Another year, another Laying Up Supper (LUS). But first, the task of getting to London when half the trains from Brighton to London Bridge are cancelled and the remainder are reduced in length and rammed with Black Friday/Christmas shoppers and Saturday matinee theatre-goers.

A Diverted Route to Custom House

Not wanting to miss out on the latter, we first diverted to the Charing Cross Theatre for their excellent ‘adult’ panto: ‘Beauty & the Beast – A Horny Love Story’. At least we now had seats, unlike on the train. Casting a wistful glance at last year’s LUS venue, the conveniently adjacent, if cramped, Champagne Charlie’s, we then headed for the beastly depths of the Northern Line and an even more crushed carriage. Thankfully the Elizabeth Line was more civilised, and quickly delivered us past Canary Wharf to Custom House. It was then a short, brisk walk to the Royal Victoria Dock.

The Wharf’s Wartime History

At the wharf here, South American meat carcasses used to be landed by a Vestey-owned business for distribution to their nationwide chain of Dewhurst butchers. In 1926, the General Strike had threatened the rot of thousands of such carcasses when the electricity to the coldstore was cut, but the Royal Navy brought in two submarines and used their generators to save the day. Now the refrigerated ships and warehouses are long gone, and the redeveloped wharves accommodate flats, hotels, and the Excel Exhibition Centre.

From Prison Ship to Social Enterprise

However, as a nautical association, we were heading suitably offshore into the brooding black bulk of The Good Hotel. Like the infamous Bibby Stockholm in Portland Harbour, this floating structure was originally used as a kind of prison or detention centre. In 2013, the then-disused vessel was purchased in Amsterdam by the Good Group. This had been founded by Martin Dresen, who had previously created a charitable foundation supporting education in Guatemala – an idea conceived after a backpacking holiday in that country. The intention was to convert the former prison into a hotel and tow it across the Atlantic to Brazil in time for the Rio Olympics in 2016. In the event that proved economically impossible, and instead it was brought to London.

The hotel continues to pursue the philanthropic aims of the founder. It is a social business that does not pay dividends, and all excess profits instead support social causes around the world. It also runs a hospitality training programme for local people in Newham. Club member Maurizio is part of the management team and helped to organise our event. Further hotels are being developed overseas.

An Evening Aboard

No longer resembling a prison hulk, the spacious public areas with their chic décor provided plenty of space for the LUS. Prosecco and rather substantial canapés were first served to the 24 guests, who could catch up before being seated at the single long table using the Commodore’s carefully considered seating plan.

Unfortunately, the Commodore himself was called away on an urgent family matter before the main courses were served. Rachel, our Rear Commodore Women, therefore took up the baton of welcoming members and their guests.

Service was a little unusual, in that it involved shared platters for the starter and main courses, including meat and fish, whilst vegetarians were served with ample alternative dishes. A choice of individual desserts was also provided. I don’t suppose that ‘chow’ was served this way when this was the mess hall of the prison ship - and there might have been trouble if it had been! Fortunately, S&CA members are sufficiently polite and restrained (or maybe already stuffed with canapés) that no fights broke out when sharing out the steak and fish.

All in all, I think everyone enjoyed the occasion, and Steve and Maurizio are to be thanked for their organisation. Whilst pricier than previous years, the increasing costs of hospitality have been much in the news, and at least here, any excess profits will be going to good causes.