mon – Sat 9am – 5pm Sun 10am – 4pm  Open every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day and Bank Holidays.

The Lock Keeper will be on duty at the lock between locking hours (please see the lock page).

Facilites include:

  • Sheltered berthing in a non tidal locked marina

  • Water and electricity

  • Shower and toilet block

  • Additional toilet block

  • New laundry facilities

  • Daily weather forecast at lock and shower block

  • Wireless broadband

  • CCTV

  • Storage ashore

  • Limited covered storage ashore

  • Marine service centre

  • Waste recycling

  • Brokerage

Security at the marina includes CCTV at various strategic points and nightly patrols are carried out.
Lock Operation
Birdham Pool Marina is situated in Chichester Harbour. It can be found on the southern edge of Chichester lake and is a non tidal basin except at high water springs when the lock is operated on free flow at the top of the tide. Normally, entrance and exit via the lock is available three and a half hours either side of Portsmouth high water within the locking hours below.

The duty Lock Keeper can be contacted on 07831 466815 during the normal operational times and VHF Channel 80 for locking instructions. Locking at other times is available by prior arrangement with the lock keeper on 01243 511482 or 07831 466815.

Tidal gauges are located on the seaward side of the channel to Birdham Pool Marina and on the Channel Piles. These indicate the height of the water on the lock cill.

The Lock at Birdham Pool Marina is manned three hours before and four hours after Portsmouth High Water and within the locking hours below.

Marina Lock Times

Lock Times 2020

1st January – 28th March            07:00 – 18:00 (7 Days per week)
29st March - 24th October         06:00 – 22:00 (7 Days per week)
25th October – 31st December   07:00 – 18:00 (7 Days per week)
Closed 25th & 26th December

Lock landline: 01243 511482
Lock Mobile:   07831 446815
VHF Channel:  80 (Call Sign - Birdham Pool Marina)

Lock Capacity

Beam: Max 4.0m/13.1ft
Length: Max overall 14.5m/47.6ft 
Draft: Max 1.9m/6.2ft
Depth: Depth over the sill @3 hours before and 4 hours after 1.2m

 

 

 

 
pontoon berthing facilities
Pontoon Services Electricity/Water/WIFI
Electricity and water are available on all pontoons for customers use. A metered electricity supply is provided for every berth, and is invoiced on a quarterly basis. Wi-fi is provided free of charge for email and general web browsing.
marina facilities for boat users
Toilets, Showers & Launderette
The Toilets, Showers and Launderette facilities are open 24/7 for berth holders. One toilet and shower facility is situated in the boatyard and another next to the mast rack.
Boatyard Maintenance & Repairs
Birdham Pool Marina Boatyard forms part of a marine service centre with many skilled craftsmen and engineers onsite. Marine trades for all areas of boat maintenance and repair.
 
Birdham Pool is a popular and busy boatyard. We offer the following services for boats wishing to come ashore:- 
  • Lift / slip and scrub
  • Antifouling / Painting
  • Stepping / unstepping and storage of masts

There are laying up facilities in the yard with space for approximately 90 craft plus limited covered storage.

Lifting Capacity

We have a new crane capable of lifting boats up to 30 tonnes and a boat mover capable of transporting boats of up to 30 tons

Maintnenance and Repairs

A number of skilled craftsmen and engineers operate from Birdham Marine Service Centre. From wooden boat specialists to marine engineers. They are available to help you with restoration, repair and maintenance projects on your boat and will be pleased to discuss your boating issues and requirements.

The Old Boatshed 
GRP Specialists in fabrications, bow thrusters, holding tanks, polishing, rib repairs.
Kevin Horn Tel: 07766 521575

Nelson Engineering 
Independent Volvo specialists, installations, repairs, service, maintenance.
Tony Nelson Tel: 07803 047863  http://www.nelsonengineering.co.uk

Tim Gilmore Ltd 
Repairs, restoration and maintenance of wooden boats.
Tim Gilmore Tel: 01243 513872  http://www.woodenboatsforever.co.uk 

Andrew Greenshields Marine Engineer, service, repair and installations
Tel: 07964 844029 agwestbn@googlemail.com

 

 

If you are looking for a boatyard for your boat, offering a great service at competitive prices contact Birdham Pool Marina.

Click here to contact us for further information on our boatyard prices

 
Secure and Accesible Berthing
Parking and Security
Birdham Pool is positioned on its own private road. There are CCTV surveillance cameras around the marina, and when possible the office is manned 7 days a week during office hours. We have security gate access to the main part of the marina, and a lock that is manned three and a half hours either side of high water. Our staff and lock keeper check the boats in the marina regularly during the day.
 
Free private parking is provided for berth holders and boating guests.
 
Winter Berthing & Hardstanding
Winter berthing and winter ashore deals.

Please download or print off our Winter Ashore Form.

Please download or print off our Winter Afloat Form.

For further information on boatyard offers and special winter ashore or afloat prices at Birdham Pool please click here

or Call John Hiltunen on 01243 512310

Boatyard Benefits for Berth Holders at Birdham 

Birdham Pool Marina is able to offer Annual Berth holders who pay their berthing fees in full and in advance Free Winter Storage Ashore (lifting and handling subject to charges)

PLUS one free Summer Lift and Scrub (April - September). For information on boatyard facilities, Winter ashore or afloat prices at Birdham Pool Marina please click here or call John Hiltunen, Manager on 01243 512310 or email info@birdhampool.co.uk

 

 

 
waste and recycling
Waste Disposal
Waste bins are provided behind office block, adjacent to D Jetty, and near the lock.
 
Marina Safety for boat owners
Marina Safety
At Birdham Pool Marina our primary function is to offer safe, secure and enjoyable boating to all our customers. In this respect we would like to draw your attention to the following matters. For your own safety and comfort and that of other marina users.
 
Pontoons can be slippery when its wet and icy. Please take care and wear suitable footwear. Please also take extra care at night and in strong winds.
 
If you are not a strong swimmer please wear a lifejacket. Children should wear a lifejacket at all times on the marina.
 
Children should be supervised at all times.
 
Dogs should be kept on a lead at all times on the marina.
 
Do not trail power cables across the pontoons or in the water.
 
Within the marina the foliowing things are prohibited:
  • Cycling 
  • Fishing
  • Barbecue
  • Swimming or Diving
  • Allowing children to ride in the trollies or run on pontoons
  • Allowing dogs to foul pontoons or surrounding areas

Emergency Procedures

Emergency boxes contain a life ring and throw line and a fire extinguisher.  

There are two manual fire alarm warning bells, one located outside the main office building and the other at the lock hut.

There is a first aid box located in the main office, workshop and at the Lock.

Please notify the Marina office immediately in the event of any incidents.

Contractors

All contractors must report to the Marina Office upon arrival and show proof of public liability of not less than £3 million.

The marina reserves the right to refuse access if paperwork is not provided. Keys must be signed in and out from the marina office only under the instruction from the boat owner.

Lines and Fenders

All lines and fenders are checked regularly throughout the day and more regularly in bad weather. Please ensure your fenders and lines are up to the job.

Waste Disposal

Please dispose of your waste correctly in the waste bins and recycling bins provided

Use of ‘onboard heads’ is prohibited within the marina unless a holding tank is in use

Noise

Please respect other peoples privacy and also ensure rigging is secured correctly

Extended Cruising

Please advise the Marina Office if you intend to be away for extended periods. Informing us of your movements will help with the security of the marina and your boat.

A full copy of the Marina Rules and Regulations is available upon request

 

 
Approach to Birdham Pool

After the successful dredging works to the channel approaching Birdham Pool Marina (Feb 2015), which has significantly increased the access, a chartlet has been designed to provide guidance on the approach.

Tidal gauges have been installed to the seaward side of the lock and the first of our channel piles showing the height of water over the lock sill.

Download Birdham Pool Chartlet (PDF)

+ Read more
Berthing Rates

At Birdham Pool Marina we offer a special combination of a fantastic cruising location with safe and secure berthing and great facilities.

Our berthing rates are extremely competitive and our staff would be delighted to be able to show you around the marina so you can see first hand the reasons our customers love Birdham so much. 

Please enquire at the Marina office for details, 01243 512310 or click here to use our online enquiry form. 

We're confident we can help!

We offer competitive berthing rates, a fully equipped boatyard onsite and special rates for winter berthing or storage ashore. Whether you are looking for a winter berthing deal or an annual berth do give us a call or email us at info@birdhampool.co.uk

 

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Chichester Harbour

The sheltered waters of Chichester Harbour are ideal for racing and day sailing.
Please observe the 8 knots speed limit which is in force for the whole of Chichester Harbour.

Over 10,000 craft use the harbour and there are some 5,500 moorings and 14 sailing clubs with over 11,000 members. Other popular activities include angling, birdwatching, walking, wildfowling, painting and photography.

The landscape of Chichester Harbour was formally recognised as being of national importance in 1964 when it was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Please click on the link for: Chichester Harbour Conservancy

+ Read more
Chichester Yacht Club

A ten minute walk from Birdham Pool Marina is Chichester Yacht Club, an all year round members' Club renowned for its friendly, informal atmosphere. The Clubhouse has fabulous views over Chichester Harbour, a restaurant & bar together with excellent facilities for all the family.

All berth holders at Birdham Pool Marina are welcome to become members of Chichester Yacht Club.

Click on the link to find out how to become a member Chichester Yacht Club.

 

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Birdham Classic Boat Festival
Brilliant Fun at Birdham Pool's Classic Boat Festival 2017

Birdham Pool's annual Classic Boat Festival on the first weekend in September 2018 was another fantastic event. Every year the festival gains momentum, with great guest musicians, artists, expert boat builders and of course many new visitors. The weather was perfect and the boats, cars and motor bikes looked stunning in the sunshine. The boardwalk decking along the edge of the marina also a popular vantage point and enjoyed by all and the new edition of Scuttlebutt café proved a winning combination.

The Festival is a great opportunity to look at some beautiful classic boats in the picturesque setting of Birdham.

Experts are on hand giving tips on all aspects of maintenance and restoration of classic boats.

Parking is free, Entry is Free and those with classic boats can join in the festival with a FREE overnight berth simply by dressing their boat overall.

For more photos look on the birdhams facebook page or contact the marina office for details about the 2018 Festival on 01243 512310 or email info@birdhampool.co.uk

 

 

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The History of Birdham Pool
The oldest marina in the UK

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