About Charter Hotelboat Willow

ABOUT WILLOW:
Willow is a 'Stowe Hill' built narrowboat powered by a Perkins D3 diesel engine fitted in it's own traditional engine room. We, the crew, are accommodated traditionally in the aft 'boatman's cabin'. A combination of the 'Stowe Hill' hull; 21" prop; and the raw power of the Perkins D3, make Willow handle like a dream, despite her size. At an overall length of just over 70ft, Willow is 'a proper narrowboat’ - And, No, we don't have (or need) bow thrusters.

Throughout our website you will be able to see right margin photos of Willow's exterior. The 'all weather', comfortable leather seated, front observation cabin is genuinely unique. It really does make Willow stand out from the crowd.
When designing Willow as a hotel narrowboat we wanted the accommodation to be as spacious as possible for our guests. That's one reason for operating as a private charter boat, limiting the number of guests to one couple or a single guest. We haven't crammed multi small guest cabins into shorter boat(s), just to increase turnover. As a guide, consider the number of guests plus number of crew that are to be 'fitted in' to the length of boat concerned.

On Willow we are boaters, caterers, and your hosts - not artists. So please forgive the fairly amateurish drawn plan of Willow's interior. The plan does need to be viewed in conjunction with the photographs, obtained by clicking on the relevant areas within the plan.

Guests visiting us from overseas, particularly those from America, should be very aware that accommodation on board a narrowboat has to be narrow - otherwise the boat couldn't physically fit through the bridges and locks of our narrow canal system. We have found that this generally presents no problem to British, European, and Kiwi/Aussie guests. If in doubt, please make sure that you click on narrow interior.

To describe the interior guest accommodation in more detail - The whole of the main interior of Willow is floored in hardwood (oak) parquet flooring. All cabins (including the bow-cabin) benefit from central heating, should it be required.

The guest cabin area (approx 12ftx6ft) has a double bed, with ample clothes and case storage. The bed has a sprung mattress with class 1 duck feather and down pillows. Guests benefit from exclusive use of the en-suite, door linked, guest shower (cubicle with glazed door) and washroom, with ceramic 'pump-out' loo. We, your crew, have separate facilities within our own quarters aft. Moving towards the galley from the guest shower room area is a privacy door which separates the guest bedroom (and en-suite area) from the galley.

Forward of the galley area is the resident's lounge with it's solid fuel fire, leather reclining armchairs, optional dining area, LCD TV, DVD, music stereo, etc, etc.

Forward again from the main lounge area is our glazed bow deck area (with skipper to bow-cabin PA/commentary system). With leather seating this area not only provides a very comfortable dining area, with a view - but it also provides a marvellous, very comfortable, forward observation facility whilst cruising. With wide opening side and roof hatches, we can set the area up to be airy if it's hot - or close things down if it turns cooler. Imagine taking breakfast or lunch seated in leather chairs at a table, whatever the weather, with forward panoramic views of the canalscape as we glide by - it’s quite charming. New for 2008 is our satellite linked/GPS ordnance survey mapping with it's 14" screen display - so you'll be able to spot exactly where we are and 'what's what' in the surrounding canalscape. And we also have on-board broadband internet connection, if you need to keep in touch.

The lounge and linked bow dining area measure approx 20ft in length. For private charter guests, this all represents spacious, comfortable and quality charter hotel narrowboat accommodation.

We consider your safety on board Willow as a serious matter. Willow holds the required commercial licence to trade as a charter hotelboat (not all 'hotelboats' are properly licensed and insured). She is in full compliance with the statutory Boat Safety Certificate requirements for commercial vessels of our type and, on a voluntary basis, we also comply with the government's 'Maritime & Coastguard Agency Code for Small Passenger Vessels'. Willow undergoes an industry approved annual gas system test (known as the 'Landlords Test'). Although not yet a statutory requirement, we have audible alarm systems to warn of the presence of gas leaks; carbon monoxide; and there are smoke alarms situated throughout the boat.

We believe these measures should be mandatory on all passenger carrying narrowboats.

WILLOW IS A NON-SMOKING BOAT.