Protected sectors

What's the story here?

Birdham Pool Marina (operated by Aquavista) is a small rural marina with 249 pontoon berths, located about 4½ miles inside the entrance to Chichester Harbour. Situated on the site of a former tide mill pond on the east side of the shallow Chichester Lake, the marina lies behind a lock gate, so final approaches will most likely require a rise to provide adequate draft for access. The marina is within 3 miles of the cathedral city of Chichester.




The Lock at Birdham Pool Marina, a historic sluice lock, is operational for three and a half hours either side of High Water, from 6.00 to 22.00 during the summer season. The lock can accommodate vessels up to 4.5m/14.8ft in width and 14.5m/47.6ft  metres in length overall, with a max draft of 1.9m/6.2ft. 1.2 metres is available over the sill at 3.5 hours from high tide; rise and berth availability are dependent.




Overnight Visitor Rate is [2026] £3.85 per metre LOA per night, with a minimum charge of 8.0 metres (£30.80 per night). Short-Stay Berthing (Up to 4 hours): £1.65 per metre LOA. Overnight visitor rates include standard Chichester Harbour Conservancy (CHC) harbour dues.




Birdham Pool Marina is oversubscribed, so it is essential to contact them in advance to check whether they can make a berth available. Standard summer locking hours run from 06:00 to 22:00 (locking outside these hours requires prior arrangement). Contact Birdham Pool Marina (Aquavista), open 9 am until 5 pm Monday to Friday and closed on Saturday and Sunday, birdham@aquavista.com, +44 (0)1243 512310, [VHF]: Ch. 80 [Birdham Pool Marina], Birdham Pool Marina .

How to get in?

The approaches to the entrance, with its tidal flow, are detailed in Navigating Chichester Harbour . The lock sill dries at low water, so deep-draught vessels must plan arrival carefully around the high-water window, ± 3 hrs. Contact the lock keeper well in advance to confirm the berth, and before the final approach to check sill clearance and lock availability. Lock Direct Line +44(0) 1243 511482, +44(0) 7831 466815, Ch. 80 [Birdham Pool Marina].




An anomaly in the tidal curve for Chichester causes a stand of up to 45 minutes whilst the Winner at the entrance covers and uncovers. These stands are followed by a short period of accelerated rise and fall. Those working the margins of the tide for access may encounter problems timing their access to the lock, and it is highly advisable to take advice from the lock gate manager.




The approach channel commences at Birdham Starboard mark, Fl 4 G10, which has a tidal gauge on the seaward side that indicates the water level on the lock sill.




From there, the narrow weaving channel is only about 9 metres wide and marked by closely spaced starboard marks. Entering vessels should not venture more than 3 metres from the posts. Pass outgoing vessels port to port, pulling in closer to the marks where possible, and do not overtake unless specifically requested to do so by the lock keeper.




The marina features a mix of pile moorings (bow or stern to jetties) and pontoon berths. Prepare to moor between timber piles (bow or stern to), which is common in the Baltic and Mediterranean but rare in traditional UK marinas, as directed by the lock keeper.

Why visit here?

Birdham Pool gets its name from combining bridd and hamm, which mean 'homestead or enclosure where young birds gather'. Over centuries, the name has softened slightly, with the earliest recorded forms being Bridham in 683 and Brideham in the 1086 Domesday Book.




Birdham's history extends far beyond this, with archaeological evidence of a Bronze Age settlement in the area. It is believed that two Roman roads intersected at what is now the Bell Lane junction. One ran from there to Chichester Harbour and then to Bosham via ferry or ford. In 683, several parishes south of Chichester on the peninsula, including Birdham, were granted by Saxon king Caedwalla to St. Wilfred. These records first mention Birdham. The Domesday Book later recorded two fisheries and a mill in the area.




The current Birdham Mill is unrelated to the ancient Norman mill. This mill, built in 1768, featured two water wheels powered by tides. During flood tide, water was stored in the pond, and on the ebb, after accumulating a sufficient head of water, the outgoing flow drove the wheels for up to three and a half hours. Tidal mills were costly to build but offered a steady, dependable power source, despite operating for only about eight hours each tidal cycle. However, managing the timing was challenging, requiring the miller to work unconventional hours to align with the tides.




In 1935, the longstanding milling family of Farne ceased operations and sold their house at Court Barn, the Mill, and all associated land to Captain H.R.S. Coldicott. This sale marked the end of the last tidal mill in Sussex. Coldicott expanded the Mill Pool by enclosing it and added lock gates to the wall, creating a yacht basin for small boats. His marina opened in 1937 and is now believed to be among the country's earliest. Older natural harbours, river moorings, and commercial docks (like London's or Liverpool's) existed long before, but Birdham Pool was the first facility in Britain deliberately created specifically as a modern yacht basin/marina. It also retains the old mill building with the lock adjacent to it. While the lock mechanisms and operational controls have been modernised over time, the physical lock structure itself remains the original structure built in 1936–1937.





Between Birdham Pool and Chichester Marina, just about 100 metres from Birdham Pool, lies 'Salterns Lock,' which is the gate of the now-unused Chichester Canal. In 1580, the people of Chichester—known as Cicestrians—petitioned the Crown to remedy the city's disadvantage of being far from the sea. At that time, Dell Quay served as its port, and it was noted that there were no storehouses or a boarding house there. In response, an act was passed in 1585 to create a channel connecting Chichester with the sea, described as 'to bring the port unto the city'. However, this ambitious project was not realised for another 250 years and only enjoyed brief success.




Work on the project only began after an additional 1818 Act, which laid the legal groundwork for the 'Portsmouth & Arundel Canal'. The canal originated during a period of hostilities with France and was part of a broader plan to establish a secure inland waterway connecting London to Portsmouth. It opened in 1823, enabling barges to travel more safely and quickly from Portsmouth, through Langstone and Chichester harbours, to Birdham, and onward to London. Larger vessels could also divert to Chichester at Hunston, a section of the canal built wide enough to accommodate boats up to 100 tons. However, even before the entire route was completed, the project was already facing failure.




The war with France had ended, and larger, better ships meant that the coastal route was once again the more convenient and cheaper option. Worse still, in 1846 the line from Brighton to Chichester was opened, effectively obsoleting most of the canal almost immediately. By 1847, the canal, apart from the Chichester section, had fallen into disuse. Trade on the section between Salterns Lock and the city of Chichester also dwindled, and it was finally closed in 1906. The remains of the canal are now rather overgrown with stationary houseboats.




Today, Birdham village is somewhat spread out and features many desirable harbour-side houses. Its stunning harbour views make Birdham one of the more interesting spots to explore on the Manhood Peninsula—the flat expanse of land south of Chichester that pushes out into the sea at Selsey Bill. The marina lies directly on the Salterns Way, a designated foot-and-cycle path linking Chichester city to the sandy beaches of West Wittering. Visitors can enjoy a scenic walk along the Canal to Chichester, or take a pleasant circular route up to Dell Quay through the wooded area of Salterns Copse.




From a boating standpoint, Birdham Pool provides an ideal retreat from the harbour during poor weather, offering comfort, repair opportunities, or simply a place for boaters to enjoy Birdham Pool. This marina is unquestionably Birdham's most notable feature. The Old Mill building, situated beside the Lock with its traditional gates, adds a charming historic element. Many believe this marina is not only the oldest but also the most beautiful in the country, providing a distinctive experience for boaters.

What facilities are available?

Electricity and water are available on all pontoons. Diesel and petrol are available from pumps at the lock. Waste bins are provided behind the office block, near the lock. The toilets, showers and launderette are open 24/7 for berth holders. Wi-Fi is free for berth holders. A 20-minute walk into Birdham village reaches a Nisa convenience store, as well as a garden centre containing a local farm shop.




Birdham Pool is a popular and busy boatyard. The marina's slipway can accommodate craft up to 20 tonnes. Complementing the slipway, the boatyard operates a stationary crane/boat mover combination with a lifting capacity of up to 30 tonnes. The boatyard has many skilled craftsmen and engineers on site to meet most boat maintenance and repair needs.




Buses operate every twenty minutes between Chichester Bus Station (South Street), about 3½ miles from the marina. Chichester City provides fast trains to London Victoria Station. Private aircraft may land at Goodwood Aerodrome, five miles from the marina.

Local Dining Options Around Birdham Pool Marina
The Crown & Anchor: 16th-century waterside pub at Dell Quay.
+44 (0)12 4378 1712 | crownandanchor@youngs.co.uk
Address: Dell Quay Road, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 7EE.

The Lamb Inn: Traditional village pub.
+44 (0)12 4351 2284 | info@thelambinnbirdham.co.uk
Address: Chichester Road, Birdham, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 7BU.

Thyme and Chillies: Indian dining in Birdham.
+44 (0)12 4351 3524 | info@thymeandchillies.co.uk
Address: Birdham Road, Birdham, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 7EH.

The Potager Restaurant: Fine dining at Russells of Birdham.
+44 (0)12 4351 2222 | info@russellsofbirdham.co.uk
Address: Main Road, Birdham, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 7BY. |
The Cider House Kitchen: On-site waterside café at Birdham Pool Marina.
+44 (0)12 4351 2310 | info@ciderhousekitchen.co.uk
Birdham Pool Marina, Birdham, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 7BG.

The Birdham Pantry & Farm Shop: Local produce and café nearby.
+44 (0)12 4351 1110 | hello@birdhampantry.co.uk
Address: Main Road, Birdham, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 7HU.

The Anchor Inn: Historic pub located further south down Wittering Road.
+44 (0)12 4351 2411 | info@anchorinnbirdham.co.uk
Address: Sidlesham Lane, Birdham, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 7ER.

Other Local Useful Contacts
Birdham Pool Marina (Aquavista) | birdham@aquavista.com | +44 (0)1243 512310 | [VHF]: Channel 80 (Call sign Birdham Pool Marina) | Birdham Pool Marina
Address: Birdham Pool Marina, Birdham, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 7EJ.

Itchenor Harbour Office: +44 (0)1243 512301
[VHF]: Ch. 14 [Chichester Harbour Patrol]
Harbour Office, The Street, West Itchenor, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 7AW.

Hayling Rescue (for boats): +44 (0)7748 997105

Sea Start: +44 (0)800 885500

Environment Agency: +44 (0)3708 506506

HM Custom and Excise Portsmouth: +44 (0)23 8079 7000

Chichester Police Station: +44 (0)845 6070 999

Solent Coastguard: +44 (0)23 9255 2100

Hospital Chichester: +44 (0)1243 788 122

Dentist: +44 (0)844 5769 676

Any security concerns?

Birdham Pool is positioned on its own private road and has CCTV surveillance cameras throughout the marina. The main parts of the marina are restricted by security gate access. The office is usually manned 7 days a week during office hours.

With thanks to:

Phil Walker, Deputy Harbour Master, Chichester Harbour.