Poole Quay Boat Haven is located on the south coast of England and is set on the north shore of the extensive Poole Harbour. It is positioned at the east end of Poole Town Quay and at the heart of the historic town of Poole.

Located deep within England’s most extensive natural harbour and behind a breakwater, the marina offers complete protection. Safe access is available in almost all reasonable conditions, night or day, and at all states of the tide. The outer entrance to Poole Harbour may however become very rough or even dangerous on an ebb tide during south-easterly gales.

Leisure craft should use a Boat Channel that runs parallel to the commercial shipping channel in the outer entrance. Once inside Poole Harbour smaller yachts should join the Boat Channel that commences to the northeast of Brownsea Island and follows the southwest side of the commercial fairway to Poole’s approach channel.

Keyfacts for Poole Quay Boat Haven

Position and approaches

Haven position

50° 42.689' N, 001° 59.114' W

This is the head of the breakwater, passed to starboard, at the entrance.

What are the key points of the approach?

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How to get in?

Poole Quay Boat Haven is located on the east side of Poole Town Quay, immediately within the entrance. It has 125 berths and can accommodate yachts of up to 60 metres in length, with prior arrangement, and supports draughts of up to 3 metres. The approaches through Poole Bay and Poole Harbour provide for a draft of not less than 6 metres CD up to Poole Quay Boat Haven, and 3.3 metres at the entrance to the marina.

Poole Quay Boat Haven holds about 100 berths for short term lets or visitor berthing. Due to its central location berths are very popular and particularly so during summer months. It is therefore advisable to make berthing arrangements in advance by contacting the marina on VHF Ch. 80 call sign [Poole Quay Boat Haven] or P: +44 1202 649488.

If Poole Quay Boat Haven gets overwhelmed it caters for its overflow by placing visitors on ‘The Town Quay’ and ‘Port of Poole Marina’ opposite.

Weekly and monthly rates are available at Poole Quay Boat Haven. Peak daily summer berthing fees, as of 2016, are:

• • £4 per metre.
• • £3.40 per metre if harbour dues are already paid - usually applicable to local boats with annual harbour berths.

Berths should be available from 12 noon for arrival, and should be vacated by 12 noon on the day of departure. With ample advance booking the marina welcomes rallies or group events who can make use of discounted group berthing rates for 10 or more vessels. Poole Quay Boat Haven receives short stay visitors who wish to have a berth for up to 4 hours. A flat rate of £6.50 is charged for vessels up to 10 metre LOA, £12.50 for 10.1 – 20 metres LOA and £22.50 for 20.1 metres LOA and above. A maximum of two short stays can be combined for a longer daytime stay.




Entry into Poole Harbour and the run up to Poole are covered in the Poole Town Quay entry. Poole Quay Boat Haven is located immediately east of Town Quay. Berths are allocated on the day of arrival and the marina should be contacted about 30 minutes before arriving so the staff may provide the allocated berthing location.




It is advisable to pass the entrance to access the tidal streams and wind conditions before turning and making a final approach into the marina. Stand a little off the breakwater on the final approach as is has a sizeable foot.


Berth as directed by the marina office.

Why visit here?

Poole Quay Yacht Haven fronts the eastern end of the old Town Quay wall that was once the old berthing location of leisure yachts.



Close to Town Quay it offers immediate access to the lively cafés, bars, restaurants and the historic town detailed in the Poole Town Quay entry. However, out of the wash, stepped back from the quay itself and away from the central quay’s hurly-burly, it offers a much more restful berth with all facilities. With only a marginal uplift from the Town Quay berthing fees this has, over recent years, made it the main stopover for visitors wanting to lie alongside in Poole.

What facilities are available?

All pontoons have water and electricity. There is a toilet on the pontoon and further shower and toilets located ashore across the road. Poole Quay Boat Haven has a token operated system, available from staff in reception, for a washing machine and tumble dryer.

There is a fuel pontoon just below the bridge on the south side of the quay. With Poole Harbour catering to an annual fleet of 5,000 leisure craft and having a world class boat builder adjacent, it can be taken that it offers almost any conceivable marine service or facility a vessel could require.

Poole’s town centre stretches from the water’s edge at Poole Town Quay up to the Dolphin Shopping Centre. Within a few strides The Quay and Old Town provide a range of small, independent shops, including a well-stocked and capable chandlery, a host of pubs, take away outlets, a mini supermarket and good restaurants. Dorset's largest indoor shopping centre, ‘The Dolphin Shopping Centre’ that has 110 stores covering all items is a 15 minute walk along the high street.

Poole railway station is located in the town and is served by London Waterloo to Weymouth express and semi-fast services. From east to west these call at Branksome near the border with Bournemouth, Parkstone, Poole railway station in the town centre and Hamworthy. Most local bus services are run by ‘More Bus’ who are based at the town's bus station. It operates networks across Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Salisbury, in addition to operations on the Isle of Purbeck and the New Forest. Poole is also a calling point for National Express Coaches, which have frequent departures to London Victoria Coach Station. Direct services to the Midlands, the North of England and to Heathrow and Gatwick airports can also be found in the town.

Bournemouth International Airport is on the periphery of Bournemouth only 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) from Poole Town Quay. Ferry services from Poole Harbour to Cherbourg are provided by Brittany Ferries who operate one round trip per day.

Any security concerns?

Access to the marina is via key code secured gates. The marina has 24 ­hour security.

With thanks to:

John Binder CMM Poole Quay Boat Haven & Port of Poole Marina manager and Kirsty Caño, Marina Assistant. Photography with thanks to Michael Harpur.