New Style of Hotel

We have just left the boat at Kate Boats for a bit of re-fitting. We took a while to get her there and have used this week without her to visit family in Kent, staying at the Maidstone Hilton.

I got to thinking about the hotel boats that we past moored just by Chambers Bridge No 100 doing a last minute clean up before starting the summer season.

But Granny Buttons has got in there first! The boats are Lady Selena and Lady Margaret of Ladyline Hotel Boats. I spoke to the owners and they look lovely, the boats I mean as well as the owners. Both boats are powered because it gives better flexibility and speed at locks. Also the resale value of a butty is very little apparently and the Hotel Boat trade is rather precarious. Awayforawhile has had difficulties recently to say the least. They had a pair of their boats (Rose and Castle??)up for sale for quite a while.

Ladyline do run as a pair though, the following boat depending on the view of the first at Wygrams Turn and inaudibly sounding her horn! No harm done as we cruise at under 2mph!

I do wish them all the best with their enterprise. Believe it or not, I like to see people making a go of a business on the canals