Welcome to Classic Narrowboats

ABC Leisure Group have been appointed as your Management company by the trustees Hutchinson Trustees.

WHO ARE WE ?

ABC Leisure Group Limited has been building and operating a hire fleet and providing full marina services to canal users for over 35 years, with a thorough experience of everything to do with narrowboats and boating holidays.

We are unique in that we own and operate 10 strategically placed marinas and a boat building operation which means we can, if required, personally provide almost all the services needed for the operation of a canal boat during its entire life.

ABC Leisure Group has run the Timeshare operation called the Canalboat Club for over 8 years, so has great experience in running a Timeshare Club.

ABC Leisure Group have appointed Abacus Reservations Ltd. to look after you on a day to day basis , so Abacus will be your point of contact. Abacus can be contacted via e-mail [email protected] and telephone - 01395 443363.

ABC Leisure Group operates 300 multi use boats for traditional hiring, timeshare, corporations and boat syndicates and well as owning and operating a number of marinas. If you would like to know more about ABC Leisure Group, please do visit our comprehensive website, www.everythingcanalboats.com.

LATEST NEWS :-

Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Update

March 2021

We are hoping that all UK customers will be able to cruise on our Canalboats from March onwards and our Booking office remains open but please email in the first instance to [email protected]

If any Classic members are unable to take up their booking because of government restrictions please contact this office as soon as possible and we can move your booking to another date in 2021 or 2022.

Also if Classic members were not able to take their booking in 2020 they can still use this is 2021 or 2022 for a Canalboating holiday.

9th July 2020

Please read the following safety advice about your holiday here

11th June update

We are delighted to announce that following yesterday’s announcement we are now able to operate from the 4th July in England.

11th June 2020

As we have indicated with our previous updates below, as government restrictions are easing we hope to be able to provide holidays from 4th July, however we realise that not all guests will be able to, or want to come for their Boating holiday in 2020 because of government restrictions or shielding etc.

So the current options will be available for all bookings during 2020: The options are:

1) deposit a week with one of the exchange companies like RCI or Dial an exchange to use at a later date

2) Book a Canalboat for later on in 2020 or you can take 2 Canalboating holidays in 2021 (using your 2020 allocation and your 2021 allocation):
a) this opens up longer distances and cruising rings for you
b) or take the family and have 2 boats for the same week
c) or try and rent out one week and use the other
3) If you cannot take 2 holidays in 2021 using your 2020 and 2021 allocations, we can be flexible and let you use your 2021 allocation in 2022

Please do not telephone this office just email us at [email protected] and we can check availability for you.

4th June 2020

We are working on the assumption that all holidays are possible from 4th July in line with the governments announcement. Marinas are slowly beginning to reopen during June , getting the boats ready.

Once we can facilitate your holiday, we have implemented a series of changes to protect both you and our teams. Cleaning products have been switched to use detergents specifically tested against Covid-19. We will be implementing social distancing where possible and using PPE to mitigate the risk where it is not. This includes limiting the number of people in the reception areas.

If you have a booking for dates up to 4th July and have not yet contacted us to change this, please do not phone the office but email at [email protected]

The options are:
1) deposit a week with one of the exchange companies like RCI or Dial an exchange to use at a later date
2) Book a Canalboat for later on in 2020 or you can take 2 Canalboating holidays in 2021 (using your 2020 allocation and your 2021 allocation):
a) this opens up longer distances and cruising rings for you
b) or take the family and have 2 boats for the same week
c) or try and rent out one week and use the other
3) If you cannot take 2 holidays in 2021 using your 2020 and 2021 allocations, we can be flexible and let you use your 2021 allocation in 2022

13th May 2020

There is a small possibility that self catering holidays may be possible from June, with Hotels and pubs, restaurants and other accommodation from July, but June is only a small possibility at the moment.

Therefore if you have a booking with us for May or June you can change it to another date in 2020 or 2021. Even if you change the date and find that the Marina is open for your original date, we can change it back if you wish, if its still available.

You can take 2 Canalboating holidays in 2021 (using your 2020 allocation and your 2021 allocation) -
a) this opens up longer distances and cruising rings for you
b) or take the family and have 2 boats for the same week
c) or try and rent out one week and use the other
d) or deposit a week with one of the exchange companies like RCI or Dial an exchange to use at a later date

If you cannot take 2 holidays in 2021 using your 2020 and 2021 allocations, we can be flexible and let you use your 2021 allocation in 2022.

We will always take government advice, but anticipate that all holidays from July onwards will go ahead if not from June.

Indeed, our Waterways remain a great option for those looking for time in the fresh air thats away from the hustle & bustle of crowded environments, or as places to visit whilst foreign holidays are restricted.

Please do not telephone this office just email us at [email protected] and we can check availability for you.

Download the latest Newsletter.

As well as the benefits of Classic Narrow Boats we are now able to offer you enhanced cruising through our association with ABC Boat Management.

Swap your Classic Narrowboat week for a week on a Canal Boat Club boat for an exchange fee of £50. This will enable you to cruise from 8 marinas across the country releasing up additional cruising routes for your enjoyment.

You can exchange your week in any particular year into a Canal Boat Club 4 or 6 berth boat although your ownership will remain with Classic Narrowboats. The exchange fee is payable each time you want to make an exchange.

Please email [email protected] or ring the Abacus office on 01395 443363 for availability .

Canal Boat Club operates from 7 marinas:

Aldermaston Wharf in Berkshire where you can cruise the Eastern end of the Kennet and Avon canal as well as accessing the River Thames (subject to a license fee).

Alvechurch Marina in Worcestershire which is at the heart of an extremely varied canal network linking to places such as Birmingham, Stratford upon Avon and Stourport.

Anderton Marina which is ideally located for exploring the North West of England for cruising the Trent and Mersey Canal and the Cheshire Ring.

Blackwater Meadow Marina situated close to Ellsmere Arm on the Llangollen canal, offering scenic beauty and breath taking engineering.

Gayton Marina in Northamptonshire where the routes are typified by rolling arable landscapes, rural countryside passing through hills, wooded country and villages.

Hilperton Marina which allows you to explore the Western end of the Kennet and Avon canal with its natural beauty and wildlife as well as access to Bristol and Bath.

Worcester Marina which is located on the Worcester and Birmingham canal in the centre of Worcester with varied routes including the recently re-opened Droitwich Canals.

DOWNLOADS :-

Download the 2021 Newsletter.

Download the 2019 Newsletter.

Download the 2018 Winter Newsletter

Download the 2017 Newsletter

Download the latest letter from ABC Leisure Group here for more information.

Download the 2016 Classic newsletter here.

Download the November 2016 Classic newsletter here.

WHERE YOUR BOATS WILL BE MOORED IN 2021 and 2022:-

The boats will be moored at Anderton, Alvechurch and Blackwater Meadow marinas.

Anderton in Cheshire and Blackwater Meadow Marina is in Shropshire.

See Anderton routes here (opens in new window, courtesy of Canalboat Club)