Welcome to Haslar Marina– Where heritage meets the harbour.​

The Gosport Marine Festival Heritage Trail invites you to explore six key locations, each rich with local stories, maritime heritage, and the creative energy of Gosport’s people.

Haslar Marina
​Haslar Marina is a modern marina in Gosport with deep historic roots, located in Haslar Creek within Portsmouth Harbour. Once home to military installations and the Royal Navy’s Haslar Hospital, the site transformed in the early 1990s into a full-service marina led by John Dean and Richard Reddyhoff. Now operated by boatfolk, Haslar Marina blends maritime heritage with modern boating amenities, including the distinctive green lightship Mary Mouse, eco-friendly initiatives, and a vibrant new restaurant, The Creek.

The Rich History of Haslar Marina, Gosport
Before yachts bobbed peacefully on their pontoons and seafood was served with a waterfront view at Haslar Marina, this storied stretch of water – Haslar Creek – was a very different place. Tucked into the western side of Portsmouth Harbour, it’s a site layered with centuries of naval intrigue, innovation, and evolution.
Long before the first berth was laid in the early 1990s, Haslar Creek formed a vital artery in the naval landscape of Britain. Its story ties into the grand narrative of Portsmouth Harbour, a place first fortified by the Romans with the construction of Portchester Castle, then strengthened during the Norman and Tudor eras. As the Royal Navy rose to prominence, Gosport became a crucial support hub.
One of the most prominent historical landmarks tied to the creek is Haslar Hospital, opened in 1753 at the head of the inlet. This was no quiet country infirmary—it was a naval hospital, built to treat sailors injured or sick from battle or long voyages. The hospital was so keen to keep patients in place (and away from the notorious press gangs that roamed Beaminster Lane) that there were even efforts to restrict their escape.
Spanning the creek itself, the first bridge was built the same year as the hospital and featured a toll booth for crossing into Gosport. Over the centuries, this evolved into the 1944 “pneumonia bridge,” a draughty structure that served until the 1980s, when the current bridge replaced it.
But Haslar Creek wasn’t always a peaceful backwater for convalescing seamen. Through the 19th and 20th centuries, the area around it included military installations like Fort Blockhouse—with its distinctive submariners’ chapel—and the defensive ramparts established by Charles II, many of which still stand today.
It wasn’t until the 1980s that the creek began its transformation from naval grit to leisure chic. Dean & Dyball, under John Dean and Richard Reddyhoff, were veterans of marina development and saw potential where others saw silt. By 1992, after overcoming lease complications and diplomatic hurdles with local sailing associations, construction of Haslar Marina began. A staggering 350,000 cubic metres of spoil were shifted to bring the project to life.
By 1994, the first phase was complete. The iconic green lightship, formally named Mary Mouse II, soon found her permanent berth and became a quirky emblem of the marina’s identity. Haslar was no longer a neglected corner of naval history—it was a thriving destination for sailors, tourists, and locals alike.
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Since then, the site has seen ownership changes and new investment. In 2020, the marina’s parent company rebranded as boatfolk, and today, they’re not just focusing on boats but on environmental responsibility too. Their eco-mooring initiative with The Seahorse Trust in Studland Bay is a nod to a greener future—installing moorings that protect seagrass beds, critical habitats for native seahorses.

And the marina continues to evolve. The Creek, the long-awaited new shoreside restaurant, is now open—offering a stylish venue with great food, wine, and panoramic views over the marina. Plans also include new pontoons in Haslar Lake and efforts to restore and clean up the area around the mudflats, which remain a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest.
From a creek that healed the wounded of empire to a hub of sustainable leisure sailing, Haslar Marina is a place where history laps at the shore, even as the tide brings in a promising future. Whether you’re docking a yacht or enjoying a sunset drink at The Creek, you’re floating on layers of maritime heritage.

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Gosport Marine Festival Heritage Trail is part of Hampshire Cultural Trust’s ‘Gosport Heritage Generator’ which is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Gosport Borough Council.