Trading places

bakedonboard.com

Wanting a more relaxed lifestyle after holidaying on narrowboats, Paul set up his artisan pizza oven afloat: “People love the novelty factor, the spectacle, and lots of fellow boaters, locals and festival visitors are my customers. Sometimes it can be challenging getting stock to the boat, but you find a way. Surprisingly, lockdown was my busiest summer so far. Because pubs and restaurants were shut and walks were encouraged, my towpath pizzas were really popular.”

From pizza bakers to baristas, gin distillers to vinyl crate-diggers, more traders than ever are swapping the high street for the towpath. Here’s just some of our top of the shops; all now trading thanks to the support of our business boating team and our friends at the Roving Canal Traders Association (RCTA).

gangplank.shop

Sam makes and sells her own spirits, preserves and cakes from her narrowboat, using foraged fruit from the towpath and fruit swaps with allotment holders: “This year, I’ll be on the Trent & Mersey, Llangollen and Leeds & Liverpool canals. I like to get off the beaten track and I only trade at weekends because I need time to make my products, which is challenging in a small space! It’s hard work with a modest income, but I do have a very beautiful office.”

narrowboatcoffee.co.uk

Stephen sells eight types of coffee from his houseboat, each one named after an English canal: “Whatever the weather, I set up my stall, and even if I don’t sell anything I often get follow up sales online from people walking the towpath. This isn’t my main income, but equally it isn’t just a hobby, so if you have an idea for a floating business, contact the RCTA and get going!”

theboatpod.com

Sophie records music, broadcasts and podcasts from what was once her father’s narrowboat: “I had a vision for the boat to be a creative space for the community and beyond, and now it’s a reality,” says Sophie of her floating studio in Little Venice. “You can watch people mixing records with the trees, water and the sound of ducks going past and it’s really dreamy. I count my blessings every day.”

therecorddeckuk

“The biggest challenge is the British weather”, says Luke on selling his vinyl afloat. “But interesting locations are great, so I’ll be at festivals and markets in Oxford, Banbury and Cropredy where record collectors can have a rummage onboard for missing gems from their collections.”

theholmoak.co.uk

Onboard ‘The Holm Oak’, Sylvie and Ben make soaps, shampoo bars, eco-friendly detergents and organic clothing: “Living on the canal promotes an eco-friendly lifestyle because all the products we put into the water need to be bio-degradable. So we thought ‘why not sell them to other canal users?”