Iconic UK ferry route is cancelled and closes early after 40 years

A beloved Brittany Ferries route has sailed away into the distance (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)

If you live — or have holidayed — on the South Coast, you’ll probably have seen a familiar ferry floating in the distance.

Brittany Ferries has long connected UK travellers to France, Spain, Ireland, and Guernsey from three ports across the country: Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Poole.

Offering affordable foot and car passenger services for as little as £30 one-way (for the shorter crossings, that is), the ‘mini-cruises’ are often seen as a more relaxed alternative to flying or taking the Eurotunnel.

However, the company has now scrapped one of its UK hubs, with the recent closure of its Poole-Cherbourg route.

On Monday, October 12, the direct service from the Dorset harbour to Normandy’s port town set sail for the final time.

The historic route operated for over 40 years, since Brittany Ferries acquired the service in 1985 to expand its passenger and vehicle operations.

The route first launched 12 years earlier in 1973 as a freight-only service by Truckline Ferries.

Brittany Ferries vessels have departed from Poole for over 40 years (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The final Poole-Cherbourg crossing, which has been served by the Barfleur vessel since 1992, actually departed three weeks earlier than scheduled.

This was due to fleet disruptions and its backup vessel, Commodore Clipper, suffering a severe gearbox failure.

The Barfleur ship is now temporarily being used on the Rosslare to Cherbourg route.

However, the vessel is only scheduled to cover Ireland to France for a short period in October before being sold as part of a company restructure.

Why has the Poole to Cherbourg service ended?

According to Christophe Mathieu, CEO of Brittany Ferries, it’s a combination of Brexit, COVID, and significant debts.

Travellers can still travel from Portsmouth Harbour (Picture: Shutterstock / Steve Mann)

Back in June, the company said it faced a bill of €27 million (£22.8 million) in 2026, citing rising taxes, COVID loan repayments, unfair competition and weakened bookings.

‘The reality is that, post-Brexit, Rosslare-Cherbourg has become a strategically significant route for Brittany Ferries,’ Mathieu explained, adding that it carries almost 25% of all freight traffic.

The CEO also touched on the COVID pandemic, reminding travellers that the Poole to Cherbourg service was suspended in 2020.

Although Brittany Ferries has since repaid half of its COVID support loan, Mathieu said: ‘We overcame COVID when borders were shut, we continue to wrestle with the consequences of Brexit, and we are taking steps to make a holiday in France or Spain as reasonable as possible.’

But, he said, the company ‘has to be realistic.’

‘We need to adapt and that means a plan to secure a future that will continue to bring opportunities for all those who live and work in the regions we serve.’

What about people who have tickets booked?

Brittany Ferries has apologised to affected travellers and offered alternative travel from Portsmouth or a full refund.

Mathieu said: ‘I know there will be disappointment with this operational change, and I apologise to all those travelling from Poole in the latter half of October.

‘It has been a privilege to serve the Poole-Cherbourg route since 1986.’

However, while Cherbourg is no longer a viable destination from Poole, the CEO stressed that Brittany Ferries still sails to Guernsey and France from the Dorset port in its fast craft.

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