The MV Royal Iris is a twin screw, diesel-electric, Mersey Ferry, launched in December 1950 in Liverpool.
In the early 60’s numerous acts associated with the Merseybeat scene (Gerry and the Pacemakers among others) performed on the ferry, as Ray McFall, owner of the legendary Cavern Club, organised a series of concerts known as the Riverboat Shuffles. The Beatles played four concerts on the Iris between August 1961 and September 1962, headlining only the last one (for the previous three gigs they had second billing to Acker Bilk, twice, and Johnny Kidd and the Pirates). Recently Paul McCartney referenced performing on the ferry in his song That Was Me (from his 2007 album Memory Almost Full).
“Well that was me, Royal Iris, on the river.
Mercy beat n’ with the band, that was me“.
In 2002, after many vicissitudes, the MV Royal Iris was towed to a berth on the River Thames near Woolwich, east of Thames Barrier, awaiting a possible refit as a floating nightclub that eventually never happened. In 2010 it was basically a floating squat. Now it’s just a wreck. Such a waste!
Address: Woolwich, SE18
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