After almost 3 years of careful planning, on 9th April 2021, The Little Boat Company opened at the boating lake in Cannon Hall. This beautiful spot hadn’t been used for boating since the Georgian era; the Stanhope family last used it many moons ago. It has been wonderful to reopen the lake for boating and to see so many happy families enjoying this magical spot once again! Please see our FAQs belo
w for all questions related to The Little Boat Company at Cannon Hall:
1) What are the opening times for The Little Boat Company at Cannon Hall? We occasionally open for large group bookings and/or special events.
2) What do the boats cost to rent and how long do you get? All of our boats are charged at £10 per boat and this fee includes up to 2 passengers sharing. Each additional passenger costs:
£4 per child (up to 12 years)
£5 per adult (13 years and above)
All boat rentals last for 30 minutes.
3) What types of boats do you have? We have a mixture of rowing boats, and large pedal boats (swans).
4) How many people can fit on the boats? Rowing boats: up to 2 mid-sized adults and 2 small children
Swan pedalos: up to 4 adults and 2 children.
5) What if I want to go on a swan with one small child? Are the boats difficult to pedal or control? All of our boats (including the large swans) can be easily controlled by one person quite easily.
6) Do you accept cash and contactless card payments? We accept both cash and contactless card payments.
7) Do you sell tea and coffee and hot/cold food? Yes, but only on weekends and holidays. We also sell a variety of cold drinks and cold snacks/treats. We also sell duck feed.
8) Are dogs allowed on the boats? Small lap dogs only (if well behaved). Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.
9) Can I pre-book? Pre-booking is not available. First come first served.
10) Are the boats sanitised regularly? We take great care to regularly clean and sanitise all of our boats. We also have hand sanitiser available at the boating hut and the jetty. If you would like your boat to have an extra wipe over before boarding, please feel free to ask our staff and we’ll be more than happy to do so.
11) What are the rules of the boating lake? Here at The Little Boat Company, we want you to enjoy the spectacular lake and have as much fun as possible! For everyone’s enjoyment and safety, please follow the rules below:
Life jackets must be worn by all weak/non-swimmers and anyone under 16 years old. Arms and legs must be kept inside the boat at all times. No children under 1 year old are permitted on the boats. No boats will be hired out to persons under 16 years of age unless accompanied by a responsible adult. Boats returned late or damaged will incur additional charges. You may be asked for an ID deposit at the manager's discretion. Please no jumping, diving or swimming from boats. Please don’t stand or change seat positions whilst afloat. Please don’t land on the banks or islands. Please do not cross the safety lines on the lake. Please operate your boat with consideration for others. Avoid bumping into other boats and the banks of the lake. Personal belongings are left at the boating hut entirely at your own risk. Our staff have the right to refuse admission or remove participants from the activity if safety rules are breached. We look forward to seeing you soon at The Little Boat Company at Cannon Hall!
