Unique sight-seeing trips

A LEIGH business is making history with a unique series of sight-seeing trips.

Brownes Thames Estuary Boat Trips offers day-trippers fascinating journeys around the waters of Leigh and Southend, and has just been granted a pleasure boat licence from Southend Council to allow it to expand its offer.

Angus Browne, 34, who also runs Brownes Boot Camps in Leigh, setup the business in 2021, and has been inundated with requests for trips.

He said: “It’s such a pleasure to be able to get this accreditation from Southend Council, which will give me access to work on their waters.

“We need the licence so that we can operate our passenger boats in their section when we cross past Chalkwell.

“As well as this, we are also looking at starting up new trips, such as to the Knock John Fort.”

Trips that Mr Browne currently runs include a ride out to the World War Two Mulberry Harbour, and the half-submerged American liberty cargo ship SS Richard Montgomery, as well as a 10-hour day trip to Tower Bridge, all of which happen on the business’ two boats – Daisy Margaret and Starfish.

Mr Browne, a lifelong Leigh resident and with experience of working on cockle boats, knows the joys and benefits of exploring the local waters, and the fascinating potential of being able to experience local history on the water.

He is pleased the new permission will allow him to take paid customers out into new areas of the city’s waters and foreshore.

Mr Browne had initially wanted to use Leigh Marina as a pick up and drop off place, but permission for this was refused by the marina’s owner Paul Deverell.

Mr Deverell explained that it was down to a health and safety issue.

He said: “We cannot allow Mr Browne to pick up and drop off paying customers from the Marina, as we are not insured for that.

“It’s a health and safety issue. If someone tripped, we are not insured.

“Mr Browne can use the wharf further up the creek, but he cannot use Leigh Marina, which is not for the public, but is private.”

Leigh Lib Dem councillor peter Wexham said: “Boat trips could use Bell Wharf in Old Leigh as a landing stage, but the problem with this is, it might clog up parking.

“It is more advisable to use Two Tree Island as a landing point, as you can be constantly afloat there, whereas in Old Leigh you have to wait for the high tide.

“What’s more, there is a big car park on Two Tree Island for customers.”

For more information on the trips, visit: brownesthamesestuaryboattrips.co.uk.

Picture: Angus Browne.

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