What's the story here?

Haslar Marina is situated in Gosport, just inside the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour on the western side, opposite Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard. It lies within a naturally sheltered area of the harbour known as Haslar Lake and can be easily accessed directly from the harbour's Boat Channel. Part of the Boatfolk group of marinas, it is easily recognised by its iconic green lightship, "Mary Mouse II," which is visible from afar and functions as both a prominent landmark and a restaurant.




Haslar Marina offers 600 resident berths and up to 150 visitor berths, with rafting facilities available. It can accommodate vessels with drafts of up to 3.5 metres and 70 metres LOA. The approaches to the marina have a maintained depth of at least 4 metres CD.

Daily Visitor Berthing [2025] (Excluding electricity):

• • Up to 19.9m: £4.45 per metre


• • 19.9m +: Price on Application

Visitor berths must typically be vacated by noon on the day of departure. Overnight berthing includes free WiFi for up to three devices and a £10 electricity allowance per stay, regardless of the length.

Short Stay Berthing (Up to 4 hours):

• • Boats from 7.6m to 14m LOA have a fixed price of £15.00


• • Boats from 14m to 19.9m LOA have a fixed price of £20.00

It is always advisable to contact the marina directly in advance to check for availability, especially during the high season. Visitors approaching the marina may reach out 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on Ch. 80/M [Haslar Marina], +44 (0)23 92 601201, haslar@boatfolk.co.uk, or through their web form . However, with numerous visitor berths and the possibility of accommodating yachts in the berths of resident berth holders who are away, berths are generally available. Only vessels over 15 metres or rallies need to book well in advance.

How to get in?

Coastal guidance, tidal guides, waypoints, and pilotage are available in Navigating Portsmouth Harbour . The Eastern Approaches to the Solent covers southern approaches, while inshore east/west approach guidance can be found in Southampton Water to Chichester Harbour .



Haslar Marina is situated on the west side of Haslar Lake, located on the west side of the harbour entrance. It is entered by passing close north of Fort Blockhouse, situated at the east end of a small peninsula. There is no need to continue to the Ballast Pile as the marina may be approached directly from the Boat Channel, which may be freely exited and entered from its western side.




Haslar Lake, located between the Boat Channel, Haslar Marina, and the No. 1 Jetty, within the reserved Fort Blockhouse area, has a maintained depth of 6 metres.





Haslar Marina is protected by a northern wave screen that turns southward towards its prominent, permanently berthed lightship, the Mary Mouse II, positioned at its north-eastern corner. The highly visible green lightship, moored on the outer face of M Pontoon, makes the marina easily recognisable from a great distance. At night, lights are displayed from the wave screen's easternmost elbow Q.G., north of the lightship, and from the head of M Pontoon 2F.G (vert), just south of the bow of the lightship.




Berht as directed by the marina office. The marina's dedicated visitor berths are typically located immediately inside the lightship. They are accessed by passing around the head of M Pontoon immediately south and around the Lightship's bow. Vessels taking up the berth of an 'away' resident holder should take directions from the marina office.

Why visit here?

Haslar Marina is named after Haslar Lake, which comes from the Old English words hæsel-ōra. In this context, hæsel refers to a hazel tree, while ōra means a bank, shore, or land by the water—particularly a riverbank or coastal edge. Therefore, hæsel-ōra translates to "hazel-bank," "hazel-shore," or "hazel-landing place." This name probably reflects either the abundance of hazel trees in the area or the historical practice of laying hazel branches over marshy ground near Haslar Creek to make the terrain more navigable and suitable for landing.




Haslar Lake itself is a tidal inlet that forms part of Portsmouth Harbour. It has played a vital role in the development of Gosport, serving as a natural harbour and landing site that enabled maritime activities crucial to the town’s growth. Its sheltered waters supported shipbuilding, naval logistics, and commercial transport—key elements of Gosport’s early economy, as noted in the Gosport Marina entry, and its connection to Portsmouth Harbour.




The area's strategic importance was recognised early on. In 1431, the first military fortification—now known as Fort Blockhouse—was built as a timber defensive tower to safeguard the harbour entrance. This followed the burning of Portsmouth during the Hundred Years' War and was authorised by King Henry VI. Additional fortifications were added in 1540, including a blockhouse and bulwark on the Gosport side of the harbour. These featured an iron chain that could be raised across the entrance to prevent enemy ships from entering.




Since 1753, a series of bridges has spanned Haslar Creek, enabling transport and connecting communities across the lake. This connectivity helped establish the Royal Hospital Haslar on its banks, built to care for Royal Navy sailors and to strengthen Gosport's role as a centre for naval medical support. Haslar Creek also served as a crucial site for defence and ship manoeuvring, boosting Gosport's strategic military importance.




The bridges over Haslar Creek facilitated the movement of goods and people between Gosport and its surrounding regions, promoting urban growth and social cohesion. Overall, the creek's navigable, sheltered waters, along with its medical and military facilities, played a key role in developing Gosport into an important maritime and residential centre.




One unique feature of the marina is the convenience of dining in the vibrant green Mary Mouse II. Built in 1947, the 41-metre lightship once patrolled waters off Norfolk, the Humber, Outer Gabbard in the North Sea, Dover's Shipwash and other locations around the British Isles before being decommissioned in 1991. It was purchased by Dean & Reddyhoff Ltd for their Haslar Marina Project in 1993 and is now a restaurant Trinity's at the Lightship .




Open seven days a week, early until late, you'll find it hard to locate a better place to while away the hours, whether on their flight deck or downstairs in the bar. As a visitor to the marina, moored on an adjacent alongside berth, you can avoid the walk of a third of a mile that most people take to visit.




From a boating perspective, tucked into Haslar Creek, the marina is well sheltered from the prevailing wind, and a wave screen protects the northern end from wash coming from the busy fairway and the ebb tide.




Its plentiful visitor berths and high-quality facilities and services make it an excellent base from which to explore, and the city of Portsmouth, which is detailed in the Gunwharf Quay entry.

What facilities are available?

All pontoon berths offer electricity and fresh water. Free Wi-Fi, a launderette, and a first-class ablutions block are available, along with a 24-hour gas bottle exchange service and full recycling facilities onsite. The marina grants the public access to its slipway in the overflow car park; there is no charge, but caution is advised when launching or recovering, especially at low tides, without a suitable four-wheel-drive vehicle. Trailers can be stored at the top of the slipway for up to 48 hours. The marina also features the Lightship Bar & Restaurant Hardy's at Haslar Bar & Bistro.

Ashore, there are 20 on-site marine businesses including sail, boatyard, and engineering specialists. The marina has a Sealift, a self-contained floating dry dock, with its Sealift2 capable of lifting vessels up to 65 feet and 50 tons in under 5 minutes.

Gosport High Street is a five-minute walk away, offering shops and banks. The Gosport Ferry provides quick access to Portsmouth Harbour railway station, the terminus of the Portsmouth Direct Line to London. A ferry service to and from Gosport operates every 15 minutes.

Any security concerns?

A card issued to Permanent berth holders gains access to the car park and pontoons via a key card. Visitors use a numbered keypad system at the main pedestrian gate and an intercom system at all gates.

The marina is monitored continuously by CCTV and there are berthing staff in attendance 24 hours a day.

With thanks to:

eOceanic