Floating Harbour — Attraction in Bristol

Making your own film can be a daunting task! From booking contributors to trying to wrestle with the many layers of requirements to filming in public. Any organisation or service that is easy going makes the whole process a lot more pleasurable and the kit rental from Floating Harbour is definitely recommended.

Here is a breakdown of my experiences for anyone curious about what it is like to rent from here (5 stars nonwithstanding).

Booking: the booking was pretty easygoing, I went through their website and after talking through the rental period they offered me a deal that I was happy with.

Many times when you book from a rental house for the first time there are a few layers of bureaucracy that you need to do. One of those which always stings is when you get all of your kit together, the insurance and the permits only to have to put £1500 forward for a deposit. I didn't have to do that with this rental house and that helped me afford in turn a better microphone and lens.

Collection: Usually the collection would be easier so this didn't affect the rating. I had to go to the boat while it was being repaired but I wouldn't say it was a bad experience. When it is back in the regular place the location is super easy to get to by car.

Richard was very friendly and talked me through everything before I headed off. He even added a new type of personal mic system as an option for me to try out.

The kit itself: I personally cannot complain about the condition of the equipment. While it was definitely used it looked well serviced and everything appeared to work as it should do.

One thing to note to the equipments credit is that they were very generous where other rental houses are usually stingy. There was an absolute ton of high quality batteries included with the rental, in fact there were so many I actually didn't need to charge the equipment over the 3 day hire period. I also was given 256GB of Angelbird media which meant that I didn't have to worry about running out of space. This may seem like a little detail but I cannot stress how much easier it makes things on set.

Flexibility: As per usual with the chaos of making anything in media I had a last minute cancellation meaning I didn't need the equipment for the full hire period. They reduced the rental by a day and refunded me very quickly for the unused day. Once again something that meant a surprising amount to me.

Dropoff: Stress free again, I was asked how the kit was and then made sure everything was there.

I would earnestly recommend the company if you...

Great place to go with family at any time but looks particularly lovely in the warm weather. Great for relaxing and people watching, as other reviews have said. Wheelchair friendly on the whole. I''ve canoed down to and around the harbour from Netham lock in the past which is a very different way to see the harbour. Loads of things for kids to see and do (SS Great Britain, the Mathew, M-shed, harbour railway, loads of bars, cafes, restaurants, not to mention the main city centre 5 minutes walk away). Even better during the harbour festival in the Summer, which sees the harbour full of huge masted ships from all over the world and when the whole city centre has a vibrant carnival atmosphere with bands, street performers etc. Definately worth a visit. Not the best photo's but you...

Beautiful historic harbour right in the heart of Bristol! The harbourside walk is perfect for a leisurely stroll, with plenty of cafes, bars, and restaurants lining the water.

The area has such a great atmosphere - you can watch boats coming and going while enjoying the mix of old warehouse architecture and modern developments. Highlights include the SS Great Britain (definitely worth a visit), M Shed museum, and the various markets that pop up on weekends.

Great for families, couples, or just wandering solo. Easy to spend a whole afternoon here exploring. The Christmas market in winter is particularly magical. Parking can be tricky in the city center, but it's well connected by public transport.

Would definitely recommend as a must-see when...