A young Bristolian wins the chance to host a party on the SS Great Britain. Discover how you could enter to win this once-in-a-lifetime experience as part of the fundraising appeal for the Dockyard Museum.

Last Saturday (March 21), visitors took to the deck of the SS Great Britain to take part in ‘All Hands on Deck’ - a competition to see who could keep their hands on the deck of the ship the longest, in a bid to win an evening on the ship to spend however they choose.

The contest started strong, with competitors settling in for the long term. The rules were strict - only one hand could be used, and any break with the surface of the deck would result in instant disqualification.

The event formed parted of the SS Great Britain Trust’s ‘All Hands on Deck’ fundraising appeal, to raise £180,000 in just six weeks, to complete the reinvention of the Dockyard Museum.

With the Trust securing £1.3m in investment, it is now urgently calling on local businesses, community groups, and the general public to raise the final £180,000, to ensure the new museum can open its doors.

Following a gruelling four and a half hours in the surprisingly hot sun, and with the ship about to close for the day, the final four determined contestants took part in a tense, tie breaking game of deck quoits. That was finally won by Tomos Davies, 26, who lives in Cotham, Bristol.

He commented: “It was a real endurance test, especially when it got down to the final determined few, but I’m delighted to have won.

“I can’t wait to get the ship to myself - I’ve even got a captain’s hat to wear now so everyone will know I’m in charge.

“It’s for a great cause as well - the new museum sounds like it’s going to be brilliant for the ship and the City itself, so hopefully the people and businesses of Bristol will all get involved.”

Fear not, if you missed the competition and weren’t successful, there is another opportunity to win the party of your dreams on board the SS Great Britain.

As part of the ongoing fundraising campaign, a prize draw has been launched, where anyone can buy a ticket to be in with the chance of winning. Tickets are available here.

The new museum experience will bring to life the fascinating personal stories of some of the passengers on the SS Great Britain as she travelled to New York, San Francisco, Australia, India, and The Falkland Islands, and is set to open in July 2026.

Louisa Pharoah, Director of People and Development at the SS Great Britain Trust, added: “The new museum will be incredibly special as it’s been created by the people of Bristol.

“It will showcase the untold stories of those who travelled on the ship, from more than 50 different nationalities. What’s more, many of these stories were uncovered by researchers from local Bristol communities.

“The museum was established more than 20 years ago and has received very few changes since then, so this is going to be a much-needed makeover. Not only will it reveal stories from more of the passengers on board the SS Great Britain, but it will also allow today’s audiences to resonate with her history in an entirely new way.

“Ultimately, we want this museum to reach all corners of the community, and there are so many ways to get involved. We urgently need people in Bristol and beyond to support us so we can open this summer. This really is all hands on deck.”

Visitors to the SS Great Britain will also be able to donate to take part in other ‘All Hands on Deck’ activities, either as part of a regular visit to the ship during the Easter holidays or via the activities listed here.