William Thornton Floating Restaurant & Bar, BVI

The William Thornton Floating Restaurant and Bar

The William Thornton, anchored in the Bight of Norman Island in the British Virgin Islands, is a well-loved floating restaurant and bar. In 1989, Mick and Annie Garndner launched the restaurant, mooring their original William Thornton in the Bight of Norman Island. As uninhabited then as it is today, it soon became a popular overnight anchorage for the yachting community. Many charter guests and yacht crew recall dining aboard the Willy T, sitting at the large common table, with their feet dangling in the holds below.

The wooden Baltic trader was eventually replaced with the current William Thornton, a steel 100-foot schooner with more room in the galley and restaurant and the large bar area. The new William T. also features a large aft bridge deck where daring souls jump from the safety rails into the water below the stern.

The restaurant was named after a distinguished Tortolan planter and amateur architect who designed the US Capital Building in 1793.

"We had such a nice family reunion cruising in the BVI’s. Great suggestion. Beautiful water, lots to do, but calm and easy cruising. Even Grandmom was comfortable and would come with us again. Thank you for everything." 
--Mrs. W