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The Ferry Boat Inn was a public house and 150-capacity live music venue in Norwich, UK, which closed in 2006.

History

The history of the Ferry Boat has been traced as far back as 1822, when it is thought to have been called the Horse Packet. It was known as the Steam Barge by 1830, and in 1867 its name was changed to the Steam Packet. It was first known as the Ferry Boat in 1925. In the mid 1970s a second bar was opened in a converted boat shed at the rear of the pub. It was here that the pub began putting on live music. The Ferry Boat was originally a venue for cover bands, but in the late 1990s local promoters began booking their own nights at the venue to put on local originals bands, and touring bands from all over the world. Over the next few years the Ferry Boat became established as one of the most important venues for local bands, catering for all types of alternative music, with a leaning towards punk rock, ska punk, metal, hardcore and Post-rock. In 2005 a protest was held after the Ferry Boat faced losing its public entertainment licence due to noise complaints from residents of a newly built block of flats nearby. The protest was a success, and the Ferry Boat's licence was renewed. However the Ferry Boat was forced to close a year later in 2006 due to continued noise complaints and financial difficulty. The final gig was an all day long event featuring local bands.

Present

The Ferry Boat Inn is now closed and in January 2010 was sold to the Borthwick family, who have recently received planning permission to build Norwich Backpackers on the site. Building work was initially scheduled to begin in 2011, with the plan to open the backpackers hostel in 2013 (originally slated as 2012). The family have already developed another backpackers hostel on the north Norfolk coast; Deepdale Backpackers & Camping.

The pub itself will be retained and become a Real Ale Appreciation Shop with off sales and one or two beers on tap. The boat house at the rear of the pub, which used to be used as a music venue, will become cycle hire, canoe hire and a café overlooking the river. A new warehouse style building will be developed over the car park, creating rooms for the backpackers hostel.

Notable bands

The Ferry Boat's regular presence on tour schedules meant that many bands would pass through it before moving onto greater acclaim. Examples of bands and artists to have played the venue include:

• 65 Days of Static
• Bring Me the Horizon
• Cult of Luna
• Deaf Havana
• Enter Shikari
• Gallows
• Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
• Kimya Dawson
• Million Dead
• Sonic Boom Six

Steve Wright

The Ferry Boat Inn was owned and operated by future serial killer Steve Wright from May 10 to September 8, 1988.

References

1. Norwich - Norfolk Pubs Website
2. Norwich Backpackers Website
3. Norfolk Pubs Website

52°37′22″N 1°18′13″E / 52.6227°N 1.3035°E / 52.6227; 1.3035

• Music venues in Norfolk
• Buildings and structures in Norwich
• History of Norfolk