Floating home sought for buoyant river boozer

A man who created a floating pub to serve drinks for his father's 60th birthday has said he is hoping to find it a more permanent waterside home.

Will Bower built a buoyant boozer, dubbed The Float Inn, and took it down the River Adur to celebrate his father Bill's birthday by serving drinks to friends, family and passers-by.

Bower, from Angmering in West Sussex, said he was keen for the pub to have a new home either on the water or in someone's back garden.

"I think the dream would be to give it a floating home somewhere," he said.

Bower said it had been "quite stressful building and moving it" but added that it had gone "really well".

"We didn't know if it would float, so it was nice to see it through," he said. "It was a real family thing so it was good to bring them together for it."

The floating pub, built out of an old shed and a raft supported by eight plastic barrels, was launched on the River Adur between Shoreham and Upper Beeding, where the public has a right of navigation.

It was granted permission by Adur District Council, which said it wished Bower "every success in getting his venture afloat at a more suitable location".

After the father and son served drinks to passers-by on 13 September, Bower said the family was "looking for a place to moor it", adding that it could also be moved to someone's back garden.

The YouTuber said he has built other "ridiculous stuff", including a bath car and a fake skip in Worthing High Street, which he slept in.

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, X, and on Instagram and listen to BBC Radio Sussex on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.