So what has walking got to do with canal boating, canal boats and us you may ask?

We can help you and your community group to enjoy the stunning countryside and many walks that are available here in central England by using our boats as a floating base

Location, location, location..for great walks

Where we are based and have our boats moored and also the routes that are available to take and places to visit along the way makes us a perfect fit for walking groups looking to explore the beautiful countryside with so many different walking routes to explore and enjoy

Our mooring base in the historic canalside village of Braunston, the proverbial Heart of the Canals, is in West Northamptonshire and less than a mile from the county border with Warwickshire.  This immediate area in itself has some stunning countryside with excellent walking routes which span the county borders. And also don’t forget the border with [south] Leicestershire is also not far away and easily reachable too.

So a great location to start your trip, and couple that with the fact there are so many beautiful places that can be visited further afield (no pun intended) depending on your intended length of trip.  Think the likes of Rugby, Warwick, Royal Leamington Spa, Stratford-upon-Avon, Banbury, Coventry, even as far as Birmingham.

Our boats, your floating base

So a great choice of walking routes, but where do our boats Lancelot and Guinevere come into all this?

By using them as a base for your travels.

Both boats are purpose-built, full-length, modern vessels that are designed, fully-equipped and maintained to the highest possible standards, making them suitable for all year round cruising.

Each boat is 12 berth in size across three separate cabins with central heating, instant hot water and double glazing, a fully-equipped kitchen, two toilets and a shower. Sleeping accommodation is provided in four berth and six berth cabins.

So you and your group have everything you need on board for your stay.

Plus as our boats are also made available with an accompanying LNBP skipper, you can be safe in the knowledge  that you and your group and all your belongings will be ready and waiting for you at the end of your day’s walking and agreed meeting point. No humping big bags and rucksacks from place to place. Let the boats do the carrying for you!

Over the years many of the community groups who have booked with us have used our boats for this very purpose. Move from place to place and explore off the beaten track before returning to the boats to relax, make dinner (or there is the option of the many canalsides pubs that are available, and bedding down for the night, before waking up on the water and in the countryside ready for a new day.

There is of course the option to simply sit back and relax as you enjoy your beautiful surroundings afloat.  A day off from walking to rest weary legs and feet to watch the world go by is not a bad option to have.

So whether you and your group wish to walk and explore or sit back and discover the beauty of the central England countryside and canals, or a combination of both, we can make your trip and short break a memorable one.

• For more information and to discuss your requirements including checking availability, please contact LNBP’s Booking Officer Nigel Smith who will be happy to assist. Telephone on 07783 07783 002073 or email at bookings@lnbp.co.uk

The post These boats are made for walking appeared first on LNBP Community Boating.

Here we have picked a number of great places with particular historical significance and etched in waterways heritage.

Hatton Locks

The Hatton Locks or Hatton Flight are a flight of 21 locks on the Grand Union Canal in Hatton, Warwickshire.

Affectionately known as the ‘Stariway to Heaven’ the flight spans less than two miles of canal, and has a total rise of 45 metres.

These state of the art locks were built at Hatton to fight off stiff competition from the roads and railways and widened in the 1930s. Getting through them – remember there are 21 of them – is no mean feat and an achievement in itself, so give yourself plenty of time and preparation to navigate them all.

Birmingham Canals

One of the most intricate canal networks in the world, the city’s extensive canal network is often said to have more miles of canal than Venice and played a crucial role in its industrial growth.

The canals were the life-blood of Victorian Birmingham and the Black Country. At their height, they were so busy that gas lighting was installed beside the locks to permit round-the-clock operation. Boats were built without cabins for maximum carrying capacity, and a near-tidal effect was produced as swarms of narrowboats converged on the Black Country collieries at the same time every day.

Today, Birmingham’s canals have been revitalized into scenic walkways, lined with bars, cafes, and visitor attractions. The Gas Street Basin is a particularly popular spot where visitors can see colourful boats and historic canal architecture sit side-by-side with vibrant modern restaurants, cafes and bars.

Read more about the route from Braunston to Birmingham here

Hawkesbury Junction

Hawkesbury Junction is the northern limit of the Oxford Canal where it meets the Coventry Canal, near Hawkesbury Village, Warwickshire.

Its alternative name, Sutton Stop, arises from the name of a family which provided several lock keepers there in the nineteenth century. In commercial carrying times, the junction was a major rendezvous for working boats awaiting orders for their next cargo from the many pits in the area. A stop lock on the Oxford Canal isolates the water levels of the two original canal companies, with the Oxford being a few inches higher.

The most immediately striking feature in what is now a conservation area is the elegant bridge over the actual junction of the two canals. This cast iron structure is a fine example of the Victorian engineer’s art, and has a span of 15.2 m (50 ft).

Edstone Aqueduct

Located in Shakespeare Country between the Warwickshire villages of Wotton Wawen to the north and Wilmcote to the south is the longest cast iron aqueduct in England spanning 475 feet (145 metres) of rural countryside. This aqueduct is located on the South Stratford Canal.

Completed in 1816, the aqueduct crosses a minor road, a stream and a railway carrying trains on the Birmingham – Stratford-upon-Avon train line, in fact many years ago, a pipe linked the canal to a point on the railway to enable steam locomotives to draw water.

An unusual feature of this structure is that the tow path runs along the base of the 4’9” (1.5 metre) cast iron trough giving a different view of oncoming boats.

The structure holds Grade 2 listed status. If you are ona trip or take the boats from Braunston to Stratford, take a few moments to appreciate the engineering that created this fine aqueduct.

Napton Locks

Napton-on –the- Hill, as it is properly known, is as its title suggests a hillside village, watched over by its majestic Windmill which can be seen for many miles around.

The Grand Union and Oxford Canal form a moat like quality at the foot of the hill, with a set of eight locks being some of the nicest locks around, set as they are in beautiful peaceful countryside and climbing 49 feet.

For such a small village, it offers a surprisingly large number of amenities which includes a village store including post office, general store and coffee shop, play park, plus canal side shops and marina.

Stoke Bruerne and Blisworth Tunnel

Stoke Bruerne is lovely village of which its canalside setting becomes a hive of activity especially during spring and summer.

Here you will a Canal Museum which is located just off the canalside path in a historic Grade II listed corn mill and has three floors of waterway heritage and panoramic views, a café and gift shop. Outside the museum you can normally find the historic boat called ‘Sculptor’ which was built in 1935 and still going strong.

To get here (and back to Braunston) is to navigate through another historic tunnel, the Blisworth Tunnel,  which at 3,075 yards (2,811 meters) long is the longest wide, freely navigable tunnel in Europe (it’s wide enough for two narrowboats to pass in opposite directions). It is the third-longest navigable canal tunnel in the UK, after Standedge and Dudley Tunnels and the ninth-longest canal tunnel in the world!

Watford Locks

This group of seven locks on the Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal in Northamptonshire is formed (looking from the south), of two single locks, a staircase of four, and a final single lock.

The locks are hemmed in by the A5 road, the M1 motorway, and the West Coast Main Line railway, which all fit through the narrow Watford Gap, between two hill systems. The locks are usually manned to prevent water shortages in the ponds between the locks and to speed up the process of boats getting through them (there is a queueing system in place during peak periods)

The keeper also ensures the locks run smoothly and quickly. It should take approximately 45 minutes to complete this flight; it is made quicker by the fact that the locks are single beam and the gates are light.

Foxton Locks

Further up the Grand Union’s Leicester Line, Foxton Locks is a Grade II listed site and home to the longest, steepest staircase flight of locks in Britain.

Each year, over 400,000 visitors experience the rich heritage of the site, including the remains of the unique Inclined Boat Lift, listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Also located at the site are two pubs, two cafés, and the historic Canal Museum located in the Boilerhouse run by the Foxton Inclined Plane Trust.

Read more about the route from Braunston to Foxton Locks via Watford Locks here

Braunston – historic junction, locks and tunnel

Last but by no means least for this feature is Braunston, our mooring base and where the Grand Union Canal and Oxford Canal canals meet.

Braunston Marina, which you can see a stone’s throw from our boats are moored up, used to be a reservoir for the Grand Junction Canal. Water coming down the Braunston locks was collected and then pumped back up to the summit level. The pump, originally steam powered, and pump house, are still in place beside our mooring place and the initials GJC and 1897, the year of its build, can be seen in the chimney brickwork.

It’s here – at Bottom Lock – we have the first of the six locks of the Braunston flight onto the summit level of the main line of the canal before reaching the majestic Braunston Tunnel.

A true feat of engineering this, it opened in 1796 its construction was delayed by soil movement and it was probably the resulting movement that led to the tunnel having a slight ‘S’ bend.The tunnel is 2,042 yards (1,867 metres) in length.but has no towpath which means a walk over the top of the tunnel by the footpath if you are claustrophobic and don’t fancy going through it. Inside, it is 4.8 metres (16 ft) wide by 3.76 metres (12.3 ft) high providing just enough room for two 7 feet (2.1 m) beam boats to pass.

To go from one end of the tunnel takes you underground for approximately 25 minutes and it is well worth experience.

For more details about these great places and the routes to get to them, click here

To make a booking or check on availability and the dates you want, head to our Bookings Page here

Or please do get in touch to find out how we can help. Contact Nigel, our Bookings Officer, by calling on 07783 002073 or emailing him at booking@lnbp.co.uk

The post Heritage wonders of our canals to visit with LNBP appeared first on LNBP Community Boating.

Not only are we convenient and easy to reach from all corners of the country, but being situated at the junctions of the Grand Union Canal and Oxford Canals and in essence at the very heart of the canal network provides you and your group with a wealth of choice on routes for your trip.

In the first of two features, we provide you with suggestions of some of many great places you and your group can reach and visit depending on your length of trip.

Do it in a weekend

Head to…Rugby

Rugby is known throughout the world as the birthplace of the game as it was here, in 1823, while playing football at his school that a William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran with it. This moment took place on The Close at Rugby School, which is one momentous spot as part of the tours that Rugby School offer (advance booking required)

Close by is the Webb Ellis Rugby Football Museum is packed with rugby memorabilia whilst you can get a group selfie next to the statue of William Webb Ellis which is also close by.

All this is set in Rugby’s town centre which has a wide range of high street stores and independent shops as well as plenty of cafes and restaurants, and the impressive Rugby Art Gallery and Museum

The North Oxford Canal runs east to west towards the north of Rugby and by mooring here you can visit the Elliott’s Field Retail Park which has a great range of shops, cafes and restaurants, with a Tesco superstore just across the road in case you need to stock up on supplies.

Before reaching Rugby, you will visit and pass through the Hillmorton Locks; this picturesque village setting is famed for being the busiest lock section on the whole of the canal network with Locks 2&3 together being the most used locks on the Canal and River Trust’s network.

To the west of Rugby and heading on the North Oxford towards Coventry you will reach and pass through the historic Newbold on Avon Tunnel which like Braunston Tunnel (although not as long) is a great experience.

At the junction go west to…Napton and Napton Locks

As we have already mentioned, Braunston (and LNBP’s boats) is in a wonderful position situated at the junctions of the Grand Union Canal and Oxford Canals. At the very junction of the canals, three canals in fact – the Grand Union Canal and the North and South Oxford canals, known as the “Braunston Turn”, instead of continuing north towards Rugby and Coventry, by turning left provides a great lock-free section for everyone a chance to explore the boat and also the time to give everyone a chance to have a go at steering.

That is before reaching the village of Napton and Napton Locks.

Napton-on–the-Hill, as it is properly known, is as its title suggests a hillside village, watched over by its majestic Windmill which can be seen for many miles around. The Grand Union and Oxford Canal form a moat like quality at the foot of the hill, with a set of 8 locks being some of the nicest locks around, set as they are in beautiful peaceful countryside and climbing 49 feet.

For such a small village, it offers a surprisingly large number of amenities which includes a village store including post office, general store and coffee shop, play park, plus canal side shops and marina.

More on this route in the words of one of our now-retired project skippers, Chris Woodward, can be found here

South to…

Heading east out of Braunston on the Grand Union through the flight of six locks will bring you to the historic Braunston Tunnel, which at over a mile long and with a curve in the middle is an experience to go through.

Heading south at Long Buckby locks after passing the idyllic Norton Junction will bring you to Weedon Bec.  That is about an eight hour cruise and the village has has a vast playing field with swings and goalposts for youngsters to burn off any unspent energy. It also has an early morning / late night convenience stores stocking up on supplies or grabbing an ice cream.

If there’s time, head to visit the Weedon Depot, which originally known as The Royal Ordnance Depot dates back to 1802 just prior to the Napoleonic Wars and was a store for muskets, cannon and gunpowder. Today the visitor centre offers guided tours (by advance arrangement) with a café also on site

More details about this route from Braunston to Weedon Bec in the words of our Booking Officer Nigel Smith can be found here

Branching off to…Northampton

From Weedon, there is short journey to reach the Northampton Arm which leaves the Grand Union Canal mainline at Gayton Junction and joins the River Nene in the centre of Northampton.

This arm of the Grand Union Canal does feature many locks – 17 single locks in fact – along its short length.

Northampton town centre is worth a visit for it offers a good blend of historic attractions and ultramodern entertainment, gaming, dining and fun for everyone.

Stoke Bruerne and Blisworth Tunnel

If you would rather continue on the main course of the Grand Union heading south,  then another historic village and spot on Northamptonshire’s will soon come into focus.

Stoke Bruerne is lovely village of which its canalside setting becomes a hive of activity especially spring spring and summer. Here you will a Canal Museum which is located just off the canalside path in a historic Grade II listed corn mill and has three floors of waterway heritage and panoramic views, a café and gift shop. Outside the museum you can normally find the historic boat called ‘Sculptor’ which was built in 1935 and still going strong

To get here (and back to Braunston) is to navigate through another historic tunnel, the Blisworth Tunnel,  which at 3,075 yards (2,811 meters) long is the longest wide, freely navigable tunnel in Europe (it’s wide enough for two narrowboats to pass in opposite directions). It is the third-longest navigable canal tunnel in the UK, after Standedge and Dudley Tunnels and the ninth-longest canal tunnel in the world!

* For more details about these and other routes and great places you can visit, click here

And look out for part two of our features on 10 great places to visit with LNBP.

• To make a booking or check on availability and the dates you want, head to our Bookings Page here

Or please do get in touch to find out how we can help Contact Nigel, our Bookings Officer, by calling on 07783 002073 or emailing him at booking@lnbp.co.uk

The post 10 great places to visit with LNBP – part one appeared first on LNBP Community Boating.

Did you know LNBP Community Boating has its own YouTube channel?

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The Stratford-upon-Avon Canal runs from Birmingham’s suburbia to Shakespeare’s Stratford, covering some 25 miles long stretching from the Birmingham suburb of Kings Norton and the junction with the Worcester and Birmingham Canal descending 55 locks to the River Avon at Stratford Upon Avon.

There are many lovely little spots along this stretch of inland waterway, along with a few curious places to watch out for. Lock number 53 – otherwise known as The Maidenhead Road Lock (Bridge 67) – is one of them, located about a further 30 minutes cruising and two further locks before arriving at the Stratford Basin outside of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Lock 53 is similar to all locks on this canal in that it is a single boat lock but the strange feature being the right-angled metal balance beam. As a regular gongoozler at this lock watching other people trying to open it, be under no doubt this is a tough one! I often help people out opening the lock. Bent knees, effort and sweat required here, this is the toughest lock that I have encountered anywhere on the canal system!

The lock drops a boat about six feet from the higher to the lower pound. As the boat goes under the bridge, the lock workers can either walk across the road or take the tow path under the road as the horses would have done. However, here is a word of warning – anybody under 6 foot tall, then duck!

More little features on this delightful stretch of canal to come soon.

How does a trip along the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal and visiting the birthplace of the Bard sound to you?

If you are interested to find out how your community group and organisation can also enjoy a residential trip with us and explore what we can offer, please get in touch with Nigel on 07783 002073 or email us at bookings@lnbp.co.uk

The post Cruising the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal part 1 appeared first on LNBP Community Boating.

After such a long valuable service and dedication to LNBP, we could not let Chris go without asking him a few questions about his time with LNBP  and some of the various events and inevitable changes that have occurred over nearly four decades.

How long have you been associated with LNBP for?

(CW) I think about 37 years. It can’t be more as when I came to the project we had Megan and Merlin as our boats. Previously the project had Michael and Megan but Michael was already in the process if being sold. And it wasn’t new at that stage.

How did you first get to become involved, and why?

(CW) I have been involved with water activities with the Kent Scouts for many years and I am a Sailing and Powerboating instructor with them. At county level there had been some requests for permits to take Scout Narrowboating and there was no one in Kent authorised to grant these permits.

I have been narrowboating since I was about 12 or 13 and the “powers that be felt” that I was probably the most experience leader they had to take on this role. So along with another leader who had some experience we organised a training weekend and Willow Wren in Rugby loaned us two boats for the training. The following year again we organised another weekend and this time Union Canal Carriers loaned us two boats. The third year we came unstuck we couldn’t find anyone to loan us two boats.

At that time there were some programme changes within Scouting and I went to a presentation in Surrey to get the details. At this presentation there were some leaders with activity ideas for us to visit in lunch hours etc. and there was a stall manned by Brian Tidbury on narrowboating. I got into conversation and told him of my problem in getting boats and he suggested I contact LNBP.

I had never heard of them and didn’t know anything about them, but why not? I wrote to Geoff Dolamore who was the Chairman and who also dealt with the bookings and he gave me the o.k. Not having seen or heard of the boats I thought I should have a look to see if they were suitable for my needs. No problem says Geoff why don’t you take one out for the day. Wow! So one freezing cold day in late February my wife and I turn up at UCC‘s yard to take a boat out. Megan was in dry dock having an engine service so we go to see Merlin. Bear in mind we had never seen the boat before and there was no one to show us over it we, with trepidation, took Merlin for a trip down to Hilmorton and back. We didn’t know where anything was or how it worked but we were impressed.

Subsequently we ran our Scout training weekend on Megan and Merlin.

The following year I contacted LNBP again and again was offered the use of the boats, But felt I needed to offer something in return and offered my services if they needed any training done for their own hirers This offer was taken up and I was put in touch with Graham Mead, who looked after their training at this time. I then worked on a course under the leadership of Graham. At the end of the course Graham said “I think you know more about this than I do, why don’t you take responsibility for training and I will work with you as your assistant”

The rest is history.

You have encompassed a number of roles in your time with LNBP. Could you give us a quick rundown of which ones?

(CW) Not that many roles! Assistant Trainer, Skipper. Trainer, Member of the Executive, Training Officer, Trustee, and Vice Chair (boating)

How long have you been a Project Skipper for?

(CW) Most of those 37 years

And in that time how many residential trips and client groups do you think you have taken out on LNBP’s boats in that time? (rough guess!?)

(CW) In the early days 4 or 5 a year. We didn’t have many skippers then and as training and certification progressed the need for me to go out so often diminished. Latterly I was only doing about one skippering trip on top of training weekends and weeks.

What changes have you seen with over the years with LNBP?

(CW) The main change has been the need for our skippers and self steer hirers to be certified to the standard of a national governing body (The National Community Boats Association – NCBA). In the beginning it was almost (and I hasten to add almost) a case of I’ve been out on a boat and didn’t hit anything so that’s ok isn’t it?. Things are now much stricter and more thorough and of course cover a lot more aspect of narrowboating.

And on the canals in general?

(CW) Everyone thought that the change from British Waterways (BW) to the Canal and River Trust (CRT) would be a disaster. This has not proved to be the case. CRT has different powers from those of BW and are able to use volunteers to help run the system this has proved to be very successful. Lock keepers, maintenance workers, etc has allowed the employed staff to deal with the more major work in running the canal system and getting repairs done faster. However the numbers using the system has increased enormously over the years and a two hundred year old system will always need attention and more so as numbers increase.

Are there any special moments or memories with LNBP that stand out for you?

(CW) There have been so many it impossible to isolate particular instances. There have been trips which I hope would carry on for ever as the groups were so nice, and there have been times when I wondered why I was there as the group were a nightmare.

There have been leaders who have been so thoughtful and helpful you can see why there group was so friendly and worked well together, and others who obviously didn’t want to be there, but were being paid to go and these group never gelled and caused the skipper an enormous headache.

There have been training courses which have been fun throughout and others where you thought I would never let my child on a boat with this person in charge. (however they thought they were the bee’s knees and wondered why they didn’t qualify).

 

And any funny moments whilst on the canal?

(CW) Many, many funny moments.

As part of their CCBM training the helms are required to practice a Man-Over-Board procedure. We throw a five gallon water container with a life jacket on and heavily weighted overboard. The helm then has to bring the boat into the shore for recovery. As this is not a real person we leave it there and use the situation to practice reversing to pick up the dummy. On one occasion a crew member was a bit too enthusiastic and jumped off the front of the boat with the mooring line to rescue the MOB. This left the boat drifting across the cut. He then proceeded to call instructions to the dummy and throw a line to it. His fellow crew members pointed out it was a dummy, and it can’t hear him or catch a line neither can it swim ashore. As luck would have it the wind blew the dummy to the shore and the enthusiastic crew member proceeded to lay it down and practice the “Kiss of life ” on it. Yuch!

On another occasion boat number one (with ladies on board) had successfully completed a nasty turn at a junction and reversed to moor up for lunch. Boat number two had their husband on board (with others) and they decide they would give them scores for the turn and reverse. The man on the tiller has had what was needed explained to him and has confirmed he understands and starts the turn. What a catastrophe, he crashes it into the side and jams across the junction. The instructor takes the boat back and explains again and the helm confirms he understands. Again a catastrophe. This happens again 4 or 5 more times. The disappointed ladies give up on scores. It’s not funny any more and the trainer takes the boat round and into the mooring.

One Sunday evening, our boat comes into its mooring at Braunston only to find a UCC hirer has put their boat in our mooring and vacated it. The LNBP helm for the Monday trip has arrived early so it is decided to move the UCC boat to its proper mooring and put our boat where it should be. We are manhandling the boat on ropes and one of our crew is walking along the gunwale of the boat in front pulling the front of offending boat. Suddenly he realises that the boat he is walking on has no more gunwale and calls out “I think I have a problem” before falling into the canal. We retrieve him but he is wearing a woollen jumper which now hangs around his ankles and the arms would fit a gorilla. I don’t think he kept the jumper.

As part of their skipper training the candidates have to do some route planning. They are told what sort of group they are with and the area they are in. One such hypothetical group was teenagers in Birmingham – some wonderful opportunities for them. One candidate spent ages working out a route but when he presented it, it turned out that he had moored right under the M5. When asked if he thought this was a good mooring, he said yes he thought it was. What activity are you planning for your teenagers he was asked. “They are going to study the architecture” was his reply. Oh! says the trainer and what will they do for the rest of the evening, then bearing in mind there is nothing in the area. They are going to write a report on it.  I suspect if this had been for real a riot or walk out would have ensued.

There are so many more I could recount but time and space restrict me.

What will you miss most about LNBP?

(CW) What am I going to miss. Boating – the lovely LNBP boats, seeing the countryside and meeting new groups and people. What am I not going to miss? The long journey up to the boats from home especially on a Friday evening and the long days standing on the back of the boat. Don’t forget I’m getting older now although I don’t like to admit it.

A huge thank you to Chris for taking the time to answer those questions and giving us an insight into his nearly four decades of service to LNBP.

On behalf of everyone at LNBP Community Boating, we wish you a happy retirement Chris and hope to see you again soon (which we’re sure we will)

The post Q & A with Chris Woodward appeared first on LNBP Community Boating.

We always love telling people about our wonderful canal networks and how we introduce people to them and the many benefits they provide.

So it was with great pleasure that we were invited to record an interview with Angela Wilson, one of the weekend morning presenters on Rugby and Daventry Community Radio, about what we do and to also touch on our 40th anniversary.

Nigel Smith, a face many of you are no doubt well acquainted with as one of our Project Skippers, Trustees and our Booking Officer, was in the proverbial hot seat for the chat with Angela.

With HM Government’s current lockdown restrictions thankfully easing and the life beginning to return to some level of normality, it was an ideal time to bring our canals and waterways into focus just as the delayed start to the boating season was about to get underway.

And without giving too much away, Nigel gave a great insight into our work, and a whole lot more!

To listen to Nigel and Angela in conversation and to some great music too, click the link HERE

• Following HM Government’s first stage out of the current lockdown restrictions, we are now able to welcome hire bookings of our two boats.

From today (12th April), we are able to accommodate self-steer hire bookings of two nights or more for single family household groups and their support bubbles.

For bookings from Monday 17th May, this is extended to two family households and support bubble groups permitted to hire either Lancelot or Guinevere, or even both.

In both cases, one or more members of the party must hold a CCBM (Certificate in Community Boat Management).

To find out more information including details of our special hire rates for household groups and support ‘bubbles’ and to make a booking, contact Nigel on 07976 406875 or email him at bookings@lnbp.co.uk

Alternatively, to make a booking, simply complete the online form below and we will be in contact shortly to confirm with you

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We are looking to gather together some personal memories from people that either have been or are still actively connected with LNBP of their time and experiences with the project.

Essentially we are hoping to pick up and collate stories and recollections to tell and share that were perhaps funny, sad, poignant, heart-warming or significant in some way; or just recollections of small special moments which have made people smile and think what they were doing was all worthwhile.

With that in mind, would you be interested to contribute in some way?

There’s no timescale or deadline for all of this; it is more of an ongoing work across the year.

So if you are interested to contribute and share some of your memories, we would love to hear from you whenever may be convenient.

And if you have any photos too, I would love to receive them as well.

To share your memories, any information and photos, contact Karl via email at marketing@lnbp.co.uk or call him on 07775 883102

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The Village Emporium has been delivering to local homes across parts of rural Warwickshire and Northamptonshire since 2005.

Some 30,000 copies of the free A5 colour lifestyle magazine are hand-delivered door to door every other month to villages and areas in and around the Warwickshire/Northants borders (see the map below to see where).

Despite the current lockdown restrictions and uncertainty over when our normal service of weekend or midweek residential holidays for community groups will resume, we have a lot to shout in 2021 with it being our 40^th anniversary. And due to success with our coverages in previous years, The Village Emporium is a great local and regional media in which to do so.

For their current edition, we have a double page spread which can be found on pages 80 and 81.

To read our coverage and download the January/February 2021 edition of The Village Emporium, click here

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