Picture this: it's a warm summer's day and you and a group of your favourite people are calmly sailing down Upper Thames on a classic, vintage boat, clinking Champagne glasses as you admire the view.
Sounds like the perfect afternoon, doesn't it? Well, if you're organising a special occasion and want to create a unique expereince, look to the long-standing team at The River Boat Company, who can offer private river cruises on their collection of heritage boats.
Choose between two boats, starting with the Princess Marina, a 1920s motor yacht standing at 60ft and with a capacity of 45 people. Built by Fellows and Co in Great Yarmouth in 1928, the Princess Marina was even part of World War II when she was converted to a coastal patrol vessel. Since then, her heritage features have been preserved with renovations including sumptuous interiors, a dance floor area, space for private dining, DJ system and full bar.
Then, there's the Devon Belle, a Little Ship of Dunkirk, built in 1938 with a history spent mostly at sea. The River Boat Company has updated this entirely wooden boat with a beautiful top deck bar and a new saloon space on the lower deck, which is an atmospheric spot for dining and socialising. Here, you can enjoy live music, canapés and cocktails or why not go for the riverside BBQ option, which will take your guests to a picturesque locaiton where they can enjoy the Devon Belle as a floating bar, while the BBQ sizzles.
Each booking comes with your own set of crew and a private chef, with catering provided in house. As for your route, there are lots of options when it comes to steaming locations, and these can be adjusted depending on your event. Take a look at the website for all the information, with locations such as Shillingford, Caversham and many more.