Thekla is a former cargo ship moored in the Mud Dock area of Bristol's Floating Harbour, England.

In 1982 the ship was bought by Ki Longfellow-Stanshall, the wife of Vivian Stanshall, refitted, and brought to Bristol in 1983 as the Old Profanity Showboat.

The ship has now been returned to its original working name of Thekla and is run as a night club and venue for various bands by Daybrook House Promotions.

[3] With a single screw propulsion, she was powered by a 220 kW (300 bhp) diesel engine made by Bohn & Kähler, Kiel.

[2] After running aground at Gatesend, Norfolk, she was left rusting away for seven years in the half-abandoned docks of Sunderland on the eastern coast of England,[5] before being purchased by the Stanshalls for £15,000.

[11] The venue fell under fire for many noise complaints from nearby residents, leading Peter Jackson to defend its place in local court as its license to operate came under threat.

Artists such as Franz Ferdinand, The New York Dolls, Pete Doherty, Tokyo Police Club, The Growlers, Santigold, Wire, Kevin Coyne, The Chords in their final gig in the classic line-up, and iconic bands from all over the world as well as local acts from Bristol and Bath have played at Thekla since DHP purchased the venue.

During this time the venue had to close, and took up temporary residency as "Thekla Faraway" in a bar on Small St in central Bristol - where its regular club nights continued until it was able to re-open in September that year.

In accordance with government guidelines, the venue was able to periodically reopen for socially distant "Sit Down Sessions" of its regular club nights.

[19] The celebration included the release of a limited edition photo-book titled 'The Complete History of Thekla', compiled by resident venue photographer David Jeffery-Hughes.