Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and Mary Rose Museum to unite 'under one brand' as both announce joint re-opening plan

Both of the city’s heritage jewels, the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and the Mary Rose Museum, have today announced they will be reopening together on Monday, August 24.

And in a huge treat for history buffs, museum bosses have launched a new joint ticket, giving visitors the chance to explore all the dockyard’s historic ships, galleries and experiences.

It will be the first time in two years such an offer has been on the table after a ‘disappointing’ split over ticketing drove a wedge between the museums.

It’s hoped the new arrangement will help the attractions ‘get back on their feet’ after months of financial misery left them with multi-million pound black holes in their finances and at risk of closure.

Professor Dominic Tweddle, director-general of the National Museum of the Royal Navy, said the move would be a game-changer for the sites, which are still facing an uphill battle for survival.

‘It's never been the case we were all daggers drawn, we have always tried to support each other,’ he told The News. ‘But stuff happens in life. We were always clear it would be better together than separated.

‘Being together allows us to develop a more coherent offer in the dockyard and a better experience for our visitors.’

As previously reported, the NMRN had wracked up a huge £6.35m shortfall in its finances during the pandemic.

An 11th hour rescue package, worth £5.4m, was agreed by the treasury last month just days before the museum would have been forced to file for insolvency.

Meanwhile, the Mary Rose Museum, which houses Henry VIII’s doomed Tudor flagship, has lost about £2.2m and fronted a high-profile fundraising campaign for the UK’s independent museums.

Helen Bonser-Wilton, chief executive of the Mary Rose, hoped the new arrangement would be part of a ‘shared collaborative approach’ to ‘encourage more people into the dockyard’.

In a plea to the nation, she added: ‘We really need your support now. It’s the only way we can get back on our feet and retain what we have in the dockyard.’

From midday today visitors will be able to purchase the new ‘ultimate explorer’ ticket, giving them access to the Mary Rose, as well as HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and many others, for as many times as they want in a year.

Portsmouth’s culture cabinet member, Councillor Steve Pitt, welcomed the news and claimed the museums were critical in supporting 13,000 jobs in the city’s tourism and leisure industry.

He added: ‘The historic dockyard is, without a doubt, a national – if not international – tourist destination. People come from all over the world to visit it. It’s an incredibly important part of Portsmouth’s economy and history.’

Visitors holding existing 12-month tickets for either the Mary Rose of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, will still be able to use them as per their original terms and conditions.

In addition both organisations have agreed to extend tickets to account for the closure of the sites.

For the first six weeks after tickets go on sale, existing ticket holders will also be eligible for a time-limited reopening upgrade deal, meaning they can upgrade their current tickets to the new ‘ultimate explorer’ one for a 30 per cent discount.

Visitors will be required to pre-book before their visit, with full social-distancing measures in place inside the dockyard.

Group visits have been suspended during the pandemic, the dockyard added, and visitors must wear masks.

To book tickets or to donate to the causes, see historicdockyard.co.uk, maryrose.org/supportus or nmrn.org.uk/get-involved/donate

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