A MIDDLEWICH family business which builds and rents out a 16-strong fleet of luxury narrowboats began life 'completely by accident' more than half a century ago.
Though well known and respected within the boating fraternity, Andersen Boats is something of a hidden gem among the town’s landlubbers.
Started in the early 1970s by Norwegian marine engineer, Fred Andersen, the firm began as a simple boatyard on Wych House Lane servicing and repairing all manner of canal-going craft.
To keep busy when business was slow, the industrious Fred built two narrowboats from scratch, which he put up for sale in 1974.
Though unknown to him then, his timing left a lot to be desired.
That year, Harold Wilson’s new government introduced a new higher-rate Purchase Tax, a forerunner to VAT, which had a serious cooling effect on the market for luxury goods, including boats.
Unable to shift his creations, Fred had a lightbulb moment and began leasing them to holidaymakers, and Andersen Boats was born.
Fifty years on, the third generation of Andersens is still hard at work building and maintaining top quality narrowboats from scratch in Wych House Lane.
Fred died in 2025, and one year on, his grandchildren want to shine a light on his flourishing legacy which still lets them enjoy the life on the cut they were bred to.
Narrowboating has enjoyed a renaissance thanks to recent hit TV series including Robbie Cumming’s Canal Diaries and Great Canal Journeys with the late Prunella Scales and Timothy West.
Fred’s grandson, Dave Hough, shared what it is about canal life which makes families from all over the world travel to Cheshire for a slice of it.
“The real magic is you become a kind of country nomad, experiencing different villages and towns with all sorts of amazing vistas along the way,” he said.
“The engineering of the canals means you can see so much.
“You can literally be in totally different places every day, if that’s what you want.
“You only have to motor along for an hour from Middlewich and you'd think you’re in a completely different country. It’s like the middle of nowhere.
“One day you could be heading towards Shropshire climbing up a 36-lock flight, and the next travelling though one of our historic industrial areas, which have their own kind of magic.
“It might take you a week to complete a journey you could do in a couple of hours in a car, but it’s about the journey in what is basically your own unique, floating cottage.
“It is much more comfortable than a motorhome, and it’s absolutely nothing like camping.
“You’ve got everything you could need: full size cooker; shower/bath; bedding.
“And you can largely moor where you want, so long as it’s not at boatyards or on the approach to locks or turning points.
“You could be quite isolated if you want to, but you don’t have to be.
“If you want company, you can use official visitor moorings, or where there are other boats.
"People sit on the towpath and get their barbecues out.
“It’s a bit like going back in time. People are a lot more friendly on the cut."
Ryan Andersen, who spends much of his time in the workshop, said there are people who have lived in Middlewich all their lives who have no idea the business exists.
“I suppose it’s understandable,” he added.
“How often do most people really think about canals? All you can see from the road here is a little brown sign with a boat on it.
“Despite that, we are a part of the fabric of this town, and we bring in a lot of trade.
“On the network, people know our boats for their quality, and how well kept they are.
“It’s because we do literally everything ourselves. We’re all metal fabricators, carpenters, and mechanics.
“I think what keeps us strong is the fact we're a family company with a family dynamic. That’s what our hirers experience.
“They’re not going to be shown over the boat by someone who is paid a wage to do it.
“They’ll be shown around by the person who actually built it.
“We’re all very proud of what we do."
Neil Andersen says the whole family are keen narrowboaters and keep their own boat for private use.
He said: “As boaters ourselves, we know what makes it good, and we do everything we can to make sure our hirers get that experience too.
“The infrastructure around here is still very good.
“You could plan it so you can stop at a pub in the evening, whether that be on the canal side, or 10 or 15 minutes' walk down a country lane.
“The wildlife you see along the canals is incredible. We often see kingfishers, and even the odd terrapin now and again.
“So many customers tell us they have always wanted to do it, and they’ve only just got around to it.
“No hassle with the airports. Just get on the boat and off you go.”
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