THE HOXTON HIPSTER

Widebeam stands out from the crowd and wowed the crowds at Crick

- ADAM PORTER

Over the past few years, the proportion of new canal boats that have been widebeams has been going up and up. Their buyers want the additional space they offer over a narrowboat – and many of them are not that concerned about the restricted cruising opportunities. Indeed, many widebeams are put in a marina and seldom go anywhere.

Price is a major factor. These boats are massively cheaper than a flat offering a similar space in London and other cities; and because widebeams sold as residential boats can be VAT free, they’re also often cheaper than a narrowboat of the same length.

But there has been a certain homogeneity about many widebeam boats. The ones we (perhaps unkindly) refer to as fat narrowboats look very similar to each other on the outside, and while the interiors are sleek and spacious, they too have tended to be much the same. But here’s a widebeam which has been designed to be a bit more trendy. It’s called the Hoxton, which immediately gives you a clue about what the builders were going for. It has that East London hipster feel going on, with the feel of reclaimed timber and industrial touches. It makes this boat stand out from the crowd, and probably explains why it was popular at the last Crick Show, where it came second in the public vote for best widebeam.

The Hoxton is built by Collingwood, perhaps the most prolific boat builder in the country. The firm is based in Liverpool, but you don’t necessarily have to go there to buy one, as there are a couple of distributors selling their boats. New and Used Boat Co have bases at Hanbury Wharf in Worcestershire and Mercia Marina in Derbyshire, while Narrowboats Ltd is at Wincham Wharf in Cheshire. Together, they have most of the country covered. But if you were thinking of playing one off against the other to get a better deal, it won’t work; whichever outlet you choose, the prices are the same.

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