When: 11am Thursday 29 August 2024
Where: ABC Boat Hire, Alvechurch Marina, Scarfield Wharf, Worcestershire B48 7SQ
What: Bradley Thomas MP for Bromsgrove and the Villages will launch ABC Boat Hire’s
new electric day boat ‘Fun Day’, with a short trip along the Worcester &
Birmingham Canal.
Bradley Thomas, MP for Bromsgrove and the Villages, will officially launch ABC Boat Hire’s new
electric day boat at Alvechurch Marina at 11am on Thursday 29 August, with a short trip along the
Worcester & Birmingham Canal.
Bradley Thomas, MP for Bromsgrove and the Villages, says:
“As well as being an important place for wildlife, the Worcester & Birmingham Canal makes an
important contribution to the local economy, generating tourism, canalside and boating businesses
and jobs. It was interesting to learn that nationally there are now more boats on Britain’s canal
network than during the Industrial Revolution, including over 1,000 boats for holiday and day hire.
“I’m delighted to be invited to see this exciting new electrically powered boat that will be available
for people to hire here on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, for both local people and visitors to
the area – helping to boost our local economy and tourism sector.”
Haley Hadley, ABC Leisure Group’s Marketing & Sales Director, says:
“Britain’s beautiful network of inland waterways is important for biodiversity, and the wildlife that
you can see is one of the things that makes holidays and days out on the canals so appealing.
“We’re committed to reducing the carbon footprint of our holidays and ‘Fun Day’ is the fifth electric
day boat to be added to our fleet.
“The boat uses products from our Onboard Energy Direct off-grid energy range, including lithium
batteries and a Beta Marine 10Kw motor engine. Electric engines are very quiet so day boaters can
hear more of the sounds of the countryside and woodlands surrounding them.”
The 36ft ‘Fun Day’ narrowboat accommodates up to ten people and 2024 day hire prices start at
£99.
The boat has a toilet, indoor and outdoor seating and a kitchen area with induction hob, sink and
microwave. So day boaters pack a picnic afloat, or stop off at a canalside pub for lunch.
Popular day boat destinations on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal from Alvechurch include:
- Cruise through the Worcestershire countryside to King’s Norton Junction and back. The
route passes the canalside Hopwood House Inn and the Bittell Reservoirs and the return
journey takes about 4.5 hours. There are no locks along this route, but the journey includes
passing through the 2,726-yard long Wast Hill Tunnel; and
- Cruise through the remains of the Forest of Arden to the top of the Tardebigge Flight of locks
and back. There are no locks, but the journey takes boaters through two tunnels: the 613-
yard long Shortwood Tunnel and the 518-yard long Tardebigge Tunnel.
For more information about ‘Fun Day’ go to Alvechurch Marina – ABC Day Boat Hire
