This weekend, we celebrated my
Grandma’s birthday onboard Emmeline Pankhurst, sailing along the Manchester
Ship Canal on a delightful city centre cruise. A three-hour round trip,
departing from Castlefield and sailing to MediaCity and back again, this unique
experience is a must for all fellow foodies and culture vultures.
After all, what could possibly
be more enjoyable on a Sunday afternoon than a relaxing jaunt along a historic
canal, taking in the magnificent Mancunion sights whilst learning all about the
history of the docks and eating a delicious roast dinner?
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| Onboard Emmeline Pankhurst |
This ingenious experience
comes courtesy of a family run business, City Centre Cruises, which has been
around for over thirty years. Christened after two of the city’s most
recognisable figures, there are two barges, Emmeline Pankhurst and L.S. Lowry.
Pankhurst was the leader of the suffragette movement, who famously fought for the
woman’s right to vote. L.S. Lowry was an artist whose work depicted the
industrial districts of the North West in the 20th century.
On a rather dreary Sunday
afternoon, we boarded Emmeline Pankhurst at Castlefield docks, in the heart of
Roman Manchester, before setting sail along the Bridgewater Canal towards
Pomona Loch.
As a child, I spent hours in
front of the box watching Rosie & Jim chugging along on the old rag doll. I
remember being fascinated watching John, the then owner of the canal boat,
sailing into a lock and letting the water gush through the huge iron gates to
raise the level. Having watched this incredibly precise operation performed
many times, I’m thrilled I was actually sat onboard as we dropped 14 feet in
the loch, before encroaching onto the Manchester Ship Canal for the remainder
of the journey.
A 360 degree sail around
Salford Quays was a particular highlight, slab bang in the middle of the
journey, taking in the BBC and ITV hubs, as well as the Imperial War Museum and
Old Trafford Football Stadium.
Whilst enjoying the scenery
and the not-too-intense onboard commentary from the captain, you are served a
delicious three-course Sunday lunch at nicely paced intervals. It was vegetable
soup to start, accompanied by a hot, buttered bread roll, followed by a
traditional roast beef dinner with all the trimmings. It was certainly a
generous feast, with two hefty, crispy roast potatoes and two beautifully
seasoned boiled spuds, along with carrots, broccoli and cauliflower. Dessert
was a slice of apple and black cherry crumble served with custard.
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| Vegetable Soup |
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| Traditional Roast Beef Dinner |
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| Apple and Black Cherry Crumble |
Quite how they manage to
prepare meals of this scale in the small galley kitchen at the back of the
barge is unbelievable, but the hard-working staff have got it off to a fine
art, all timed to the second, with nobody left waiting for their food.
The whole experience was just £32.95,
exceptionally good value for a three hour boat trip and a three course meal,
including tea and coffee to finish off (£14.95 for children). Drinks, of
course, are not included, but the on-board bar offers a wide selection of alcoholic
and non-alcoholic drinks and is very reasonably priced - £1.50 for a bottle of
still mineral water is unheard of.
There’s also an afternoon tea
alternative (£25.95) and an evening version (£34.95), which is adults only. The
boats can also be used as transport to Old Trafford Football Stadium for MUFC
home games, and if you’re throwing a party, you can even hire out the vessel to
host your own private bash.
The Manchester Canal Cruises
are a truly unique experience which will certainly make a special occasion
memorable.
Give it a go, it’s a cracking
day out.
For more information, visit: https://www.citycentrecruises.com/
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