The Ferry Boat Inn was a public house

Public house

A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...

 and live music venue in Norwich

Norwich

Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...

, UK, which closed in 2006.

Current Situation

The Ferry Boat Inn is now closed and in January 2010 was sold to the Borthwick family, who have recently received planning permission to build Norwich Backpackers on the site. Building work should begin in 2011, with the plan to open the backpackers hostel in 2012. The family have already developed another backpackers hostel on the north Norfolk coast - Deepdale Backpackers & Camping.

The pub itself will be retaining and become a Real Ale Appreciation Shop with off sales and one or two beers on tap. The boat house at the rear of the pub, which used to be used as a music venue, will become cycle hire, canoe hire and a cafe overlooking the river. A new warehouse style building will be developed over the car park, creating rooms for the backpackers hostel.

Bands that played at The Ferry Boat

Bands that played at the Ferry Boat include THE JINX, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly is the stage name of English artist Sam Duckworth and his band. He is sometimes referred to as Get Cape, Cape, GCWCF and Slam Dunkworth . According to Duckworth, his stage name comes from a ZX Spectrum magazine...

, Enter Shikari

Enter Shikari

Enter Shikari are a British band, that combine post-hardcore with elements of various electronic genres, formed in 2003 in St Albans, Hertfordshire. The band is named after a boat belonging to Roughton "Rou" Reynolds' uncle, and a character in a play which he wrote before forming the band, both of...

, Gallows

Gallows

A gallows is a frame, typically wooden, used for execution by hanging, or by means to torture before execution, as was used when being hanged, drawn and quartered...

, RX Bandits

Rx Bandits

RX Bandits is a four-piece band based in Seal Beach, California. The band formed in 1995 in Orange County, California. They have appeared on the Vans Warped Tour, at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and at The Bamboozle.-Early years :Originally known as...

, The Aquabats

The Aquabats

The Aquabats are an American rock band formed in 1994 in Orange County, California. They have released five full-length studio albums and have toured internationally. They are best known for their mythology, in which they claim to be superheroes on a quest to save the world from evil through music...

, Kimya Dawson

Kimya Dawson

Kimya Dawson is an American singer-songwriter, best known as a solo performer and as one half of The Moldy Peaches. In Swahili, "Kimya" means "silence" or "silent".-Career:...

, Bleeding Through

Bleeding Through

Bleeding Through is an American metalcore band from Orange County, California. Formed in 1999, the band blends influences stemming from modern hardcore punk, symphonic black metal, and melodic death metal...

, Brigade

Brigade (UK Band)

Brigade are a British rock band from London, England, formed in 2003. The four-piece consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Will Simpson, lead guitarist and backing vocalist James Plant, and drummer Andrew Kearton....

, Anti-Nowhere League

Anti-Nowhere League

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, UK Subs

UK Subs

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, Demented Are Go

Demented Are Go

Demented Are Go are a Welsh psychobilly band that was formed around 1982 in Cardiff. They were one of the earliest in the initial wave of bands to mix punk rock with rockabilly, and as a result, are considered to be highly influential to the psychobilly scene....

, Cult Of Luna

Cult of Luna

Cult of Luna is a Swedish post-metal band from Umeå. They formed from the remnants of a Umeå hardcore punk band called Eclipse in 1998. They slowly garnered critical appreciation and underground popularity with early releases Cult of Luna and The Beyond ; however, it is 2004's Salvation that can...

, Throwdown, The Vibrators

The Vibrators

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, Twin Zero

Twin Zero

-Biography:The band's first release was 7" vinyl Earthbound on Danish label Futhermocker Records. Released in November 2004, this featured one 7 minute track split over both sides of the record....

, The Business

The Business (band)

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, Mixtwitch, Captain Everything!

Captain Everything!

Captain Everything! are a punk band from Watford, United Kingdom. They met at Parmiter's School. Formed in 1998, the band play high tempo pop-punk, which was branded "Bubblegum Thrash". Renowned for their heavy touring schedule, they have played all over the UK and Europe, touring with bands such...

, Million Dead

Million Dead

Million Dead were a hardcore punk band from London, UK, active between 2001 and 2005.-History:The band was founded in 2000 by Cameron Dean and Julia Ruzicka, after both came to London from Australia. They were joined by Ben Dawson, who had worked with Dean in a record shop in the city...

, The Red Chord

The Red Chord

The Red Chord is an American grindcore band from Revere, Massachusetts, formed in 1999. The band is made up of vocalist Guy Kozowyk, guitarist Mike "Gunface" McKenzie, and bassist Greg Weeks. The band gained a fanbase with its 2002 debut album Fused Together in Revolving Doors. The second album,...

, Sonic Boom Six

Sonic Boom Six

Sonic Boom Six are a five-piece rock band from Manchester, United Kingdom. Their eclectic sound combines different elements of several genres and has been described by Kerrang! as "taking ska, pop, grime, dubstep, punk and metal apart, then rebuilding them as a hyperactive hybrid"...

, Fandangle, HORSE the band

HORSE the band

Horse the Band is a band from Lake Forest, California who are best known for their 8-bit Nintendo-influenced sound combined with metalcore. Frontman Nathan Winneke once described their sound as "Nintendocore".-Biography:...

, Bullet Union

Bullet Union

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, Eden Maine

Eden Maine

Eden Maine were a metalcore/avant garde metal band from Saint Albans, Hertfordshire, England, formed in 1999. As of September 2005, they are on an indefinite hiatus.-Biography:Eden Maine was formed in 1999 by vocalist Adam Symonds and bassist Nick Brown...

, Ghost Mice

Ghost Mice

Ghost Mice is a two-piece folk-punk band from Bloomington, Indiana. Both members, Chris Johnston and Hannah Jones, have been in a handful of pop-punk bands together: namely Disarm, The Devil is Electric and Operation: Cliff Clavin...

, Fastlane

Fastlane (band)

Fastlane is a British rock band, that emerged from the Surrey rock scene in 1997.-History:Formed in 1997, Fastlane was made of 4 school friends with common musical interests...

, The Littlest Man Band

The Littlest Man Band

The Littlest Man Band was started by Scott Klopfenstein of Orange County, California. Scott was a long-time member of Reel Big Fish, a popular ska punk band. Scott had written a number of songs over the years that didn't conform to the usual style of Reel Big Fish...

, Minus the Bear

Minus the Bear

Minus the Bear is an American indie rock band from Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2001, the group features current and former members of Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving...

, Seachange

Seachange (band)

Seachange were a band from Nottingham, United Kingdom, that played a mixture of melodic folk and pop with a strong influence of alternative rock. They were the first British band to be taken on the roster of American indie-label Matador Records within five years...

, Hoover

Hoover (band)

Hoover was an American post-hardcore band from Washington, DC. Formed in 1992, Hoover went on to produce some of the more intense music to appear on the Dischord Records label in the 1990s...

, Even in Blackouts

Even in Blackouts

Even in Blackouts, known occasionally by the acronym EiB, were an acoustic pop-punk band from Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 2002 by veteran pop-punk guitarist John 'Jughead' Pierson following the demise of the pop-punk band Screeching Weasel, for which Pierson had performed since 1986...

, Stretch Arm Strong

Stretch Arm Strong

Stretch Arm Strong is a hardcore punk band from Chapin South Carolina, and the flagship band for We Put Out Records. They have been active since 1992. Several of the band members are outspoken Christians, but they prefer not to be classified as a Christian band in some cases. They do prefer to be...

, Jeniferever

Jeniferever

Jeniferever is a band from Uppsala, Sweden formed in 1996. Their music could be described as ambient indie rock or post-rock; it is slow-paced, melodic, and frequently building to an orchestral-like climax. Their sound has been compared to bands such as The Appleseed Cast and Sigur Rós. Their name...

, Kid commando

Kid Commando

Kid Commando was a band from Sweden founded in 1998. They were influenced by Arab on Radar and various noise rock bands. Kid Commando disbanded in 2005 after releasing several 7"s and a debut album entitled Holy Kid Commando in 2003...

, 65daysofstatic

65daysofstatic

65daysofstatic are an instrumental post-rock and math rock band from Sheffield, England comprising Paul Wolinski, Joe Shrewsbury, Rob Jones and Simon Wright...

, The Dangerfields

The Dangerfields

The Dangerfields is a punk rock/rock 'n' roll man based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, formed in March 2000. Led by drummer and lead vocalist Andrew Griswold, they have released one album and four EPs, and have played more than 850 live gigs...

, Logh

Logh (band)

Logh is a post-rock band formed in 1998 in Lund, Sweden. With four members, their first LP was released in 2002 on Bad Taste Records, incorporating elements of indie rock and shoegaze with hushed vocals and introspective lyrics...

, The Good Life

The Good Life (band)

The Good Life is an indie rock band on Saddle Creek records.Started as a solo project of Cursive's frontman Tim Kasher, The Good Life quickly grew to become its own established group. The original intent of The Good Life was to provide Tim Kasher with a vehicle to perform songs that did not fit...

, Noisettes

Noisettes

Noisettes are an English indie rock band from London, comprising singer and bassist Shingai Shoniwa, guitarist Dan Smith, and drummer Jamie Morrison...

, Vanilla Sky, Ambassador 21

Ambassador 21

Ambassador 21 is an Industrial/Digital Hardcore band from Minsk, Belarus. Most of AMBASSADOR21's lyrics are in Russian and English languages. AMBASSADOR21 play breakbeat hardcore / industrial / hardcore techno with punk elements.-History:...

, Never Heard Of It, Modern Life Is War

Modern Life Is War

Modern Life Is War , was a Marshalltown, Iowa-based melodic hardcore punk band. They were known for their incendiary live shows and unique take on the melodic hardcore and hardcore sound, usually avoiding standard songs structures and almost entirely abandoning the use of breakdowns...

, Howards Alias

Howards Alias

Howards Alias were a band in the modern UK underground punk scene. They formed in 1999 in Southampton, England and blend an eclectic mix of rock, progressive, punk and ska influences into their own musical output. They permanently disbanded in April 2008....

, MU330

MU330

MU330 are a ska punk band from St. Louis, Missouri.Formed by students of St. Louis University High School in 1988, MU330 played a self-described brand of music called "Psycho Ska", high energy ska punk marked by manic performances and humorous, often strange lyricism...

, Stza Crack, Bring Me the Horizon

Bring Me the Horizon

Bring Me the Horizon are a British metalcore band from Sheffield, Yorkshire, who formed in 2004. Bring Me the Horizon constits of Oliver Sykes as the lead vocalist, lead guitarist Lee Malia, rhythm guitarist Jona Weinhofen, bassist Matt Kean and drummer Matt Nicholls...

, Send More Paramedics

Send More Paramedics

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, Strike Anywhere

Strike Anywhere

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, Rentokill, The Robocop Kraus

The Robocop Kraus

The Robocop Kraus are a post-punk revival/indie rock band from Nuremberg, Germany.-History:The Robocop Kraus formed in 1998 with Thomas Lang as lead singer and on guitar, Matthias Wendl on guitar, Johannes Uschalt on drums, and Roman Maul on bass. Maul left before the release of a split EP with The...

, Decibully

Decibully

Decibully is an indie rock band based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin that formed in 2001. Each of the current members is able to play multiple instruments. The band is signed to Polyvinyl Records. However, Decibully's new album, World Travels Fast, won't be released on Polyvinyl. -Discography:* You...

, Chris T-T

Chris T-T

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, Swearing at Motorists

Swearing at Motorists

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, The Martini Henry Rifles

The Martini Henry Rifles

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, Miss Black America

Miss Black America (band)

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, Jetplane Landing

Jetplane Landing

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, Melys

Melys

Melys are a Welsh independent rock band from Betws-y-Coed in Conwy, Wales, formed in 1996. They sing in both English and Welsh...

, Engerica, Kinesis

Kinesis (band)

Kinesis were an alternative rock band from Bolton, England. The group formed in September 2000 whilst at school, and split after five years in June 2005. During this time they recorded two full studio albums, a mini album and several singles under three record labels.When Handshakes for Bullets was...

, KaitO

KaitO

KaitO was an English indie rock band from Norwich, formed in 1996. Their music consisted of loud, pop-punk melodies combined with a unique mix of guitar effects...

, Meanwhile, Back In Communist Russia...

Meanwhile, back in Communist Russia...

Meanwhile, Back in Communist Russia... was a post-rock band from Oxford, England.-History:The group was founded in 1999. The band's original line up featured keyboardist Tim Croston, guitarist Pete Williams, guitarist James Shames, singer Emily Gray, singer Ed Carder and guitarist and drum machine...

, Sputniks Down

Sputniks Down

Sputniks Down are a Scottish band from Glasgow. Signed to Edinburgh's Human Condition Records, Sputniks Down were a three piece from Bishopbriggs on the outskirts of Glasgow. They produced instrumental electronica with 'Eno-esque gorgeousness'...

, The Dawn Parade

The Dawn Parade

The Dawn Parade were a British rock band from Bury St Edmunds formed in 2000. Greg McDonald was the main songwriter, and also provided vocals and guitar....

, Bearsuit

Bearsuit

Bearsuit are an art-rock/dance/punk band from Norwich, UK.-Biography:Bearsuit first came to public attention following their championing by Radio 1 DJ John Peel, and their debut single "Hey Charlie, Hey Chuck" was voted number four in the Peel programme's Festive Fifty of 2001...

, Angelspit

Angelspit

Angelspit is a cyberpunk band from Sydney, Australia. The band was formed in 2004 by vocalists/synthesists Destroyx and ZooG...

, The Suffrajets

The Suffrajets

The Suffrajets were a British all girl four-piece rock band formed in a school playground by childhood friends Alex Gillings and Gemma Clarke...

, The Microphones

The Microphones

The Microphones was a lo-fi band based in Olympia, Washington, and fronted by Phil Elvrum. Elvrum is the principal member of the band, but he has collaborated with many other musicians on his records....

, Karl Blau

Karl Blau

Karl Blau is an indie rock and folk musician based in Anacortes, Washington, and member of the Knw-Yr-Own/K Records collective. His music is eclectic, incorporating elements of folk, dub, R&B, bossa nova, grunge, hip hop, drone, and worldbeat....

, Magoo

Magoo (band)

Magoo are an indie rock band who formed in Norfolk, England in 1992.-Biography:The band give their influences as Guided by Voices, Stereolab, Pavement, The Flaming Lips, and John Peel, and spent their early years playing local venues in the Norwich area....

, Herman Düne

Herman Düne

Herman Düne is a French duo, formed in 1999. Originally a trio, the band now consists of David-Ivar Herman Düne and Néman Herman Düne . Néman, who is from Switzerland, replaced former drummer Omé in early 2001...

, We vs. Death

We vs. Death

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, Koufax

Koufax (band)

Koufax are an indie rock band whose members are from mainly Toledo, Ohio. The band's self-titled debut EP was released in 1999 on independent label Doghouse Records, and got them noticed by The Get Up Kids, who signed them to their label, Vagrant Records subsidiary Heroes and Villains...

, Funeral Diner

Funeral Diner

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, Days in December

Days in December

Days in December was a London-based Hard Rock band who played a variety of hard rock/metal, featured in their debut EP Countless Hours Making Waves.-Formation:...

, Jairus, Leatherface

Leatherface (band)

Leatherface is a British punk rock band from Sunderland fronted by Frankie Stubbs. The band is known for an eclectic style spanning American folk music, hardcore punk and post-hardcore.-History and background:...

, Champion

Champion (band)

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, Ciccone, Koopa

Koopa (band)

Koopa are a pop punk band from Sible Hedingham, near Colchester, Essex, England. The band formed in 2000 by the brothers Stuart Cooper and Oliver "Ollie" Cooper , plus Joe Murphy...

, Serpent Sins.

History

The history of the Ferry Boat has been traced as far back as 1822, when it is thought to have been called the Horse Packet. It was known as the Steam Barge by 1830, and in 1867 its name was changed to the Steam Packet. It was first known as the Ferry Boat in 1925. In the mid 1970s a second bar was opened in a converted boat shed at the rear of the pub. It was here that they began putting on live music. The Ferry Boat was originally a venue for cover band

Cover band

A cover band , is a band that plays mostly or exclusively cover songs. New or unknown bands often find the cover band format marketable for smaller gigs, and these bands may be known as a wedding band, party band and function band. A band whose covers consist mainly of songs that were chart hits is...

s, but in the late 1990s local promoters

Promoter (entertainment)

An entertainment promoter i.e. music, wrestling, boxing etc is a person or company in the business of marketing and promoting live events such as concerts/gigs, boxing matches, sports entertainment , festivals, raves, and nightclubs.- Business model :Promoters are typically hired as independent...

 began booking their own nights at the venue to put on local originals bands, and touring bands from all over the world. Over the next few years the Ferry Boat became established as one of the most important venues for local bands, catering for all types of alternative music, with a leaning towards Punk rock

Punk rock

Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...

, Ska punk

Ska punk

Ska punk is a fusion music genre that combines ska and punk rock. It achieved its highest level of commercial success in the United States in the late 1990s. Ska-core is a subgenre of ska punk, blending ska with hardcore punk.The characteristics of ska punk vary, due to the fusion of contrasting...

, metal

Heavy metal music

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...

, hardcore

Hardcore punk

Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...

 and Post-rock

Post-rock

Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...

. In 2005 a protest

Protest

A protest is an expression of objection, by words or by actions, to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations...

 was held after the Ferry Boat faced losing its public entertainment licence due to noise complaints from residents of a newly built block of flats nearby. The protest was a success, and the Ferry Boat's licence was renewed. However the Ferry Boat was forced to close a year later in 2006 due to continued noise complaints and financial difficulty. The final gig was an all dayer featuring local bands.

Steve Wright

The Ferry Boat Inn was owned and operated by future serial killer Steve Wright

Ipswich 2006 serial murders

The Ipswich serial murders took place between 30 October and 10 December 2006 when the bodies of five murdered women were discovered at different locations near Ipswich, Suffolk, England. All the victims were women who worked as prostitutes in the Ipswich area. Their bodies were discovered naked,...

from May 10 to September 8, 1988.