Restaurant vessel “Princess Elizabeth” laid up in the Thames at London, October 1973
Builder: Day, Summers & Co., Southampton
Port of registry: Southampton
Gross tons (as ferry): 388
Length overall: 59.4 m
Launched June 1927 as “Princess Elizabeth” for the Red Funnel Line of Southampton. Named after the present Queen who had been born the year before.
Requisitioned by the British Government in 1939 & converted to a minesweeper with pennant no. J111. Took part in the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk in May & June 1940
Returned to original service in 1946.
Sold 1959 to Torbay Steamers Ltd.
Sold 1966 to A.W. Render who intended to convert her to a floating casino but this venture fell through & she was sold to shipbreakers at Newhaven. Passed through several private owners until 1970 when she appeared as a floating restaurant on the Thames.
Sold 1987 to French owners (la Chambre syndicale typographique de Paris); used as floating art gallery on the Seine in Paris
Sold 1999 to the City of Dunkirk & moored by the Pole Marine shopping centre as a gastronomic restaurant
Took part in the filming of the film “Dunkirk” in 2016.