‘The Boys are Back in Town’, sang Thin Lizzy, and tribute band Dizzy Lizzy will be headlining the entertainment for visitors to Crick Boat Show, as they take a good look at the largest selection of new narrowboats and other inland craft gathered together in one place

Britain’s biggest annual inland waterways boat show returns to Crick in Northamptonshire on the late spring bank holiday weekend, with over 20 boatbuilders already booked in – and more expected to confirm their attendance. It’s always been the show to go to if you’re thinking of buying a narrowboat – but it’s not just about narrowboats these days, with increasing numbers of widebeams on display, plus cruisers too.

In fact the variety of craft last year was such that the coveted award ‘favourite boat in show’ award, voted for by show visitors, was split into two categories, with Bourne Boats winning the narrowbeam class, and Elton Moss the widebeam – who will be the winners this year?

Do be aware that some of the boats being exhibited are so popular that the builders operate a strict booking system – so if there are some that you particularly wish to see, it can be a good idea to contact them before the weekend to reserve a slot.

It’s not just new boats on sale, though: there will be everything you need to fit out and equip your boat, from engines to tiller pins, and from traditional solid fuel stoves to the latest LED lighting – and for those not looking to buy their own new boat there will be brokerages, hire companies and shared ownership schemes. Together with canal societies, clothes stalls, crafts and food, there will be over 300 exhibitors.

And to keep you informed and entertained, there will be seminars on buying, selling, owning and maintaining boats; boat handling taster sessions; free boat trips; historic and wildlife displays and family activities in the Canal & River Trust Marquee at the show; and as ever a varied programme of live entertainment in the Wheatsheaf real ale bar marquee. This year it’s headlined by tribute bands Dizzy Lizzy with a selection of Thin Lizzy classics like The Boys are Back in Town and Jailbreak on Saturday evening, followed by Abba Revival on Sunday night.

Children up to 16 get in free, and adults get a reduction on their tickets if they buy them in advance from crickboatshow.com by 20 May. It’s easy to get to by car as it’s just off M1 Junction 18, Rugby railway station is six miles away, and by boat it’s on the Grand Union Leicester Line just over five miles north of Norton Junction. The show’s open from 10am to 6pm on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 May, and from 10am to 5pm on Monday 28 May.

Boats:

boatbuilders and fitters

ABC Boats

Aqua Narrowboats

Banks Martin

Bear Boating

Bickerstaffe Boat Company

Boating Leisure Services

Braidbar

Colecraft

Elton Moss Boatbuilders

Finesse Boats

The Fit Out Pontoon

Innovative Eco Homes

JD Narrowboats

Lifestyle Boat Solutions

New & Used Boat Co

Nottingham Boat Co

Ortomarine

Pintail Boats

Smithwood Narrowboats

Tristar Boats

Viking Canal Boats

Wharf House Narrowboats

Willow Boats

Gear:

Boat engines, fittings, equipment etc

Advanced Marine Decking

AJS / Quick Nautical Equipment

Amanzi Marine Services

Amtrim

Aquafax

ARS Anglian Diesels

ASAP Supplies

Aten Lighting

Barrus

Battery Store

Bedazzled LED Lighting

Beta Marine

Caldwells Windows

Canvasman

Central Marine Services

CES Europe

Channelglaze

Cheshire Marine Equipment

Craftmaster Paints

Duratank

DW Electrical Services

Ecotoilets

Elite Furnishings

Engines Plus

Extinguish Fire Solutions

Fischer Panda

Fuel-Guard

Go First Trading

Harworth Heating

Hempel UK

Hercules Hydraulics

Intellitec MV

International Paint

Kildwick

Kings Lock Chandlery

Kinver Canopies

Kuranda

Lace Plate Company

Le Tonkinois Varnish

Lee Sanitation

Loom-Tech

Lynch Motor Company

Mactra Marine

Mannbuck Steels

Marine 16

Marine Industrial

Marineware

Michigan Marine Propulsion

Midland Chandlers

Miracle Leisure Products

Mr D’s Thermal Cooker

Multicell International

Northern Fabrication Services

Owatrol

Permateek

Philip Douetil

Photonic Universe

Quick Nautical Equipment

River Canal Rescue

Run by the Sun

Sail & Trail

Shoreline Marine

Sofabed Barn

T W Marine

The Tankbusters

Tek-Tanks

Titan Boat Canopies

Top Box

Transcool Leisure

Tuffblack

Vetus

Volt Master Systems

Webasto Marine Heating

Wesley Marine Windows

Wilsons Upholstery

Services:

Brokerage, finance, insurance, training, boat share, marinas

ABC Leisure Group

ABNB

Ashwood Marina

Assist Insurance Services

BCBM

Bisham Abbey Sailing & Navigation School

Boatfinder Brokerage Services

Braunston Marina

BWML

Carefree Cruising (Boatshare)

Castle Marinas

Debdale Wharf Marina

Droitwich Spa Marina

Dunchuch Pools Marina

Evesham Marina

GJW Direct

Herbert Woods LLP

Hill Farm Marina

Lakeland Leisure Estates

Mercia Marina

Mercia Marine (Underwriting)

Narrowboat Skills Centre

Narrowboats Ltd

North Kilworth Marina

Overwater Marina

Rugby Boat Sales

Shawbrook Bank

Tingdene Marinas

Venetian Marine

Virginia Currer Marine / High Line Yachting

Watercraft Training

Waterside Mooring, Canal & River Trust

Weltonfield Narrowboats

Whilton Marina

Willow Wren Training

Yelvertoft Marina

Image(s) provided by:

Martin Ludgate