We have some big good news for you today. The BACK IN TIME boat is back on the water tomorrow, Bank Holiday Sunday 30 August, and it sails from Blackfriars Pier at 1pm.
Boarding runs 12:30 to 1pm and the boat departs on the hour. The organisers are blunt about this, the boat cannot wait, so anyone rolling up at ten past one is watching it leave from the pier.
Four hours on the Thames, finishing back at 5pm.
Where to Turn Up
Blackfriars Pier, Victoria Embankment, off White Lion Hill, EC4V 3QR. Blackfriars is the nearest tube and it is a two minute walk.
Some listings call it Blackfriars Millennium Pier. Same place.
The Boat
You are on the Pearl of London.
The middle deck is the dancefloor, with eight large seating booths around it. Above that is an open air upper deck for watching the city go past, and there are two fully stocked bars on board doing beers, cocktails and the rest.
One detail worth reading twice before you book: once the boat departs it does not stop. Four hours, no getting off halfway.
The Rules That Will Catch People Out
This one is stricter than most Thames parties, so check yourself against the list before setting off.
- Strictly over 25s, and ID is required. Most London boat parties run 18 or 21 plus, so this is genuinely unusual.
- Dress code is cool and quirky. Clean trainers are fine. No caps, no hoodies, no sportswear.
- Nothing brought on board. No outside food or drink, strictly.
- Card only at the bar, which the organisers say keeps the queue moving.
The Music
Resident DJs across soul, funk, house, club classics, R&B and reggae. Skiddle has it filed under R&B, club classics, soul, funk and soulful house.
No individual DJ names have been published for tomorrow, which is worth knowing if you were hoping for a specific booking.
Who Is Running It
BACK IN TIME EVENT LTD have spent around five years putting on throwback nights across South West London and Surrey, and also run boat parties out of Westminster Pier.
They took the brand into festival territory this year with the first Back In Time Festival at Esher Rugby Club in Hersham on 2 May, same over 25s policy, with Carroll Thompson performing live and a DJ lineup including Guy D’Angelo, Ronnie Herel and Stretch Taylor of Mi-Soul Radio.
Blackfriars Pier itself holds a 4.5 out of 5 rating on Skiddle across six reviews.
Getting a Ticket
Tickets are through Skiddle. Prices load on the listing page rather than being published in the event copy, so check there for the current tier.
If it sells out, the organisers are on @backintimeuk and at backintimeuk.com.
One last time on the timing, because it is the thing most likely to ruin somebody’s afternoon: 12:30 to board, 1pm to sail.