Company History

 

 

ABC Leisure Group Limited,

ABC Leisure Group Limited was formerly known as Alvechurch Boat Centres Ltd and has been building and operating a hire fleet, and providing full marina services to canal users for over 35 years.

Alvechurch Boat Centres was acquired by the current owners in 1993 when it had just three locations at Alvechurch, Gayton and Anderton. Since then we have grown from the original 3 bases to 14 locations for hiring canal boats which provides access to most of the canal network in England, Scotland and Wales.

We acquired Wrenbury Mill in 1997, opened the Weighbridge Pub on Alvechurch Marina in 2001 and started operating boat hire from Falkirk in 2004. In the same year acquired Wessex Narrowboats at Hilperton Marina Wiltshire.

In 2005 Viking Afloat with its four locations at Worcester, Whitchurch, Rugby and Gailey became part of our operation. In 2006 we acquired Red Line Boats at Goytre Wharf in the Brecon Beacons National Park.

2009 sees another hire location at Union Wharf Market Harborough, and in 2010 Reading Marine at Aldermaston Wharf.

We have continued to operate the hire fleets under their original brands to ensure they maintain their individual uniqueness and culture. For our customers convenience information about all the hire boats and locations are contained in one “UK Boat Hire” brochure.

ABC Leisure Group owns and operates 10 marinas and boatyards throughout the UK Inland Waterway system providing services for both our own hire fleets, passing boaters and privately owned boats. Most of our locations have either dry docks or cranes and a gas safe engineer so there is no job to large or small.  In addition to a range of chandlery and boat parts at all these locations we have a large well stocked chandlers at Hilperton Marina and an online chandlery (www.webchandler.com)  that can supply a variety of parts and accessories for boaters and boating direct to your door.   We also have a brokerage or boat sales operation selling second-hand boats.

We have two boatbuilding operations based at Alvechurch and Hilperton Marinas that build high quality bespoke narrow boats from the steel hull to the final finish, and the “The Weighbridge” an award winning public house at Alvechurch Marina and the highly regarded “Moorings” licensed a l'carte restaurant at Anderton Marina.

With our diverse portfolio of canal related business it was decided in 2007 to rename the parent company ABC Leisure Group under which all the brands and activities would operate.  

In 2008 ABC Boat Management was launched to look after, and be the main point of contact for around 100 boats that we manage or operate on behalf of  other individuals and companies. ABC Boat Management uses its economies of scale to acquire most of the services required from ABC Leisure Groups marinas at a discounted rates making it a very cost effective management option.

ABC Leisure group can do almost everything for canal boats and is committed to continue growing what it can offer the Inland Waterways boater.