A FAMILY-RUN canal boat hire business in the Midlands has been crowned the best in the UK – by its customers.
Union Canal Carriers, based in Braunston, Northamptonshire, topped the poll after achieving more than 1000 5-star reviews of its canal boat holidays. The business, which started in 1968, is still run by the Hewitt family who believe it is their personal touch that makes all the difference. Seven members across three generations of the family regularly work in the yard.
Office manager Heather Hewitt, wife of Tim, who is son of founder Iris Hewitt, said: “We were surprised to rank number one out of 100 hire boat companies. We always aim to treat our customers as friends and share our knowledge with them, whatever their age.
“One of the biggest differences between us and bigger hire companies is that we are just boaters who love boating.
“We love sharing our extensive boating knowledge with our customers, giving them a warm welcome and helping them plan where they want to go – it’s the little things that can make a big difference.”
Union Canal Carriers is based on the Grand Union Canal and won the award, run by narrowboat holiday agents, Roam&Roost Canal Boat Holidays. The company has more than 1200 reviews, with 1000 of them 5-stars and coming from repeat customers who return year after year. Some customers have been returning for 40 years.
The company was one of the pioneers of boating holidays, with owners Iris and Robin Hewitt, and together with Janusz and Ruth Rokicki, hiring camping boats in 1968. Fast forward to 2024, and the company has a fleet of canal boats and day boats.
Iris Hewitt, now in her 80s, is still involved in the business today alongside her sons, head engineer Jonathan, sign writer Will and boat designer Tim. In addition, Will’s son Adam helps paint the fleet in the winter. The family believe it is the personal touch which comes with a family firm that makes all the difference.
Mrs Hewitt added: “We spend hours with customers that haven’t boated before, on the phone before they arrive as well as showing them out on their boat. It is important that they feel safe and confident before we leave them with one of our boats.
“We understand that a boating holiday can take customers out of their comfort zone, so we take our time to show those hirers the ‘ropes’.”
Based near the junction of the Grand Union & Oxford canals, the hire base in Braunston is a perfect location for a range of routes, from short out-and-back trips to Stoke Bruerne, Warwick (and Warwick Castle) or Fenny Compton to longer ring routes to be completed over a week or more, such as the Warwick Ring, Leicester Ring or Thames Ring.
Union Canal Carriers initially started by hiring out camping boats – which were extremely basic with bunks and a sheet for protection – and part of its ethos has always been introducing people to the magic of the waterways.
Some customers who started out on the camping boats have children who are now bringing their own families on the water.
“It is amazing,” said Mrs Hewitt. “They are like family and we have seen their children grow up.”
James Anelay of Roam&Roost Canal Boat Holidays said: “Union Canal Carriers has 1200 reviews of its canal boat holidays, which is an amazing achievement. However, to achieve more than 1000 5-star reviews is an extraordinary achievement which the family-run team at Union Canal Carriers should be proud as it represents tens of thousands of happy days spent on the canals making priceless memories with loved ones.” Roam&Roost ranked more than 100 UK canal boat bases, using customer reviews from various platforms and disregarding fake or questionable scores to give a simplified score which it hopes will make it easier for consumers to understand.
Second place went to Beacon Park Boats in Powys and Anderson Boats in Cheshire was placed third. For the full list visit canalboatholidays.co.uk and to find out more about Union Canal Carriers visit unioncanalcarriers.co.uk
