Messing about on the river

At this time of year I am always reminded of Smoke on the Water, the boat party Forest organised from 2012 to 2017.

Each year 200+ guests would join us aboard The Elizabethan, a replica Mississippi style paddle steamer.

I first booked the boat in 1995, several years before I joined Forest. With a capacity of 235 it was a good size - not too big, not too small - and the parties we organised were reasonably successful.

After the smoking ban was introduced in 2007 we struggled to find venues in central London with outdoor smoking areas large enough for private parties so the idea of a boat seemed a good solution to the problem.

You’d be surprised though how few ‘party boats’ have outside decks. Some that do are moored permanently to the bank which is fine, but the point of a party on the Thames is seeing the sights - Houses of Parliament, Tate Modern, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf - as you travel up and down the river.

The Elizabethan not only has an outside deck at the stern, it also has covered walkways on either side so there is plenty of outside space where people can light up.

Another selling point is the sliding roof that covers much of the upper deck. On a fine evening the captain will slide it back and you get a fantastic view of the London skyline and the many bridges that you pass underneath.

Unfortunately, even in June it’s impossible to predict the weather and I would always worry as the hour of departure got closer.

One year I remember a severe thunderstorm hitting the South Bank, where the boat was moored, just two hours before guests were due to board. Thankfully the storm eased off, the sun came out and all was well.

Another year though it was so grey and chilly you wondered why anyone would bother to come, but they did, albeit in reduced numbers.

However a warm sunny evening on the Thames is hard to beat and more often than not we got lucky.

Two years ago we retired Smoke On The Water but it was always the intention to bring it back when the time was right.

Next year perhaps we’ll have a special post-Covid reunion on board The Elizabethan. Wouldn’t that be nice?!