By Cristiano Magaglio

Southern Daily Echo – 10 April 2026

Fury has erupted from a community after Hythe Ferry was put into liquidation. Blame has been thrown at owner Red Funnel after its subsidiary The Hythe and Southampton Ferry Company announced it is being placed into voluntary liquidation. Owned by cross-Solent ferry operator Red Funnel, the company says this comes after an 18-month search for a solution to revive the service, which has failed.

Community leaders have received the news with sadness and disappointment, with some blaming Red Funnel. Vice-chair of the Hythe & Dibden Parish Council, Councillor Mark Clark, has voiced his disgust. He said that when Red Funnel initially purchased the ferry company, it claimed that running the service was in its "total interest" and they promised to "run it properly". He said:

"From our point of view, we entirely blame Red Funnel. I just think they should go away. Absolutely foul. I do wish the people of the Isle of Wight the very best of luck because they are an awful, dreadful company."

Another parish councillor, Malcolm Wade, said:

"First of all, I am very saddened that Hythe Ferry, which has for many been a historic landing point between the Waterside and Southampton, is going into voluntary liquidation. People miss it tremendously. We want our ferry back, and we ask for someone else to take over the ferry and run it. I am devastated. I want to get the ferry back, and I know local residents want the ferry back, and we need a new owner to come in."

Both Cllr Clark and Cllr Wade are hopeful that this could open up other avenues to save the ferry, such as a CIC, which will need to be explored.

The MP for New Forest East, Sir Julian Lewis said:

“This is a serious and sad outcome for the community as a whole and for the dedicated Hythe Ferry personnel in particular. As the ultimate owner with extensive local operational experience, Red Funnel should have been well-placed to make a success of the Hythe Ferry. It’s intensely disappointing that they feel it necessary to walk away.”

A spokesperson for The Hythe and Southampton Ferry Company said that the move comes after "every available avenue" was explored to save the service. The spokesperson said:

“We would like to thank the staff of Hythe Ferry, customers, stakeholders and the wider community who have supported the ferry over the years. While this outcome is extremely disappointing, every effort has been made over the past 18 months to find a viable path forward for the business.”

They add that the staff have been contacted, and will be supported through the process by liquidators.  Corporate restructure specialists Leonard Curtis have been appointed to assist with the process.