Former Mersey Ferry turned floating bar and restaurant, Daffodil, welcomes its first customers. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool entrepreneurs Philip Olivier and Joshua Boyd have welcomed the first guests on board their floating bar, restaurant and event space.

At the weekend Daffodil, a former Mersey Ferry, opened to customers for the first time after being carefully restored during a five-year project. It now sits proudly in Canning Dock next to Liverpool’s popular Royal Albert Dock.

Once left rusting and forgotten in Birkenhead Docks, the vessel has been transformed in a £3.5m project. Originally named Overchurch, the boat served as a cross-river transport and cruising vessel following her maiden voyage in April 1962.

She was re-named Royal Daffodil in 1999 after an extensive refit as a party and dance cruising vessel. After a further decade of active service she was eventually decommissioned in 2012 due to a breakdown in one of her two engines.

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For seven years until 2019 MV Royal Daffodil lay forgotten and unloved in Birkenhead’s East Float Dock. That is when entrepreneurs Philip and Joshua saw an opportunity to bring her back to life.

On Sunday the Promenade Bar opened, offering an all-day menu that does not require pre-bookings and offering a selection of sociable small plates and light bites.

The Main Deck restaurant also opened for the first guests with a ticket to dine aboard Daffodil, with a festive menu offering an array of dishes created by head chef Darren James-Campbell and his team. Daffodil’s interiors have been designed by interior designer Edwin Pickett of Edwin Design. 

Reservations for the restaurant are now open via the website. Guests are able to take up a table in the Promenade Bar on a first come first served basis.

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