Bristol Packet Boat Trips facts for kids
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Trade name
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Bristol Packet |
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| Industry | Boat trips and excursions |
| Founded | Bristol, England (1973) |
| Headquarters |
Wapping Wharf, Bristol
BS1 6UN |
Bristol Packet Boat Trips is a company that offers fun boat rides in Bristol, England. They take people on trips around the historic Bristol Harbour and along the beautiful River Avon. The company has a fleet of four special boats, each with its own unique story. They also have an interest in a cool project involving a hydrogen-powered ferry!
Contents
The Story of Bristol Packet
The Bristol Packet company started in 1973. It was founded by Nick and Corrina Gray. Back then, there were no other passenger boats in Bristol's city docks or on the River Avon. The docks were quiet and not many people visited them.
Early Days with Redshank
The first boat used for trips was a narrowboat called Redshank. It came from the Midlands with another boat called Greenshank. Nick Gray made the trips interesting with his stories about the area. People loved learning about Bristol's history while on the water.
Adding Tower Belle and New Routes
In 1976, a river boat named Tower Belle joined the fleet. This allowed the company to offer trips further up the river to Hanham. They also started trips down to the amazing Avon Gorge. These trips had not been available to the public for many years. The Grays sold the company in 1980. Tickets for the boat trips were sold from a unique 1910 showman's wagon.
Expanding the Fleet
In 1995, the company started using the Flower of Bristol. This boat helped them offer more evening trips for groups. The newest boat to join the Bristol Packet family was Bagheera in 2002. This special boat was built in Amsterdam.
Meet the Boats
Bristol Packet Boat Trips has four main boats, each with its own history and special features.
The Narrowboat Redshank
Redshank is a traditional English narrowboat. It was built in 1936 in Northwich, Cheshire. Its first name was Reading. Later, in the 1950s, it was renamed Redshank. This boat is perfect for exploring the narrow waterways of Bristol.
The Historic Tower Belle
Tower Belle began its life as a river boat called Wincomblee in 1920. It was built on the Tyne. After the Second World War, it worked on the Thames. In 1976, it came to Bristol and became a popular boat for river excursions.
The Flower of Bristol
The Flower of Bristol was built right in Bristol in 1980. It was made by Abels Shipbuilders in the Albion Dockyard. The Bristol Packet company bought this boat in 1995. It is often used for special evening trips.
The Glass-Topped Bagheera
Bagheera is a unique boat with a glass roof, perfect for sightseeing. It was built in Amsterdam in 1973. Before coming to Bristol, it offered canal cruises in Belgium. It also worked in Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Bristol Hydrogen Boats Project
Bristol Hydrogen Boats is a group made up of three companies, including Bristol Packet. They worked together to build a special ferry boat. This boat is powered by hydrogen!
Hydrogenesis: A Hydrogen-Powered Ferry
With help from a grant of £250,000 from Bristol City Council, they built a boat called Hydrogenesis. This boat started operating in the spring of 2013. It was known as "Britain's first hydrogen-powered ferry." For six months, it worked as a public ferry. However, the fuel was quite expensive. Because of this, the boat was later used by Bristol Packet for private group hires.
