Poole’s New Year’s Day Bath Race & Classic Cars on the Quay

About Us

Clear the head at Poole's annual charity day of fundraising. See creative crews take to the water in their home made crafts and race to be end with cheering crowds. Expect thrills, spills and sabotage along the way.  

One of our most enjoyable annual events is the Bath Tube Race that occurs on New Year’s Day. This charity focussed event involves crews crafting unique vessels and racing them along the quay from The Customs House Steps to the Lord Nelson. Every year, rain or shine, crowds of hundreds turn up to cheer on crews as they race to raise money for a good cause.

This whacky event is the perfect way to start the New Year as it is an event built on goodwill that isn’t afraid to have a bit of fun. We’ve had some incredibly unique crafts grace our waters over the years with the amateur crews showing off the creativity Poole citizens have. A fun day out for anyone, the annual Bath Race is an event that you can’t afford to miss.

Also on New Year’s Day there will be a display of up to 100 classic vehicles of any nationality that must have been registered before the modern style registration number plates came into being in September 2001. The vehicles will be displayed from the Sea Music sculpture, where the Lower High Street joins the Quay, eastwards to the Poole Quay Hotel. Vehicles will be on display from 10:00 until 12:30.

The event is organised by Poole Harbour Commissioners and BCP Tourism.

You can find the bathtub registration form here.