A Brief History of the Southern Comfort

Built in the 1970s

The Southern Comfort, a replica Mississippi Paddle Steamer was built in the 1970s, by the then owner of the Hotel Wroxham, which is situated on the Norfolk Broads in the tourist town of Wroxham, Norfolk.

Circumventing the liquor licencing laws!

The Southern Comfort began her life not as a moving vessel but moored alongside the Hotel Wroxham as a place where the hotel patrons could relocate to when the Hotels bar had to close during the day, required by the then liquor licencing laws. These laws did not extend to vessels on the Norfolk Broads which are covered by maritime law!

Moving to Horning

Once the liquor licencing laws were relaxed and public houses could remain open during the day the Southern Comfort was sold and moved in 1979 the short distance to the village of Horning, Norfolk to operate as a passenger vessel, where she has remained ever since.

Anne Gilden remembers…

Anne Gilden, one of the Southern Comfort’s longest serving crew members who retired at the end of 2024 said she remembers the Southern Comfort arriving in Horning.

Anne was 20 at the time working in the Swan Inn Hotel, the public House opposite to the Southern Comforts mooring in Horning. The Southern Comfort needed crew so on her day off from the Swan Inn Anne crewed the first ever sailing to help them out and never left!

Anne said the best trip she worked was when David Essex visited! The black and white photo below is of Anne jumping off the Southern Comfort after the first trip. Fortunately we now have a ramp in place!