Fox’s Marina
Fox’s Marina is located on the banks of the River Orwell in Suffolk in an area of outstanding natural beauty.
Fox’s Boatyard is internationally renowned for its extensive refit and repair facilities, the friendliness and knowledge of its staff and the quality of workmanship across every department.
The marina enjoys 24-hour, deep water access, is within easy reach of Suffolk’s county town of Ipswich and has excellent road and rail connections.
Fox’s is also one of the few locations on the east coast where it is possible to haul out vessels up to 26m LOA and up to 70 tonnes and to have any conceivable type of work carried out by a dedicated team of in-house craftsmen, all under one roof.
FACILITIES
Fox’s has its own on-site chandlery, Fox’s Chandlery, overlooking the marina. It is easily the largest chandlery on the east coast, with over 7,000sq ft of retail space, and specialises in an extensive range of chandlery, electronics and technical gear for the boat and yacht owner, alongside a range of quality clothing and footwear brands available in store or to purchase online.
The store also stocks a range of basic provisions, soft drinks and ice creams and so on.
There is a small convenience shop selling basic grocery items and newspapers together with a petrol station alongside the marina. In addition all the leading supermarkets are within three miles and can easily be reached by taxi.
Additional services and facilities
- Coded gate security to pontoons
- Marina staff available seven days
- Free secure car parking
- Fuel
- Water
- Electricity
- Showers and toilets
- Large chandlery located alongside the marina
- Range of gas cylinders
- Extensive on site boat refit and repair facility
- Extensive, heated undercover workshops plus custom paint spray shop
- Rigging Department – Seldén approved technical center
- Marine Engineering Department
- Marine Electronics Department
- Stainless Fabrication Department
- 70 and 50 tonne travel lifts
- On site Manitou, scissor and forklifts for access/handling
- Hardstanding, custom steel cradles for secure laying up plus boat mover
- Fox’s Marina Yacht Club Bar & Restaurant
- On site CCTV
- Free WiFi
- Brokerage and new boat sales offices on site – Beneteau, Gunfleet, Hardy, Oyster
- Local sailmaker
- Member of the TransEurope Marinas scheme
- Seldén approved Technical Centre
BERTHING & STORAGE
With 100 berths and ashore standing for 180 plus, Fox’s accommodates both leisure and commercial vessels up to 26m LOA and 3m draft.
The marina offers walk aboard berthing, 24-hour unrestricted access to the Orwell and Stour estuaries, Harwich Harbour and the sea, plus fresh water and 220v power on all berths.
Their relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff and proximity to Ipswich, coupled with excellent national road and rail connections, Stanstead airport and Harwich international port, all make Fox’s a popular destination for crew changes, short and longer term storage and refit work.
ACCESS
Fox’s Marina is an easy 90-minute sail or motor up the River Orwell from Harwich Harbour.
The River Orwell and its approaches are used by commercial shipping, and yachts must keep to the correct channel in the entrance to the river whilst navigating Harwich Harbour and maintain a listening watch on the VHF at all times. When approaching Fox’s Marina, call the Harbour Master on VHF channel 80 or telephone 07515 051439 or 01473 689111.
By road, Fox’s Marina is just two minutes from the A12/A14 intersection, with direct routes from London and the Midlands.
Ipswich mainline rail station – 10 minutes by car/taxi
London Liverpool Street – 60 minutes by rail
Stanstead Airport – 60 minutes by car/taxi
Harwich International Ferry terminal – 30 minutes by car/taxi
CRUISING
Within easy reach of numerous scenic destinations, Fox’s makes a great base from which to explore the east coast. The adjacent River Stour is particularly charming, with numerous anchorages.
The Walton Backwaters is made up of numerous creeks, inlets and islands to explore, including the beautiful sandy spit and lagoons at Stone Point.
To the south, the Colne and Blackwater estuaries offer varied sailing, while heading north takes you to the River Deben where you can cruise upriver past Ramsholt (The Ramsholt Arms is a really lovely riverside pub and well worth a lunchtime stop – theramsholtarms.com), passing Waldringfield and on to the pretty town of Woodbridge, with its numerous facilities, pubs and restaurants.
A little further up the coast is the River Ore/Alde and the ancient riverside port of Orford with its unique shingle spit and on to Aldeburgh, a gem of a seaside town on Suffolk’s Heritage coast and close to the famous Snape Maltings music and arts centre.
For those wishing to head further afield, Ostend is only 79 miles from Harwich, and Belgium and France are all within easy reach.
The marina recommends that cruising yachtsmen obtain a copy of the Imray East Coast Pilot and the East Coast Rivers Cruising Companion. Both are available from foxschandlery.com.
The River Orwell estuary is specially protected because of its national and international importance for wildlife, and is an important habitat for a wide variety of wintering birds.
www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org/estuaries
LOCAL EATERIES
Fox’s Yacht Club provides a friendly welcome to visiting yachtsmen and serves reasonably priced good food and beer. Opening times vary depending on the season. fmyc.org.uk
The Oyster Reach is a traditional pub overlooking the marina – open all day and serving good pub food and a range of local beers. The adjoining Premier Inn provides good value accommodation if you need extra beds for visiting guests during your stay.
A short walk down river takes you to the Suffolk Food Hall – winner of the best Local Food Venue in the UK, which has a fantastic café and restaurant with views over the river and is a wonderful place to stock up with local produce and meat from the farm. suffolkfoodhall.co.uk
A little further on you will find the newly refurbished The Boot at Freston, a real gem of a find. thefrestonboot.co.uk
A longer walk along the river (or short RIB trip) takes you to Pin Mill, where the Butt & Oyster, one of the best-loved riverside pubs in Suffolk, is renowned for its good beer, good food and great views. It is associated with and famously features in Arthur Ransome’s novel We Didn’t Mean to go to Sea. debeninns.co.uk/buttandoyster
The Ipswich waterfront has many popular restaurants and bars, whilst within a 10 mile radius there are numerous fantastic country pubs and restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets.
THINGS TO DO
In past centuries, Ipswich and its river were famed throughout the world for the innovation and quality of its shipbuilding, with such famous designers as Sir Thomas Slade, the naval architect of Nelson’s Flagship, HMS Victory, who is buried in St Clement’s churchyard in Ipswich. In 1797 Lord and Lady Nelson moved to Ipswich, and in 1800 Lord Nelson was appointed High Steward of Ipswich.
The town’s reputation for quality and skilled shipbuilding had already been established in past centuries such that many of the Admiralty-commissioned wooden warships were constructed there. Since the early days of yachting for pleasure, this same tradition of invention and world-beating revolutionary new design flourished, and continues to flourish in local boatyards such as Fox’s today.
Ipswich is one of the Haven ports and is still a working port, handling several million tonnes of cargo each year.
One of Ipswich’s most famous sons, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, was born in Ipswich around 1475. One of Henry VIII’s closest political allies, he founded a college in the town in 1528, before falling out of favour with Henry VIII.
The River Orwell is also home to the 1931 Bermudian cutter Nancy Blackett, once owned by Swallows and Amazons author, Arthur Ransome who lived at Pin Mill.
There are many miles of scenic footpaths along both sides of the Rivers Orwell, Stour and Deben and throughout the Shotley Peninsula. A public footpath passes through the marina, which links to the coastal path along the River Orwell.
The South Suffolk cycle route can be joined a short distance from the marina and includes signed leisure routes through some of the prettiest villages in Suffolk. sustrans.org.uk
Christchurch Mansion – This beautiful Tudor mansion is the jewel in the crown of Ipswich’s historic past boasting over 500 years of history. cimuseums.org.uk/Christchurch-Mansion
Jimmy’s Farm – Jimmy Doherty is the UK’s most famous farmer with numerous TV series and books to his credit. His 100-acre farm, Jimmy’s Farm, just two miles from Fox’s Marina, has an award-winning restaurant, a nature trail, a butterfly house, various shops and holds numerous science and food festivals throughout the year. jimmysfarm.com
Flatford Mill – Famous the world over as the location of John Constable’s The Haywain and gateway to the beautiful Stour valley.
Languard Fort – Landguard Fort, standing at the mouth of the River Orwell, is the site of the last opposed seaborne invasion of England in 1667 and the first land battle of the Royal Marines. The current fort was built in the 18th century and modified in the 19th century with substantial additional 19th-20th century outside batteries. english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/landguard-fort
Sutton Hoo – Sutton Hoo Anglo Saxon burial site, is a short drive away near Woodbridge. This hauntingly beautiful 255-acre estate, with far-reaching views over the river Deben, is home to one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time. Visit the ancient burial mounds and discover the incredible story of the ship burial of an Anglo-Saxon king and his treasured possessions.
nationaltrust.org.uk/sutton-hoo
Orford Ness – An internationally important nature reserve with a fascinating 20th century military history, this remote shingle spit, the largest in Europe, can only be reached by ferry from Orford.
nationaltrust.org.uk/orford-ness
RECOMMENDATIONS
“Another great pit stop at Fox’s! Thanks to all the team for the efficient, friendly service in conducting my Beneteau 37’s bi-annual eight week pit stop. This being my second visit in two years, the distance from my home port in London is well worth the trip to take advantage of the TLC and excellent customer support. Nothing is ever too much trouble and for a yard with such a broad range of services, the fees are very competitive indeed. We will be back!”
John Grimshaw, Beneteau 37, Miss Molly, London
“After a 40,000 mile circumnavigation, there are very few boatyards that we can unreservedly recommend for international long-distance DIY cruisers… Fox’s Marina & Boatyard deserves to be among them. We appreciated the careful lift, good knowledge of local specialists, fair price and a healthy dose of patience to let us chip away at a huge to do list at our own pace.”
John Pennington, Custom alloy yacht, Sentijin
MORE INFORMATION
Fox’s Marina & Boatyard
The Strand, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP2 8SA
01473 689111 / foxs@foxsmarina.com
Marina, Berthing & Storage Enquiries
Lucy Taylor
071473 689111 / lucy.taylor@foxsmarina.com
Marina Manager
John Jonas
07703 472222 / john.jonas@foxsmarina.com
Sales Manager
Richard Hamer
07973 826962 / richard.hamer@foxsmarina.com
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