No one can pretend to be the same as they were 4 short weeks ago. Some – too many – have been touched by tragedy and will continue to be so as 2020 unfolds. Others have been thrown into financial turmoil and still can’t see a way through this. As small business owners, we have felt the responsibility of people’s futures in a big way. We have hated letting down those of you who have Read more
The marina is open for holiday boat bookings but we understand if you wish to transfer your holiday to another future date. Please understand that if you do go ahead with your booking, you may be asked to arrive at a different time so that we can stagger arrivals. We hope you also understand that our training will be modified to help protect our staff. It is more important than ever that you are fully Read more
We are really excited that when we became the directors at Union Wharf Marina, we were also given us the opportunity to create a Boutique Day Boat. There are four day boats as part of the Market Harborough fleet, and one of these in particular seemed ripe for renovation. Although very popular last year with daytrippers, Water Vole needed a new engine among other things, and we took her out of service at the end Read more
BBC Radio Leicester approached us this week, to talk about the benefits of narrowboating. The countryside around Market Harborough, they rightly say, is threaded with canals. They want to discuss whether the Leicestershire waterways really can enrich our lives. Their coverage was, of course, a response to the Canal and River Trust’s ongoing campaign to convince the wider public that “life is better by water.” Now Aaran and I didn’t set foot on a narrowboat Read more
Which season is your favourite on the canals? As the nights begin to draw in and the weather cools, do your thoughts turn to outdoor adventure? After a summer of picnicking on the towpaths and sipping wine on the deck, perhaps it does sound a bit topsy turvy to relish the autumn. But judge not until you’ve tried it. The canals are quiet again at this time of year. The wildlife is busy and plentiful Read more
When we greet our guests and welcome them on board our holiday canalboats, we sometimes have a chat about how they came across our little company. Last week, we had to laugh when we learned that in desperation, our guests had pleaded with the Google search box to find them a “posh posh posh narrowboat.” Luckily, we came up top and it turns out that we were the perfect fit for this couple. There are Read more
Quality Coordinator This newly-created position is designed to ensure our holiday narrowboats are of the highest standard. No marina or boat experience necessary, but you must be a good organiser and communicator. The Quality Coordinator will liaise with a small team of cleaners, engineers and maintenance staff so that our holiday and day trip boats always meet our customers high expectations. Reporting to the marina owners, you will oversee standards of cleanliness, equipment, repairs, supplies Read more
Narrowboat training Many of our hirers have never set foot on a canal boat before their holiday and so narrowboat training is vital. Although we offer a comprehensive handover for all our guests, we are happy to do a bit of extra ‘hand-holding’ for the novices who come aboard. Once you’ve booked with us (or even before!), we encourage you to watch the Canal and River Trust’s guide to narrowboating, known as The Boaters’ Handbook. Read more
To all you narrowboat novices: we say, don’t be put off by these fellas . Locks can look intimidating and you do need to take things slowly and carefully. But here’s the thing: as you exit your first lock, you will have been a little apprehensive together, figured it out together, practised some new skills together and will be talking about it for years to come. We love the fact that most of our hirers Read more
Hey, looks like we have made a bit of a splash in the local news! And we were lucky enough to be featured in the Harborough Mail. Woo hoo!