Canal News from Chas Hardern’s

Welcome to our news and updates page.

Chas Hardern has been hiring boats for holidays since the early 1970s. To read how he started from a farm on the Llangollen Canal near Wrenbury click here. (small pdf download).

See the article about us in the May issue of Waterways World.

For our Danish, Swedish and Norwegian customers- an article by Mons Kettenhoej on his Chas Hardern Boating adventure – Link to Article.

News update

On the 28th of April 2017 we appeared in a Channel 5 programme ‘Barging Brits in the Sun’ (we had no say in the title!!!). Many thanks to Darran, Donna and family who had theirs week holiday being trailed by a camera crew.

We were delighted that in March 2016 Chas Hardern was awarded the annual ‘Keay Award’ by the Historic Boat Society for the best restoration of a wooden boat in  the previous year. On our facebook page ‘Chas Hardern Boats’ we have a folder of pictures of the restoration of our 1937 boat ‘Dorset’.

www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/national-waterways-museum/events
An ongoing programme of events at Ellesmereport boat museum.

Ongoing Events & Places of Interest

The Lion Salt Works’ as shown on the ‘Restoration’ T.V show has now been fully restored and is open tot he public. It shows the old art of open pan salt mining and has a café, gift shop and toilets. Worth a look! http://www.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk

Chester cathedral is running ‘Cathedral at height’ tours.
‘This spectacular guided tour will take you behind the scences at Chester Cathedral-providing an unparalleled level of public access’ For the fit with a head for heights only.
Book through www.chestercathedral.com.

A great place full of interest this time of year is Chester Zoo. www.chesterzoo.org.uk. Plenty of new baby animals both large and small -you could easily spend a whole day there and then go on to visit the boat museum at Ellesmere Port. www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/national-waterways-museum.

Skippered instruction days from November 1st to March 1st

If you are hiring a boat for a canal boat holiday or would just like a day out to decide if it is for you, we offer comprehensive instruction.

Hire Boat Handover

Our experienced engineer has completed the British Marine Federation Hire Boat Handover Audit and can cover all aspects of boating from what to wear/bring to safely negotiating a staircase lock. Courses are tailored to your experience and subject to availability and canal maintenance stoppages.

Please contact us to discuss your requirements and to check availability.

Prices

Monday to Friday 10.00a.m to 3.00p.m – £100.00

Saturday and Sunday 10.00 to 4.00p.m – £150.00

You are welcome to use the boat facilities for making lunch.

A £20.00 reduction is available on your holiday should you then choose to book one of our boats. (not available with any other price reduction)