You are here:

Weird and wonderful canal boats


Although you may not think it to look at them, narrowboats and barges can be used for all sorts of unusual purposes. From floating cheese shops to bike-selling barges, the simple canal boat can come in many different guises.

Keep your eyes peeled for one of these weird and wonderful boats the next time you visit a canal…

The Apple Cider Boat
Moored in the heart of Bristol’s Welsh Back, The Apple is a beautifully converted Dutch barge that sells a wide range of traditional ciders, apple-based spirits and cocktails. Boasting a large waterside terrace as well, this is a riverside bar with a difference, as many locals and visitors flock here for the relaxed atmosphere and unusually large selection of drinks. The Apple offers a selection of around 40 different flavoured ciders, such as raspberry and strawberry cider, and ‘apple-distilled spirits’. It’s not everyday that you can argue going for a drink is healthy, but the owners of The Apple promise patrons ‘real cider’ made from natural, organically grown apples. And if you’re still not convinced pop down there for a free sample, and see if you can be converted.
www.applecider.co.uk

The Cheese Boat
The name says it all really – this boat cruises the canals and rivers all year round selling cheese, as well as pickles and chutneys. The range of cheeses on offer is extraordinary and they all sport intriguing names such as ‘Little Black Bomber’ and ‘Green Thunder’. The cheeses themselves come in some very remarkable flavours, with some containing chilli and others laced with whisky! The website lists where the boat will be at certain times of the year, so visit www.thecheeseboat.co.uk to find out when it’ll be in your local area.

Floating Farm Shop
It seems that the word ‘quaint’ was invented for the Floating Farm Shop, as it appears to belong to an era when food was more wholesome and value for money. Purported to be the only floating farm shop in England, narrowboat Pan sells fresh, organic local produce from Easter to October. The food is taken from the owners’ nearby farm so you won’t find any ready-made meals here, with homemade bread, sausages, cakes, jams, cheeses and free-range eggs all vying for your attention. Pan is moored on the Oxford Canal above Pigeon Lock in Kirtlington - if you’re taking a Sunday stroll along the towpath be sure to drop in for afternoon tea.

The Baguette Barge
Located in front of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on the River Avon, The Baguette Barge offers visitors a takeaway experience with a twist. All of the food served is freshly prepared and made to order on this 60ft wide beam canal barge. Stopping here for lunch, in the beautiful surroundings of Bancroft Basin, makes a great change from some of the more generic coffee shops on the high street.

The Elizabeth Ice Cream Boat
Also moored at Bancroft Basin, The Elizabeth has been part of the scenery of Stratford-upon-Avon since 1993, and is hugely popular with tourists and locals alike. Aside from the traditional soft ice cream The Elizabeth also sells locally produced traditional dairy scoop ice cream, in mouth-watering flavours such as Clotted Cream and Devon Toffee.

The Barge Gallery
With The Barge Gallery also moored here, Bancroft Basin seems to be the place to visit to see an unusual narrowboat. Providing art-lovers and locals with a novel shopping experience, this floating gallery is the perfect way to display waterway art in all its glory. The gallery doesn’t just specialise in waterway paintings though, with jewellery, ceramics and glassware also available to buy.

Brass Farthing
Brass Farthing is a narrowboat that’s been converted into a floating bike shop, complete with a workshop for repairs and servicing. Based on the Oxford Canal, Brass Farthing is a truly unique sight to see, with bikes stored on the roof and laid out next to the towpath. Very handy if you happen to get a puncture mid-towpath cycle, but also just a great place to go to see one man’s ingenious use of space!

Tia
The Tia narow boat operates in and around the South Midlands selling environmentally friendly cleaning products to the boating community (although it doesn’t discriminate against land dwellers). Whether it's shampoo or shower gel, boat wax or heavy duty hand scrub, Tia caters for every sanitary need and even provides refills on certain products to really boost its green credentials. The boat is well worth a visit if you're interested in cutting down on the amount of harmful chemicals you subject your body and the environment to. It's not just cleaning products on offer though. Tia also provides duck and swan food, greetings cards, fridge magnets and more.

Have you visited any of the boats above, or have you discovered another weird and wonderful boat? If so, let us know by emailing feedback@waterscape.com.