Canal Boat Cruises wins Rural Business of the Year in Red Rose Awards

Canal Boat Cruises, the boat hire and marina business based at Riley Green Marina on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Hoghton near Preston, has won ‘Rural Business of the Year’ at the Lancashire Business View Red Rose Awards 2011. 

John & Lesley Yates took over and renovated the old marina at Hoghton in 2006.  Canal Boat Cruises now offers narrowboat holidays, dayboat trips, restaurant cruises, moorings and other marina facilities.  It employs 6 people and has helped to regenerate a nine-mile stretch of rural canal.

 “The Rural Business Award recognises the family’s vision and passion to transform a little used canal section into a visitor destination that directly benefits the local rural economy”, said the organisers. 

But it’s not all been plain sailing.  Last July, at the start of the peak holiday season, the business had to temporarily relocate its 3 holiday boats to Apperley Bridge, near Leeds after British Waterways closed 60 miles of the Leeds and Liverpool canal due to low water. 

“We had to make a 90-mile trip three times a week to keep our fleet operating, but none of our customers lost their holidays”, said Lesley Yates.

Then, in late November, the entire canal system froze over, just as the Christmas party cruise season was about to start.  But, undeterred by the icy weather and frozen waters, the family kept their restaurant boat ‘Romance’ operational. 

“We weren’t sure customers would still want to celebrate on a stationery boat, but it turned out they weren’t put off in the slightest. Christmas was a sell-out,” added Lesley. 

“As well as attracting visitors to the area to appreciate and enjoy rural Lancashire and its waterways, our restaurant boat serves food sourced from neighbouring rural farms.  Many of our day trip visitors come long distances and stay overnight locally.”

 “We dedicate this award to all our customers and local business partners who have supported us in challenging times,” she said.  “It’s thanks to their loyalty we are able to celebrate this fantastic achievement.”