Exeter Custom House - ECQT

🎧 PODCAST EPISODE: THE PORTS THAT MADE BRITAIN – EXETER

There's a great new podcast series called Heritage Harbours: The Ports that made Britain, brought to you by The Society for Nautical Research.

Episode 2 explores Exeter and a city shaped by ships, merchants and the River Exe. ⚓

But how did a city miles from the open sea become one of medieval England’s great maritime centres?

When weirs and mills restricted navigation, Exeter risked losing the maritime trade that had created its prosperity. The city fought back by constructing an extraordinary ship canal, opened in 1566 to restore its connection with the sea.

Discover the story of Exeter’s wool trade, historic quays and remarkable maritime reinvention in the latest episode of the Mariner’s Mirror Podcast.

🎙️ Listen now:

https://snr.org.uk/the-mariners-mirror-podcast/the-ports-that-made-britain-exeter/




The Mariner’s Mirror Podcast is brought to you with the support of Society for Nautical Research and LRF Heritage & Education Centre ⚓️

📸 Only one more day left to see Quay Moments!

Don’t miss this fantastic free photography exhibition at Exeter Custom House, featuring the work of Exeter Phoenix Camera Group.

The exhibition captures the Quay’s history, landscape, people and wildlife, with each photographer offering their own unique perspective. 👀📷

🕙 Open daily: 10am–5pm
📅 Final day: Tuesday 22nd September

Pop in and see the Quay through a different lens! 📸

A reminder that we currently have a callout for quality traders selling products not available on the high street for our Christmas Gift Fair.

Event details:

📅 Saturday 21st November 2026
⏰ 10am–4pm
🎄 Indoor stalls in the Custom House – £25
🎄 Outdoor stalls in the Transit Shed – £15

The Quayside Farmers’ Market will also be taking place on the Piazza that morning. For this reason, we’ll be focusing our Christmas Fair purely on gifts and Christmas shopping, and unfortunately we won’t be accepting food traders for this event.

Find out more and apply:

Trader Call-Out: Christmas Gift Fair – Exeter Custom House Back to What’s on Trader Call-Out: Christmas Gift Fair Free Event — Cultural Events Share: Twitter Facebook Sat 21st Nov 2026 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Add To Calendar Add to calendar Following the success of last year’s event, we will be hosting another Christmas Gift Fair and are looking for qual...

📸 See Exeter Quay through a different lens!!

Looking for something free to do? Come and discover the Quay Moments photography exhibition at Exeter Custom House. 🖼️📷

Head into the Custom House and turn left to find our ground-floor gallery, where you’ll find a collection of photographs by Exeter Phoenix Camera Group.

The group of photographers meets monthly at Exeter Phoenix to explore different aspects of photography, and this exhibition brings together their unique responses to the Quay – its history, landscape, people and wildlife. 👀📸

🕙 Open today: 10am–5pm
🎟️ Free entry

The dust has settled from a brilliant day of celebration of maritime music and history! On behalf of Bow Movement, we just wanted to say a huge thank you to the volunteers, performers, spectators, businesses and anyone else involved in the 3rd Exeter Quay Shanty Festival. Thank you for supporting this event.

There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes, thank you to Anna Gilroy and her team at Exeter Custom House - ECQT for pulling it all together and working with us to enhance the experience for the performers who are giving up their time and talent to bring joy to the public. Special thanks to Dave Adcock for keeping everyone's tankards topped up so well.

It truly is heartwarming to see the smiles on people's faces as we get together as a community and share in song, merriment and heritage.

To all our wonderful supporters, we extend a special thanks. You make it all worth while.

The Exmouth Shanty Men
Hot Tuna - Ladies that sing shanties
Stern Maidens Cask Woodbury Whalers The Back Beach Boyz The Beach’d Buoys Shanty Band Hooligan's Rule Midsummer Gurnards The Jolly Grogsters donkeys Bradley The Solo Shanty Man Barrett's Privateers

Samuel Jones Smoke & Ale House Puerto Lounge
MIDI - Music In Devon Initiative On The Waterfront The Bishop Blaize - Exeter Quay
Britannia Sailing Trust Devon Austin Seven Club

P.S Apologies if I've missed anyone or not successfully tagged you, it means I couldn't find your FB Page!!!

What a day! ⚓️🎶

A few years ago, the wonderful Bow Movement asked us to help bring a shanty festival to Exeter, and we honestly couldn’t have imagined what it would become.

Yesterday was another brilliant day of incredible musicians, fantastic local businesses and venues getting behind us, and — most importantly — an audience singing, dancing and having an absolute ball! We were also delighted to bring a range of other heritage harbour themed activities to the event this time - what a joy to see the steam boats in the river!

A huge thank you to everyone who performed, supported, volunteered, visited and helped make yesterday so special. ❤️

We’ll see you on the Quay for more shanty singing next year! ⚓️🎶🍻

Photos courtesy of Grace Clifford at Intrepidandwild.

⚓️ IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN THE FUN! 🎶

The Quayside Shanty & Heritage Harbour Festival is in full swing today, and there’s still plenty of time to head down to Exeter Quayside and soak up the atmosphere!

With around 20 shanty bands performing throughout the day, there’s music ringing out across the quayside, along with historic vessels, classic cars, steam boats, Morris dancing and plenty more.

And the entertainment keeps going into the evening, so there’s no need to have missed the morning to join in!

📸 Just look at these photos from last year, courtesy of the brilliant Grace Clifford. They give you a taste of what’s waiting for you today!

📅 Today, Saturday 12 September
📍 Exeter Quayside
🎟️ FREE ENTRY

So, if you’re wondering what to do this afternoon… why not head for the quayside? ⚓️🎵

⚓️ AHOY! TODAY’S THE DAY! 🎶

The quayside is getting ready to come alive! Come and join us today for the Quayside Shanty & Heritage Harbour Festival and enjoy a fantastic day of FREE entertainment for all the family.

🎵 Around 20 shanty bands performing throughout the day

⚓️ Historic vessels and maritime heritage

🎤 Live music and entertainment continuing into the evening

🚗 Classic cars and steam boats

💃 Morris dancing

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 And plenty more to see, hear and enjoy!

And remember, it’s not just shanties! There’ll be a wonderful mix of music, maritime history, vintage vehicles, dancing and entertainment to keep you busy throughout the day.

❤️ A huge thank you to our brilliant supporters Jones , On The Waterfront , Puerto Lounge the Spar Shop and for helping us bring the quayside to life.

📅 Saturday 12 September
📍 Exeter Quayside
🎟️ FREE ENTRY

🚗 So, where are these folk off to in their Austin 7s?

To the Exeter Heritage Harbour & Shanty Festival, obviously! ⚓🎶

Join us this Saturday, 12 September, from 11am–4pm on the Piazza Terracina.

Come along and see the Devon Austin Seven Owners Club and a fantastic selection of other classic vehicles, alongside heritage vessels and plenty of live entertainment.

And the best bit? It’s all absolutely FREE! 🙌

📍 Piazza Terracina, Exeter Quayside
🕚 11am–4pm
🎵 Shanties from 12 noon until late!