What time does the evening start and finish?

Dinner at Doggett’s Coat and Badge begins at 5:00pm. Boarding at Bankside Pier is at 9:30pm and the Sapele departs at 9:45pm, returning to Bankside Pier at approximately 1:15am. Boat timings are strict and latecomers cannot be waited for.

What is included in the price?

A welcome drink and a three-course dinner at Doggett’s Coat and Badge, entrance to the Sapele on New Year’s Eve, live music on board and staff throughout the evening. There is a bar on board, which is paid for separately.

Is the bar really cash only?

Yes. The on-board bar accepts cash payments only — there is no card machine on the boat. Bring notes if you plan to drink beyond the welcome drink. A valid ID is required to buy alcohol.

Can I see the dinner menu before booking?

Yes — the three-course menu served at Doggett’s Coat and Badge is published on this page as a PDF, linked above under the description.

Yes. The Sapele is the family-friendly option among the New Year’s Eve cruises: all ages are welcome. Infants are admitted but require a paid ticket. Child tickets are priced separately from adult tickets.

Where exactly do dinner and the cruise take place?

Dinner is at Doggett’s Coat and Badge, 1 Blackfriars Bridge, London SE1 9UD. The cruise boards at Bankside Pier, London SE1 9DT, a short walk along the south bank, opposite St Paul’s Cathedral and beside Shakespeare’s Globe.

Will I see the fireworks from the boat?

Yes — the Sapele is on the water at midnight for the display. As with every cruise on the Thames that night, the exact position cannot be guaranteed: river traffic, weather and tides all affect where a boat can hold station. The captain and crew will secure the best position they can.

Can I cancel or change my booking?

Yes. Cancellation is free up to 30 days before the cruise. Inside 30 days the booking can no longer be cancelled or amended.

Sapele NYE Dinner & Thames Cruise London 2026 – Intimate Boat Party with Fireworks

Three courses at Doggett’s Coat and Badge from 5pm, then the Thames for midnight — the family-friendly way to see in 2027.

New Year's Eve cruise on the River Thames aboard the Sapele in London

New Year's Eve celebration aboard the Sapele in London

Guests on board the Sapele during the New Year's Eve Thames cruise

The Sapele on the River Thames on New Year's Eve in London

Sapele Price

Adult 12+	£ 389
Child 0-11	£ 379

BOOK NOW

NYE Dinner at Restaurant + Cruise

Three-course dinner and welcome drink at Doggett’s Coat and Badge
Entrance to the Sapele on New Year’s Eve
Live music entertainment on board
Helpful staff on board
Bar on board (cash payments only, paid separately)

Sapele Price

Adult 12+	£ 389
Child 0-11	£ 379

NYE Dinner at Restaurant + Cruise

Three-course dinner and welcome drink at Doggett’s Coat and Badge
Entrance to the Sapele on New Year’s Eve
Live music entertainment on board
Helpful staff on board
Bar on board (cash payments only, paid separately)

BOOK NOW

Dinner

Doggett’s Coat and Badge 5pm

Boarding

Bankside Pier 9:30pm

Entertainment

Live music on-board

Type of Experience

Family-friendly: all ages welcome

Duration

Dinner from 5pm, cruise approx. 3.5 hours

The Sapele New Year’s Eve Dinner & Cruise pairs a three-course dinner at Doggett’s Coat and Badge, beside Blackfriars Bridge, with a Thames cruise for the midnight fireworks on 31 December 2026. Dinner is served from 5pm; boarding at Bankside Pier is at 9:30pm for a 9:45pm departure, returning at approximately 1:15am. A welcome drink, live music on board and the dinner are included; the on-board bar is cash only. From £389 per adult and £379 per child, with free cancellation up to 30 days before.

Dinner first, then the river

The Sapele splits the last night of the year in two, and that is the point of it. You start at a table — three courses and a welcome drink at Doggett’s Coat and Badge, on the south bank with Blackfriars Bridge outside the window — while the city outside gets louder. Then you walk to Bankside Pier and take the whole thing onto the water.

It is the smaller, warmer end of the Thames New Year fleet: live music rather than a DJ, room to hear the person next to you, and children welcome. If the idea of a thousand-person boat party is exactly what you do not want on 31 December, this is the alternative.

Click here to view the dinner menu

How the night unfolds

5:00pm — Doggett’s Coat and Badge

Meet at 1 Blackfriars Bridge for a welcome drink and a three-course dinner, unhurried, while central London fills up outside.

9:30pm — Bankside Pier

A short walk along the river brings you to the pier, opposite St Paul’s and beside Shakespeare’s Globe. Boarding is at 9:30pm; the Sapele casts off at 9:45pm.

On board — live music

Not a nightclub: a band, a bar and the city going past. The on-board bar takes cash only, so bring notes — there is no card machine on the boat.

Midnight until 1:15am — the fireworks

The Sapele takes position for the display, and afterwards the music carries on into 2027 before returning you to Bankside Pier at about 1:15am.

Before you book

This is the family-friendly option among the New Year’s Eve cruises: all ages are welcome, and infants are admitted but need a paid ticket. A valid ID is required to buy alcohol on board.

Dress to impress. Luggage and large bags of any type are not allowed on the vessel. Boat timings are strict and latecomers cannot be waited for, and roads across central London close early for the fireworks — check Transport for London before you travel. Cancellation is free up to 30 days before the cruise.

What you’ll do

Experience a one-of-a-kind New Year's Eve cruise in London
Kick off the evening with a three-course dinner at Doggett’s Coat and Badge
Enjoy stunning nighttime views of London along the River Thames
Dance to live music on board
Get front-row views of London’s world-famous fireworks display
Activity for the whole family, all ages included

What’s included

Three-course dinner and welcome drink at Doggett’s Coat and Badge
Entrance to the Sapele on New Year’s Eve
Live music entertainment on board
Helpful staff on board
Bar on board (cash payments only, paid separately)

What’s not included

Gratuities (optional)
Transportation to and from the pier

Map

Doggett’s Coat and Badge, 1 Blackfriars Bridge, South Bank, London SE1 9UD

Departure Information

Date of Departure: 31st December 2026

Dinner

Where: Doggett’s Coat and Badge, 1 Blackfriars Bridge, South Bank, London SE1 9UD

When: 5:00 PM

Cruise

Where: Bankside Pier, Bankside, London SE1 9DT

When: 9:30pm boarding for a 9:45pm departure

Return Point: Bankside Pier at approximately 1:15am

Cancellation Options

Free amendments/cancellation up to 30 days in advance

Additional Information

Guests are advised to arrive early and to allow plenty of time to make their way to the pier.
Roads may close early in preparation for the fireworks display. Please check road closures on www.tfl.gov.uk before you travel.
Due to strict boat timings we will not be able to wait for any latecomers.
The onboard bar only accepts CASH PAYMENTS.
A valid ID must be presented when purchasing alcohol.
Infants are welcome onboard but do require a paid ticket.
Please be aware that luggage and large bags of any type will not be allowed on the vessels.
Dress to impress.
As with all New Year’s Eve cruises on the Thames, the captain and onboard team will do their best to secure the best possible position for viewing the fireworks. However, due to expected river traffic, weather conditions and tidal changes, the boat’s final positioning and the visibility of the fireworks cannot be guaranteed. The captain’s decision on the night will be final..

Sapele New Year’s Eve Dinner & Cruise – FAQ

What time does the evening start and finish?

Dinner at Doggett’s Coat and Badge begins at 5:00pm. Boarding at Bankside Pier is at 9:30pm and the Sapele departs at 9:45pm, returning to Bankside Pier at approximately 1:15am. Boat timings are strict and latecomers cannot be waited for.
What is included in the price?

A welcome drink and a three-course dinner at Doggett’s Coat and Badge, entrance to the Sapele on New Year’s Eve, live music on board and staff throughout the evening. There is a bar on board, which is paid for separately.
Is the bar really cash only?

Yes. The on-board bar accepts cash payments only — there is no card machine on the boat. Bring notes if you plan to drink beyond the welcome drink. A valid ID is required to buy alcohol.
Can I see the dinner menu before booking?

Yes — the three-course menu served at Doggett’s Coat and Badge is published on this page as a PDF, linked above under the description.
Can children come?

Yes. The Sapele is the family-friendly option among the New Year’s Eve cruises: all ages are welcome. Infants are admitted but require a paid ticket. Child tickets are priced separately from adult tickets.
Where exactly do dinner and the cruise take place?

Dinner is at Doggett’s Coat and Badge, 1 Blackfriars Bridge, London SE1 9UD. The cruise boards at Bankside Pier, London SE1 9DT, a short walk along the south bank, opposite St Paul’s Cathedral and beside Shakespeare’s Globe.
Will I see the fireworks from the boat?

Yes — the Sapele is on the water at midnight for the display. As with every cruise on the Thames that night, the exact position cannot be guaranteed: river traffic, weather and tides all affect where a boat can hold station. The captain and crew will secure the best position they can.
Can I cancel or change my booking?

Yes. Cancellation is free up to 30 days before the cruise. Inside 30 days the booking can no longer be cancelled or amended.