Situated on the south coast of England, deep within the Solent and Southampton Water, Kemp's Quay is on the east bank of the Itchen River on the outskirts of Southampton. It is a small, family-run marina with a charming atmosphere of traditional 'old world' sailing values.

Located two and a half miles upriver from the largely protected Southampton Water, the marina offers complete shelter from all weather conditions. Safe access at almost all times—day and night, at most stages of the tide—is ensured by the Solent, Southampton Water, and Itchen River, which form one of the most well-marked and protected areas of water in the world.

Keyfacts for Kemps Quay

Position and approaches

Haven position

50° 54.797' N, 001° 22.588' W

This is the down river or southeast end of pontoon 'A' where a light is exhibited at night.

What is the initial fix?

This is over 2 metres, opposite the starboard Chees Bay Beacon, Fl(4)G.10s, and 150 metres south-east of the pontoons.

What are the key points of the approach?

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What's the story here?

Kemps Quay is situated on the east bank of the River Itchen, approximately 2½ miles above the river mouth at Dock Head and the junction of Southampton Waters and the River Test. It has been a shipyard since 1913 and was among the first marinas established in the area. Since then, it has remained family-owned and operated by three generations of the Kemp family.

Kemps Quay has 290 berths, mostly semi-tidal or drying, suitable for boats comfortable with grounding at low water. However, the river bed here is made up of soft mud and affords stable berths for most craft when the tide is away.




It also has 30 designated deepwater, non-tidal berths that are always afloat and walk ashore. These can accommodate vessels up to 21 metres LOA and a draft of 2.3 metres. In addition to this, it has a midstream 'lower trot' that has a further 30 berths where 2.3 metres will be found. A landing/loading berth, afloat at all times, is available for boat owners who cannot land within the tide window.




Kemps Quay does not have designated visitor berths but can accommodate visiting yachts in the berths of resident holders who are away. Consequently, there are no fixed visitor tariffs, but an Instant Estimator tool on their website for customised long-stay quotes. A rule of thumb for visitor rates is £1.00 per imperial foot per night and £3.00 per imperial foot per week. These rates reflect that most berths are drying berths with limited access around low water. However, pricing can vary depending on availability, so it is essential to check with them directly and it is advisable to book a berth in advance by contacting the marina office by phone at +44 23 80 63 23 23 or via email at enquiries@kempsquay.com. While 24 hours' notice is preferred, the marina office can usually advise on berth availability immediately, so it is worth calling.

How to get in?

Coastal guidance and pilotage are available for Western Approaches to the Solent and the run-up to Southampton or refer to Eastern Approaches to the Solent and the run-up to Southampton .




Vessels converging on Dock Head should encounter no local hazards if following the clear marks of the Solent and Southampton Water, preferably staying close to the inner navigable waters within them and maintaining reasonable soundings to avoid commercial shipping.




Yachts navigating the six-mile stretch of Southampton Water should keep a listening watch for Southampton Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), available via Ch. 12/16 [Southampton VTS], +44 (0)23 8060 8208 (24/7/365). Yield priority to commercial vessels, particularly near the docks. A speed limit of 6 knots is enforced north of a line connecting Hythe Pier and Weston Shelf.




Follow the River Itchen markers for two miles from Dock Head to Kemps Quay. The 28-metre-high Itchen Bridge in Woolston can cause a sharp intake of breath, but there is ample clearance for most leisure yachts. Vessels with an air draft of less than approximately 24m at MHWS or 23 metres HAT will pass easily beneath. However, exceptionally tall-masted vessels should check tide heights carefully.




Kemps Quay's 'Lower Trot' will be seen off the eastern shore's largely drying Chessel Bay, situated 200 metres northeast of Shamrock Quay, where the river bends north around Millstone Point.




It is a midstream pontoon opposite Millstone Point Jetty, itself made conspicuous by its large crane and exhibiting lights at night, between starboard Beacons No. 8, Fl(2)G.5s, and No. 9, Fl(4)G.10s.




With the Lower Trot abeam the marina will be seen 400 metres above on the eastern shore. It is approached between the unlit red pile mark No. 8 and the lit green beacon No. 9, Fl(4)G.10s, above the trot. After these marks, the River Itchen bends westward around Saxon Wharf, close northwest of Millstone Point. Kemps Quay lies opposite and is accessed around the head of Saxon Wharf's jetty.




Kemps Quay has 30 deep water berths on the outside of its 'A' pontoon that are non-tidal and afloat at all times with about 2 metres.



English Nature has designated the east bank of the River Itchen as a nature reserve that includes Kemps Quay. As a result, dredging is not allowed, and the remaining berths are semi-tidal, with their coverage varying from a drying height of 1.3 to 2.2 metres depending on their proximity to the shore. All the semi-tidal berths dry out to soft mud, providing a stable berth for most craft when the tide is out. These berths can only be entered during the first half of the tide.




A landing/loading berth, denoted by double yellow lines, is afloat at all times. It is available for boat owners who cannot leave or land within the tide window.

Why visit here?

The origins of Kemps Quay and its name trace back to the remarkable Robert Kemp Senior. Born in 1880, Robert Kemp started a maritime family business that would span three generations and continues to this day.




Raised on the small island of Guersay in the Orkneys, Robert Kemp Senior had to sail to the mainland each day to attend school. Stern Victorian discipline and a relentless focus on punctuality taught him to sail boats quickly and in all conditions. This developed an innate skill that would set his course in life. After school, he trained as a Yacht Master, Engineer, and in 1916 became a Naval Architect. His success as a sailing skipper led him to helm his own maritime enterprise at the very heart of English sailing in Southampton. Kemp's Shipyard Limited began as a Yacht Broker in a shop at the bottom of Southampton High Street, near the port, in 1912. Soon, he developed an interest in boatyards such as Ferry Yard in Woolston and Emsworth Shipyard. He opened his own boatyard in Hythe in 1922, focusing on general boat construction and repair, where he excelled at converting ex-naval craft into private luxury motor boats. Alongside his business pursuits, Robert Kemp Senior was a legendary sailor. He helmed many of the majestic J-boats of the time, including the King's own yacht 'Britannia' and Thomas Lipton's yacht 'Shamrock'.




His son Robert Jnr., also known as Bob Jnr., was born in 1916 and carved his own path in the industrial heartlands of the Midlands. He lost part of his right arm in a childhood accident, which meant he could not enlist during World War II; instead, he took charge of Motor Torpedo production at Poole. Having met and married a local girl, Joyce, during this period, he decided to settle down south when the war ended. With his wartime boat production skills, the natural step was to join his father's business. He did so, and under his leadership, he elevated it to new heights, founding sister companies and acquiring new premises such as Kemps Quay in 1952 to accommodate them. Names like Kempsafe Limited, Athey and Kemp, Kemp Masts, and many others trace back to him. Robert Jnr. was among the first to recognise the potential of the then-new fibreglass technology for mass boat production. He showcased his first fibreglass boat at the 1959 London Boat Show at Olympia. Under the banner of 'Glascade GRP,' he developed his range of vessels branded 'Senior Marine,' and provided moulding services for other emerging companies such as 'Princess Yachts' and 'Sunseeker.' In the 1970s, the yard was the second-largest producer of GRP crafts in the UK, only just behind Halmatic at Havant.




His son Robert Kemp Jnr., the current MD, was born in 1952 and, like his father before him, made a name for himself in the engineering conglomerates of the Midlands. A serious injury his father sustained in the 1978 'Cowes-Torquay' powerboat race brought Robert 'Minor' south to assist in the family business. He faced a marine industry undergoing significant change and facing tough challenges. The ' 1970s oil price shock' caused resin prices to spike, while the government at the time introduced 20% VAT on all leisure craft. 'Senior Marine' was gradually winding down, and 'Glascade GRP' shifted its focus to commercial fibreglass products for the construction sector. This move proved highly successful, and Robert Jnr. sold the company along with Kemps Masts as viable concerns. The proceeds were reinvested into Kemps Quay, then known as Kemps Shipyard, where major reclamation works were carried out, a quay wall constructed, and the marina was expanded and upgraded. Kemps Shipyard Ltd. celebrated its centenary as part of the group that operates the marina, manages the rental of industrial units, brokers new and second-hand yachts, and performs minor repairs on the slipway.





From a boating perspective, the deep history of over 100 years of single-family ownership, serving the sailing community, providing local employment, and maintaining a strong connection to sailing itself give Kemps Quay a unique atmosphere. Situated alongside the modern chain complexes of The Solent, Kemps Quay offers an agreeable, 'no-frills', authentic 'old world sailing' feel that is affordable and very charming.




Likewise, it is a practical berth, as with all the marinas on the River Itchen—except for Ocean Village, which is centrally located—Kemps Quay is a taxi ride to downtown Southampton. The additional disadvantage Kemps Quay has is that it is on the wrong side of the Itchen for the city centre of Southampton. However, unlike Shamrock Quay and Saxon Wharf, it benefits from Bitterne Station being just over 5 minutes' walk away. The station links directly to the town centre, and the neighbouring Northam Road, a central arterial road downtown, offers a regular convoy of buses to choose from.

What facilities are available?

Kemps Quay pontoons all supply water, but only a few designated points have electricity. Domestic facilities such as showers and toilets are located above the bridgehead. Garbage disposal and waste oil can be arranged ashore with the marina office. Fuel can be filled using cans from the local garage. Aside from diesel fuel, petrol can be obtained at Itchen Marine on American Wharf, just south, or within Hythe Marina Village in Southampton Water.




Kemps Quay features a travel hoist with an 8-ton capacity, alongside power washing and hard-standing for up to 80 craft on a 'first-come, first-served' basis. When combined with nearby Saxon Wharf and Shamrock Quay, the available repair facilities are comprehensive; marine engineers, riggers, sailmakers, and electronic and electrical specialists are all nearby. A local garage provides essentials, and Bitterne, a five-minute bus ride away, offers supermarkets and various other outlets.

Kemps Quay is accessible by taxi to central Southampton, but Bitterne Station, just over five minutes' walk, provides direct links to the town centre. The nearby Northam Road, a main arterial route in town, also has buses heading to the city centre. Southampton, a major city and commercial port, boasts excellent transport connections. Regular car ferries and high-speed catamarans operate to Cowes on the Isle of Wight, both a short taxi ride away. Mainline trains run to London Waterloo (70 minutes), Poole, Weymouth, Portsmouth, and Brighton. These are complemented by numerous local and regional bus services. Southampton International Airport, offering domestic and international flights, is a 20-minute taxi ride in smooth traffic. The M27 motorway, linking to the M3 and A3, is about a 20-minute drive.

Any security concerns?

Single point security gate access is provided to all berths from the spacious car park.

With thanks to:

Sarah Walker Kemps Quay.