During the winter season 2008/9 we carried out a major re-fit of Willow's interior. During this reorganization we constructed a wholly separate guest suite, including en-suite wash/shower room and toilet; four poster style bed, dinette and lounge area - all for the exclusive use of our guests. We think this innovative design is at present unique on a hotel narrowboat. We don't know of any of our competitors presently offering this exclusivity of facilities for it's guests. Please check out the photos by clicking on the relevant areas of the diagram below - check for yourselves, before booking, the accommodation that's on offer and how many people it needs to cater for.

Guests visiting us from overseas, particularly those of a larger stature, should be very aware that accommodation on board a narrowboat, no matter how spacious by narrowboat standards, has to be narrow - otherwise the boat couldn't physically fit through the bridges and locks of our narrow canal system. We have found that this generally presents no problem to British, European, and Kiwi/Aussie guests. But if in doubt, please make sure that you click on narrow interior.

The main bed has a sprung mattress (not just foam) with class 1 duck feather and down pillows. Guests benefit from exclusive use of the en-suite guest shower (cubicle with glazed door) and washroom, with ceramic 'pump-out' loo. We, your crew, have separate facilities within our own quarters aft. There is a privacy door separating the guest suite from the galley and staff quarters. The staff quarters has it's own exterior doors, so we don't need to enter your quarters, other than to feed you, and house-keep/service your quarters.

Forward again from the main lounge area is our glazed bow deck area (with skipper to bow-cabin PA/commentary system). Also with leather seating, this area not only provides a very comfortable optional dining area, with a view - but it also provides a marvellous, very comfortable, forward observation facility whilst cruising. With wide opening side and roof hatches, we can set the area up to be airy if it's hot - or close things down if it turns cooler. Imagine taking breakfast or lunch seated in leather chairs at a table, whatever the weather, with forward panoramic views of the 'canalscape' as we glide by - it’s quite charming. Another luxury feature is our satellite linked/GPS ordnance survey mapping with it's 14" screen display - so you'll be able to spot exactly where we are and 'what's what' in the surrounding canalscape. And we also have an on-board mobile broadband internet connection, if you need to keep in touch with emails.

We consider your safety on board Willow as a serious matter. Willow holds the required commercial licence to trade as a charter hotelboat (not all 'hotelboats' are properly licensed and insured). Our galley has been properly vetted and fully approved by local authority food hygiene staff. Willow is in full compliance with the statutory Boat Safety Certificate requirements for commercial vessels of our type and, on a voluntary basis, we also comply with the government's 'Maritime & Coastguard Agency Code for Small Passenger Vessels'. Willow undergoes an industry approved annual gas system test (known as the 'Landlords Test'). Although not yet a statutory requirement, we have audible alarm systems to warn of the presence of gas leaks; carbon monoxide; and there are smoke alarms situated throughout the boat.