Headlines Summer 2026

Happy Harbour Festival …17th – 19th July

After much cleaning and clearing by volunteers, and big involvement with MyFutureMyChoice’s cardboard boat races, Balmoral’s role is to be the announcements centre! All being well one of MShed’s cranes (handily useful well as historic) will lift big speakers onto Balmoral’s prom deck, from where the Festival commentator will also be introducing her guests on board. 

Entry will be kindly stewarded by Bristol’s ever-helpful Maritime Volunteer Service troop, which will also provide information of their own activities. Meanwhile Balmoral’s volunteers will be welcoming visitors to enjoy looking around ship. They will especially point out the pop-up deck bar – so handy whilst viewing events on the water – and the lounge bar with souvenir stall. 

The ship is free to enter but of course the bar will be open and DONATIONS ARE WELCOMED.

Friday night – the Bar will be open with live music, particularly if you are a local or visiting boater.

The Afro-Caribbean art and creativity exhibition (one of the artist curators pictured) will continue to be on display in the lower saloon.

SATURDAY – Batala Bristol Samba Reggae Band

(of energetic drummers in Afro-Brazilian style and costume! ) – beating rhythms on Balmoral’s foredeck will be heralding the Saturday boat races (children’s card boat sailboats made in classes on board) at noon; and the adult version at 13.00 (1 pm) after boats have been displayed around the harbour.

Batala Bristol You-Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ5bnjd0BRJi-jCV2MhhhoA
Website: https://www.batalabristol.co.uk/

The Murmuration Choir will be performing on deck at 7pm. Hopefully the MShed’s historic Pyronaut will have finished her spray displays by then!

And on Saturday night, the Poor Old Dogs band will be performing from 8pm (free to enter but please assist by patronising the bar!) 

On SUNDAY  Balmoral and her bars will be ideally placed for spectating other displays in the harbour alongside. Particularly hilarious -and bonkers- is the Family boat race (again, cardboard and initiated by MyFutureMyChoice).  

Please look out for other upcoming events

See below, also the Facebook page www.facebook.com/thebalmoral1949
Please note that the website’s “CONTACT”, “DONATIONS”, and “SHOP” links (and the people behind them) are still operational even whilst most of the website is in re-build. A bit like Balmoral – it’s her people not electronics that navigate, steer and operate the engines…
You can also sign up for electronic NEWSLETTERS (to receive via Mailchimp).

Maintaining traditional decks to keep out the rain – especially after the wet winter and over-hot summer – is now urgent.
DONATIONS TO HELP FUND TIMBER & PITCH for continuing repair work to Balmoral’s weather decks would be very much appreciated. Short term protective measures will have to be undertaken for the bridge deck, but MVBFL is grateful that donated time by a particular volunteer, whilst training some of our other volunteers, should allow permanent repair to at least some areas of the promenade deck and help to keep cost down.
https://www.thebalmoral.org.uk/donations/

In the meantime

Tuesday and Friday volunteer work days continue. Current activities include routine prep and running of engines and other machinery / services, plumbing, welding, testing, refurbishing of windows, doors, prep and decorating ceilings walls and corridors, and of course – cleaning, scrubbing, preparing and minding the ship for visitors! 

If you would like to help please CONTACT us through the website or EMAIL events@mvbalmoral.com.

Our education partners are helping us seek “social volunteers” – to help “mind the ship” for open days and events – contact Hugh through myfuturemychoice.co.uk.

We are still very grateful for support by PS Waverley. Her crew and passengers braved the Penarth to Newport Transporter Bridge cruise, both a great occasion and a good fund-and-conscious-ness raising excursion for which we were most grateful.

PLEASE – HELP WITH THE ADMIN. BEHIND THE SCENES…this is also urgently sought. And if you’d also like more detail on opportunities, accessibility or restrictions on board, please contact MVBFL through the website’s link or email the Charity direct thebalmoral@protonmail.com