Mooring charges set to be reduced during Henley Royal Regatta after users fall

MOORING charges could be reduced during Henley Royal Regatta after users dropped by more than 85 per cent in two years.

The recommendation, which was made by the town council’s recreation and amenities committee, comes after the rates were increased between the 2023 and 2024 regattas.

The number of boats moored at the temporary moorings at Mill and Marsh Meadows dropped from 106 in 2023 to 19 in 2024 and 15 last year.

The council, which owns and operates around 800m of temporary moorings, last year charged £375 per week for boats under 30ft and £750 per week for boats over 30ft during the regatta.

This was an increase on the 2024 rates which charged £300 per week for boats under 30ft and £600 per week for those above.
The overnight general fees outside of regatta were also increased from £12 to £15.

The Henley Standard reported in July last year that boaters were unhappy with the changes, with some longtime visitors deciding not to return.

In a report to the committee, town clerk Sheridan Jacklin-Edward recommended significantly reducing the rate during the regatta in an effort to boost the figures.

He suggested the fees for the week were reduced to £50 per night per boat, regardless of size, and a price of £300 per week per boat, which could be booked in advance.

Mr Jacklin-Edward said that as there was not a “bounce back” between the 2024 and 2025 Regatta weeks also demonstrates that the low usage was not due to an initial price increase “shock”.

He said that the fees had initially been set in 2024 to be competitive with other mooring spots operated by Remenham Farm, which charged from £756 per week for a 30ft vessel in 2024, but that it was now clear that the farm was “over-priced.”

Mr Jacklin-Edward said: “Feedback from moorers also suggests that the inability to reserve a spot and the removal of the option to pay per night is also discouraging moorers.

“While mooring income may not have decreased due to the price increases, earnings potential is much greater.

“In addition, it is resulting in an important community asset being under occupied during a peak period.”

Mr Jacklin-Edward told the meeting that the option to pay per night rather than for an entire week was introduced after some boaters last year arrived at the end of the week and found that it was cheaper to not pay and receive a £75 mooring charge notice.

He said: “This is an opportunity to simplify it and make it a bit more attractive.”

Councillor Gill Dodds said: “We want to see it used. We want to see people come into the town. They come into the restaurants, they are there for the week and lets’ do a fair price.”

Councillors Sarah Miller and Glen Lambert said they would like to see a differentiation between bigger and smaller boats. Cllr Lambert suggested charging £450 a week for larger boats, arguing this kept the rate below the £75 mooring charge notice and was £300 cheaper than the current rate for big vessels.

Parks services department manager Karl Bishop suggested keeping the flat rate to “get people back through the door”.

He said: “I feel like a few years ago regatta week was heavily, heavily used. Obviously it had taken over and the prices were put up [but] we scared everyone away.”

Cllr Miller said: “I think it’s incredibly cheap for the Henley Royal Regatta for mooring. I can’t even get a room in Henley for £300 or £400 quid a night.”

“I don’t want people not to come of course but it does seem incredibly cheap to me.”

Mr Jacklin-Edward’s proposal was recommended for approval by the committee.

It also agreed to record the number of boats over 30ft that book a mooring at the regatta this summer.

The full council will make the final decision next month.