Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club

Parties & Celebrations

Give everyone something to celebrate

Some occasions deserve more than booking a table somewhere.

Birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, retirement parties, christenings, naming celebrations and big family get-togethers are all really about the same thing — getting your favourite people together in one place.

At Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club, you can do that with one of Suffolk’s loveliest waterside settings thrown in.

Our clubhouse sits at the mouth of the River Deben, giving your celebration views across the water towards Bawdsey and out towards the North Sea.

Relaxed, friendly and slightly different from the usual function venue, it’s a wonderful place to bring people together.

Big birthdays and little moments

You don’t need an enormous occasion to celebrate here.

Perhaps it’s a significant birthday with the whole family. Maybe you’re marking an anniversary, engagement or retirement. Or perhaps you’ve simply realised that it’s been far too long since everyone you care about was in the same room.

We can accommodate different styles of gathering and help you work out what will suit your guests, numbers and occasion.

The important thing is that it feels like your celebration, not somebody else’s standard event package.

Enquire About a Party or Celebration
A plate of food including sliced roast beef, roasted carrot, purple cabbage slaw, broccoli, and a fried onion ring, with a glass of water and a bottle of white wine in the background. The setting is near a window overlooking a body of water.

Food, drinks and good company

Our Thyme & Tide restaurant and bar team can help with the food and drink for your celebration.

Depending on what you’re planning, that could mean gathering everyone around tables for a meal or creating something more informal where people can eat, drink, talk and move around.

We’ll discuss the options with you, including dietary requirements and any particular ideas you have for the occasion.

Then you can concentrate on the important bit — enjoying yourself.

A celebration by the water

Felixstowe Ferry gives you something that can’t really be added to a conventional function room: a sense of place.

Boats, beach, river, changing tides and enormous Suffolk skies are right outside.

It gives guests somewhere to wander, creates a fantastic backdrop for photographs and makes even a relatively simple gathering feel like an occasion.

And when the sun decides to cooperate, it can be rather spectacular.

Start planning your celebration

Tell us what you’re celebrating, approximately how many people you’re inviting and the kind of event you have in mind.

We’ll talk you through the available spaces, food and drink and help you work out what would suit you best.

Decorated reception hall with tables set for celebration, balloons in gold, silver, and white, and centerpieces with candles, flowers, and party favors.
Enquire About a Party or Celebration

Plan Your Visit

Everything you need to know about eating, celebrating or holding an event at Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club from opening times and bookings to dietary requirements, finding us and planning something special.

  • Wednesday evening
    18:00 to 22:00
    Members and guests only.

    Saturday lunchtime
    12:00 to 15:00
    Members, guests and the public.

    Sunday lunchtime
    12:00 to 16:00
    Members, guests and the public

    Opening times and menus can vary around special events and the sailing calendar, so please check our latest information before travelling.

  • Booking is strongly recommended, particularly for Sunday lunch.

    VISIT OUR BOOKING PORTAL

    To enquire about booking the venue for your special occasion email bar@ffsc.co.uk or telephone: 07435 697318 or 01394 283785.

  • Non-members are very welcome to dine with us at weekends. You don’t have to be a sailor to eat at Thyme & Tide either.

    The restaurant welcomes everyone on Saturdays and Sundays, while Wednesday evening dining is available to Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club members and their guests.

    Club members also receive a discount on food and drink.

  • Our menus change regularly, allowing the kitchen team to make the most of the season and keep things interesting for our regular diners.

    Our latest menus and special dining events are available here and shared through the Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club social channels.

    Sunday is home to our popular Best Roast nearest to the Coast, with a choice of starters, mains and desserts.

  • We want everyone to be able to enjoy eating with us.

    We can accommodate a range of dietary requirements, including vegetarian options and other special dietary needs. Please tell us about any allergies, intolerances or dietary requirements when you book, so that the team can discuss what is available and prepare appropriately.

    If you have a serious food allergy, please speak directly to the team before ordering.

  • You’ll find us in a rather special spot at Felixstowe Ferry, overlooking the River Deben, Bawdsey and the North Sea.

    Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club
    The Ferry
    Felixstowe
    Suffolk
    IP11 9RZ

    Directions

    Google Maps Link

    what3words ///seashell.occur.seeing

    Allow yourself a little time to enjoy the view when you arrive, it’s very much part of the experience. You may park for free in our carpark.

  • If you or one of your guests has particular accessibility requirements, please contact us before your visit.

    We would much rather have a conversation beforehand and make sure we understand what you need.

  • Families are very welcome.

    Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club is a community club, and Thyme & Tide is part of that community. If you’re bringing younger children or have particular requirements, simply let the team know when booking.

Elegant banquet hall with tables set for a meal, featuring white tablecloths, floral centerpieces, wine bottles, wine glasses, and place settings, overlooking a body of water through large windows.

Let’s talk about your plans

Planning something at Felixstowe Ferry? We’d love to hear from you.

Tell us a little about what you have in mind using the form below, and our team will be in touch to discuss the possibilities.

  • The setting was absolutely beautiful. We wanted somewhere relaxed where our families could actually spend time together, and having the river right outside made the whole day feel incredibly special.

    Sarah & James — Wedding Reception

  • The team made a difficult day so much easier for us. Everything was taken care of quietly and thoughtfully, which meant we could simply concentrate on being with family and friends.

    Helen M. — Celebration of Life

  • We booked the club for my husband’s 60th and it was exactly what we’d hoped for — great food, a brilliant atmosphere and plenty of space for everyone to catch up. The views were a huge bonus!

    Rachel T. — Birthday Celebration

  • We held our team day here and it made such a change from a hotel meeting room. We got everything we needed to get done, had a really good lunch and being able to step outside beside the water completely changed the feel of the day.

    David P. — Company Away Day

  • From our first conversation to the day itself, everything felt easy and personal. Nothing felt like a standard package — the team listened to what we wanted and helped us create something that genuinely felt like ours.

    Emma & Tom — Private Celebration