UK & International Marine Business Sales

A unique Inland Waterways skippered canal cruises business operating on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal departing daily (9am to 3pm) from Burscough, near Ormskirk, north-west of Manchester. This is a delightful, wonderfully rural, and profitable lifestyle business that operates all year round.

Lancashire Canal Cruises offers both half day and full day hospitality styled cruises, with a range of food and fully licensed beverage services (fully licensed to serve alcoholic beverages) available including breakfast, afternoon tea and evening meals. Catering such as tapas, hotpot or fish and chips, is provided by partner establishments, very charmingly, as an integral part of the cruise experience and within the cruise price.

The business also offers bespoke canal boat experiences and charters for customers, many of whom return time after time, including wedding celebrations, anniversaries, birthdays, school reunions, corporate hospitality, and local history tours.

The business was originally founded in 2013 and acquired by its current owners in 2020. There are two narrowboats included in the sale price, with a third narrowboat available by separate negotiation. The boats which seat 12 passengers, are moored on dedicated towpath moorings situated close to the cruise departure point, and all have central heating and washroom facilities.

Marketing activities include posting regular updates to its website, which is integrated with a comprehensive online booking and payment platform, as well as an advance menu booking system. The business also has social media channels, a customer database with active subscribers, Tripadvisor reviews, and promotions in conjunction with Visit Britain and Visit Lancashire. The business also sells its own gift vouchers and accepts promotional vouchers including from Groupon.

Offered for sale exclusively via First Peninsula Marine and no direct approach should be made. To protect the owner’s commercial interests confidential sales details are only available to NDA Registered Buyers.