Your Floating Hotel on the Canals and Rivers of the UK

News about Reed Boats in 2006.

January 2006.

November was a very busy month. Both boats went into the dry dock one after the other for bottom blacking and the repainting of the decorative work at the bows and stern of both boats. Afterwards they then returned to spend the rest of the winter moored alongside the dry docks while we carry out more painting and some work inside. If you are near Worcester do come along and see them. I'm only on them some days so to be certain of a cup of coffee as well phone first.

Unfortunately while we were working in the dry dock we had an unwelcome visitor who walked off with the cratch cover off the butty. They are tailor made, and only fit the one boat so it is useless to anyone else. So now Wilson's are making a new cover for us but unfortunately the insurance only covers part of the cost.

December was quieter as I was at home for a lot of the time. However we decorated the boats for Christmas and outside we had a three foot Christmas tree with red lights and other decorations.

During December I started the new procedures to obtain a licence for selling wine etc. on the boats. I have been on a course and am now trained, the police check is in the post and I am just about to submit the premise form to Worcester City Council. This includes notices in the local papers and notices up on the boats as well as plans of the boats. All told this latest brainstorm of the Government is costing each Hotel Boat that wishes to serve alcohol about £400!!

Our new brochure have arrived and we were able to include that in our Christmas mailing. However if you did not get a copy, or want one to pass on just ask. The printers who produced it are interesting in their own right. Based in Leoministers they were founded in the 19th century by a trust which ran an orphanage there to provide work training for orphans. Today it is still a small friendly business, still called 'Orphans' Press.'

Christmas itself we had ashore as a family, then over new year we ran a very successful New Year Cruise with four guests aboard. It was cold at the start and on the first and second days we were breaking through quite thick ice at times, but it then warmed up and after the first day the rain kept away. (I was hoping for some snow so as to get pictures for our Christmas cards next year, but perhaps later in the year.) We moored at Stoke Works for News Years Eve and had a lovely supper/dinner with eight courses. We took our time eating it and then after wishing one another a happy new year watched the neighbour fireworks before going to bed.

As, some of you will now, I thought I had crew arranged for next year, but my oldest daughter has decided to join a friend out in Australia instead. So we we are just starting to advertise for crew.

Newsletters for 2005 / Newsletters for 2004

If you have any questions then do ring us on 07977 229103
or email us at martinreed@reedboats.co.uk