Published on: 23 June 2022
Over 23,000 people visited the 23rd Crick Boat Show, which took place at Crick Marina near Daventry in Northamptonshire, across the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend, 2-5 June 2022.
The event, which was organised by Waterways World in partnership with the Canal and River Trust and Crick Waterside and Marina, saw over 200 exhibitors gather by the Grand Union Canal Leicester Line for three days of trading and entertainment, with a special Trade and Preview Day held on Thursday 2 June.
Peter Johns, publisher of Waterways World and show director, says: “The event is firmly established as the focal point of the year for the canal boat industry with more than 30 new boats from many of the country’s top boat builders on display plus a range of previously owned boats from some of the country’s top boat brokerages.
“Boat builders reported healthy levels of interest, with many orders secured, and our Preview Day worked well with most boat viewings fully booked and 1,500 trade and public visitors attending.
“Whatever stage of someone’s planning for boat ownership, the Show had something to offer. Almost 1,200 enjoyed free boat trips along the Grand Union Canal, more than 2,500 attended the free seminars and masterclasses on boat ownership, and the 100 boat handling taster sessions were fully booked weeks in advance of the Show.
“As well as showcasing the boating industry, the Show is an opportunity for the inland boating world to come together to meet old friends and make new ones. Fifteen bands entertained visitors and exhibitors across the weekend, including Absolute Bowie and ‘Amy – A Tribute’
“We were delighted to welcome more than 40 overseas visitors to the Show from 12 different countries – from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA, as well as a number of European countries. This says a lot about the attraction of Britain’s waterways.”
Matthew Symonds, national boating manager for the Canal and River Trust, adds:
“Every year Crick Boat Show, now the UK’s biggest inland waterways festival, celebrates our fantastic network of canals and rivers. It’s the perfect event to find everything you need to know about inland boating, with something for boaters old and new.
“Our team welcomed around 2,500 visitors to the Trust marquee over the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend, with staff and volunteers highlighting the diverse range of work the Trust does to care for the waterways so that boaters and many others can enjoy them.
“Research shows spending time by water makes us all healthier and happier. Boating is a great way to enjoy our wonderful 2,000-mile network of inland waterways, get close to nature and improve your wellbeing.
“We are delighted to have once again been a partner in the Crick Boat Show and welcomed so many of today’s boaters and hopefully many future boaters to the Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal over the bank holiday weekend.”
British Marine were also delighted to host a networking event on their stand, welcoming members from across the show. Crick also provided a great platform to showcase British Marine members, talk to visitors about careers opportunities within the industry, Onthewater.co.uk and The Green Blue, a joint initiative with the RYA.
Next year’s show dates will be 26-29 May 2023.
