Back in September 2013 we were contacted by Quadrant Designs to tender for the refurbishment of an old freight barge sat outside a restaurant in Reading.

The vessel in question is a 26 Metre long, Humber Keel, a traditionally built, riveted and cap jointed, smooth water motor barge built circa 1930 and used to transport coal. It was originally found abandoned in Hoo Medway in 2002 and dismantled. The first set of pictures show what it looked like during its intended use.

The client (bel and the dragon) took ownership of the derelict vessel when they purchased the premises for a new bar and restaurant, she was moored up outside and somebody wondered what if?

The next job was to engage with a marine consultant, to discuss repair and repatriation. The client was ahead of us on this one and had already engaged with John Heath from CP Heath Marine Consultants. A very well established and knowledgeable company.

John and his team were contracted to drive her to Greenwich and dry dock her for essential repair work to the hull and fabricate the skeleton framework that form the walls and roof. Almost 7.5 tonnes of unnecessary weight was removed.

Once the essential specialist repair work was completed, John and his team took 4 days to drive her back through roughly 30 locks to Caversham in Reading, where she sat for a few months whilst the logistics of relocating the vessel back to the original mooring outside the restaurant were discussed. The trouble was that with the increased rainfall over the winter, the vessel would not pass under the bridges that it had no trouble navigating in the dryer weather.

We had never worked on a boat before, so there were lots to consider from a Health and safety angle and it took a while to convince our Carpenters that their spirit levels would not be necessary. We worked very closely with the client and Quadrant designs to ensure that we interpreted their requirements correctly and the end result has really hit the spot. We completed works to the top deck on 27 November 2014 and they are already fully booked until the end of January and that’s what we call a result.

Majestic Bel has an electrical retractable roof and offers over 40No covers which are additional to the excellent restaurant, which is always busy too. We have also upgraded the accommodation in the lower deck, which has 14No single bedrooms, 2No shower blocks and a Utility room.

Oh, and because of the additional height added on, the Majestic Bel is now in its final resting place, as it will not fit under any bridges, even in the dry season (whenever that is)