Bristol's Community-Owned Ferry Service Transforms Harbor Life
When Bristol's iconic ferry service went bust, 900 residents bought shares to revive it. Now it carries 50,000 passengers a year and runs free tours for those facing financial barriers.
CommunityGNGV Editorial Team5 min readLast reviewed September 28, 2026
Bristol's yellow and blue ferries have shuttled people around the harbour since the 1970s. When the private firm running them went bust in 2012, many feared it was the end. But Bristol had other ideas.
Almost 900 people bought shares in a community ownership scheme, enabling Bristol Community Ferry Boats to acquire the vessels and get them running again. Today, the service carries around 50,000 people per year and employs 40 people.
"We run up to 20 free tours a year for people facing financial barriers to accessing the harbour," says co-director Roshin Tobin-Brooke. "Commuters actually talk to each other on the ferry. They strike up friendships. There's something about being on the water that relaxes people."
