This month we are in Kent at Dover Marina, where big changes have been taking place.
The marina takes pride of place on Dover’s revitalised waterfront, and is home to more than 400 berths, with 250 new berths in the brand-new central facility, the Outer Harbour Marina. Many yachts and small leisure boats are already settled in their new base, making the most of the brilliant service and opportunities now available. More will continue to relocate in the coming months.
With the sun beaming down, the White Cliffs and Dover Castle as a backdrop, and some of the most prestigious cruise ships sitting alongside, the marina is a star of Dover’s revived waterfront. Surrounded by the Marina Curve and only a short walk from Dover Priory station, it provides the perfect opportunity for berth holders and visitors to celebrate local culture and history through new leisure experiences and events.
FACILITIES & BERTHING
Dover takes pride in being a seamless and sustainable port, providing berth holders with an exceptional experience and service. The highlight facilities for berth holders in the new marina include a dedicated fuelling station on its own berth, a hard standing and level boatyard with large capacity and a new marina office. All features of the new marina and waterfront have been built around a sustainable mixed-use scheme. Dover Marina has access control for extra security and is patrolled by the Port of Dover’s own police – making it one of the safest, most secure marinas in the country.
Other facilities include:
- Fresh water supply and a metered electrical supply (230v, 16a) are provided to all berths, 32amps is available for larger vessels;
- Full toilet and shower facilities, plus baby changing facilities, 24 hour
- Two laundry rooms;
- Free WiFi is available to all marina customers, berth holders and visitors;
- Trolleys can be found at each security gate entrance to the pontoons;
- Disposal procedures for non-UK food waste;
- Gas and fuel including red and white diesel and petrol.
- Security – Key coded entrance and access control to all berthing areas, plus security cameras monitoring 24 hours a day in the marina;
There is also car parking, local grocery stores, repairs and maintenance, local weather and traffic updates and much more.
ACCESS
Set against the iconic backdrop of the famous White Cliffs, Dover Marina is the most convenient location for cross-Channel sailing. Situated at the closest point to Europe and just 20 miles from France, it is within easy sailing distance of the French marinas of Boulogne, Calais, Gravelines and Dunkerque, and the Belgian and Dutch coasts. In addition to its vicinity to Europe, the marina also benefits from excellent road access to London, the rest of Kent and the other Home Counties.
Dover Priory station is approximately 20 minutes’ walk away. From here there are up to five trains per hour to London of which two are high speed trains to St Pancras (1 hour 6 mins or 1 hour 18 mins) – the normal train journey time is around 1 hour 45 mins. There are also up to two trains an hour to Canterbury (journey time around 25 mins).
There are regular bus and coach services to and from Dover as well.
CRUISING
Day trips: A trip to Ramsgate following the Ramsgate Channel gives you enough time for lunch. The route close inshore is very picturesque passing the South Foreland Lighthouse, St Margaret’s Bay, the Dover Patrol Memorial, Walmer Castle, Deal including Deal Castle, the Timeball Tower and Pier and the Golf Clubs of Sandwich. Finally, Pegwell Bay and into Ramsgate Harbour.
Longer cruises: Continuing from Ramsgate, following the northern coast of Kent, you can reach Queenborough, the Medway for Rochester and Chatham Dockyard and the Thames for St Katherines and London. The Essex rivers for Burnham on Crouch, Maldon, Brightlingsea and the Walton Backwaters, the Suffolk Rivers for Ipswich, Woodbridge and Southwold are all reachable from Dover too.
OUT & ABOUT
The marina, which enjoys one of the warmest and driest climates in the UK, sits alongside Dover’s award-winning cruise port, delivering world class travel and visitor experiences through Dover’s revived waterfront.
The Marina Curve opened in 2021, delivering a large, outdoor space for the public to enjoy, and transforming the waterfront. The new waterside development will be jam-packed with special activities and events, entertainment and world-class food stalls for the 2023 season, including the recent annual Dover Marina Showcase.
Connecting the Port of Dover and its iconic, ruggedly beautiful White Cliffs with the quaint coastal dwelling of Deal and the medieval Cinque Port of Sandwich, White Cliffs Country is a unique destination. Here, striking coastline meets quintessential countryside, ancient history meets modern convenience, and peace and tranquility meet action and adventure.
White Cliffs Country is proudly home to Kent’s Golf Coast. While ‘The Club On The Cliffs’ offers spectacular views across the English Channel and to France, three championship links courses are perfectly positioned amongst the sand dunes: Prince’s, Royal Cinque Ports and Royal St George’s.
Just a little over an hour from London by train and offering the UK’s shortest sea crossing from Europe, White Cliffs Country is one of Britain’s best- connected destinations.
BUSINESSES AT THE MARINA
Marina:
Network Yacht Brokers
Sharp & Enright: Chandlers
M&P Marine: Boat and Yacht Repairs
Royal Cinque Port Yacht Club
Marina Curve:
Planet Earth Kitchen – a cult-favourite vegan concessions stand selling healthy, hearty, naughty and delicious food, cooked to order.
Pedaler on the Port – a café located in the Clocktower of Clock Tower Square, beside the Marina Office.
The Coffee Wagon – run by KB Trading it is set up at the end of the New Pier, for quick hot drinks for those on-the-go.
Breakwater Brewery – a local micro-brewery, offering locally brewed beers and beverages.
Big Pan Foods – serves delicious ‘twisted’ South African street food serving a huge variety of food from paella, wraps and vegan options, as well as churros and bubble waffles. Their pizza-focused stand will be opening soon.
Café on the Curve – is a licenced café, serving toasties, seafood baskets and canapes along with speciality wine liquors and local beers.
PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS
“It is great to be finally moving permanently into the new marina with its 24-hour gate-free access after last year’s trial and wave wall completion. The spacious layout, wide gaps between full length, sturdy pontoons makes berthing straightforward. There are nice new facilities, a much-improved boatyard and all run by ever friendly and helpful staff. We are looking forward to enjoying the marina, views to the castle and summer entertainment in the Clock Tower Square.”
Barry Tipping, Roxie
“We first berthed our yacht in Dover in 1987, and we have seen many changes over the years. The new marina with wide pontoons and spacious berths is excellent, all the facilities a yacht owner needs. The new boatyard hardstanding is great, with helpful and professional staff. There is car parking for owners, and open water access at all states of the tide. We have been very happy in Dover after all those years.”
Martin & Clare Walker, Ocean Dancer
WHERE TO FIND DOVER MARINA
Dover Marina manager: Chris Windsor
General number: 01304 241 663
Email: Marina@portofdover.com
Web: Portofdover.com
Sat Nav Directions: CT17 9FS
