The Glass Boat – 25 Years In Pictures

A special exhibition of photographs charting the story of one of Bristol's longest established restaurants, the Glass Boat, opens on October 10. The boat has come a long way since it started life in 1924 as a timber barge. It was rescued from the Severn Estuary mud in 1984 and refitted with the intention of becoming a floating botanical garden but a hitch with the local planning authorities required a change of description to a floating café with plants. As work continued the concept further evolved until the Glass Boat finally opened as a restaurant in 1986 and has been operating from Bristol's historic dockside at Welsh Back ever since. Owner Arne Ringner is creative about sustainability and the boat's interior contains many reclaimed features and fittings from Bristol's past, including the original marble worktops from St Nicholas fish market and the solid Burma teak doors from the old Royal Hotel. Two years ago the boat was taken into dry dock for further restoration and this was a perfect opportunity to enhance the interior with a striking, contemporary glass extension to the stern end. The Glass Boat remains at the forefront of Bristol's dining scene and is highly regarded as one of the city's most romantic destinations as well as an institution for good contemporary food. The exhibition of giant atmospheric black and white photographs captures the transformation and endurance of this treasured vessel from sunken barge to sparkling success story.