Pirate Jane

Hi to everyone who has contributed to this thread, Again many thanks to you for offering advice, support and information. Yesterday I met up with someone from BW and looked at locations and discussed the business plan. It was a very successful meeting and I think that having been on this forum really helped because I was able to put forward different views on the matter (positive and negative). Fingers crossed the future of my floating cafe looks good. Cheers again and hoping you all have a wonderful year. Jane

I have just signed the e-petition. Why spend loads of money on something like this at the expense of local infra-structure? Jane

Cheers Mac of Cygnet, you just made me smile! As for my positive nature well here is the story. My life completely changed last year when my dad developed a brain tumour and I had to cancel opening my business ( the medieval campsite in France) and chose to look after my dad until he died in May. He was an inspirational character enjoying his life to the full, he kept this way in spite of everything until the very end. I couldn't open my business due to all of this and consequently lost the ability to earn a living from it so quickly sorted out selling it (at a huge loss but never mind). Because of all this we ended up living in a small caravan and with the money remaining I have bought an old narrow boat with which to start my little business. I have a wonderful husband who I am crazy about, good friends and lots of brilliant "small things" to be so very grateful for, so that is why I am so happy. I realised last year that life can change so dramatically when you are least expecting it and it doesn't matter what bad things might happen to me, it's the way I deal with those bad things that counts. My new years resolution has been to make the most of every single day and not do anything that makes me feel ashamed of myself and so far on day 11 I have kept to it! I welcome any negative comments because they actually challenge me more than the positive ones! Having said that the positive ones really spur me on! I really hope that my little narrow boat cafe comes into fruition because despite what some people have said about me not offering anything to boaters or the local community, I believe that I have got something to offer, and that is me! ... and of course delicious food and believe me vegetarian food can be amazing! My little narrow boat cafe will make a difference to the community because what I like to do the most is make people feel happy and everyone who comes on board my cafe will know they will get a genuinely warm welcome. Cheers Jane

Hi again to everyone! Still can't believe how many people are reading and writing on this thread! Thank you for your support. I was joking when I said that the next debate would be vegetarianism! Believe me I don't wish to say to any of you meat eaters that you should stop doing what you like...eating meat! Honestly Stickleback you can eat as many black puddings and kidneys as you like... in fact you can have my share too! Apart from the sensible people who have run a catering business and realise that I will be limiting my profit I really do not want to start discussing what I have decided to sell in my cafe, that was not the point of the discussion at all. If you have been keeping up with the thread, I am most grateful for all the advice and comments that I have received, it is all "food for thought"! Anyway the man from BW has just offered to meet up with me in my desired location (my home town) tomorrow (yee ha) and so I am looking forward to that. Finally to Nina, what a star you are... I have been inspired by your messages and thanks for sticking up for me . Your business sounds amazing and I like your courage to stick up for what you believe in. Cheerio for now. Jane x

Hi John Your advice is useful so thanks for all the info. Well done to you for creating a successful enterprise. (Is it a floating cafe too? If so please can I stay in touch with you? You are right there are a million things to consider but I am up for the challenge. The good news today is that BW want to meet up with me at Hebden Bridge some time soon so watch this space! Happy New Year. Jane

Hi Laurie My daughter Sacha and son in law Ben live on a narrow boat on the Thames (not actually Henley) but near Hampton Court. Ben is actually the ferry man on the Thames. They are great people and have been there a long time. Why not email Sacha saying that her mum told you her address and ask them if they can help at all. sachamorgan@yahoo.co.uk Hope this helps and have a lovely day. Jane

Hi me again! Amazingly enough I have just had another email from BW... please see below Things are looking up! I will let you all know the outcome of the meeting and I have let BW know about your comments too so thanks again. Jane x BW said: I’m sorry that you feel we are hindering your plans. This isn’t our intention, but we would like to make you fully aware that your enquiry isn’t straightforward to deliver and to avoid you investing in the project without that knowledge. Rather than send e-mails back and forth, I suggest we meet in Hebden Bridge in the next couple of weeks to look at the issues on the ground. Please let me know if that would help you and which dates and times would suit you? I look forward to hearing from you. Cheers Nina Love your attitude too! We are only on day 10 of a brand spanking new year and I am going to make the most of every single day of the rest of it. Jane x

Hi again, tis me! WOW I cannot believe how many people have read my thread and posted messages. What a brilliant start to the new year! Especially nice to hear from a couple of local folk...Colin and the Tod bod... when people have been saying have I done my homework about the area, the bit they don't know is how the people of sticky valley stick together Especially to Colin... I am sorry if I am treading on your toes, you have been so nice about it all and yes it would be good to meet up with you and maybe we can work around each other! Some of the advice has made me smile because for some reason some of you (definitely not all of you!) seem to think that I haven't been looking into anything at all ( do I not come over as serious or something?!!) Yes I have worked in cafes on and off for a long time and yes I have had my own small business (medieval campsite in France which was fab until I married my good old northern bloke and returned to the county of my birth 3 years ago!)yes I enrolled on food hygiene course, yes I have spoken to environmental health and am getting advice about regulations, yes Pam who owns Gongoozlers has chatted to me lots by email ( ps she is doing a brilliant job, she is a great inspiration ) as for layout, yes I have thought about the lack of space ( it is only a 55 foot boat so is bound to have a few limitations! please see Gongoozlers website for .)Yes I have contacted the local planning department and yes I understand that one space will be lost if I start up ( really sorry about that... don't all rush to Hebden Bridge at once pleeeeese!) yes there will be more congestion on the footpath... (hopefully for me...isn't much problem with that at the moment!) no people wont be able to sit in chairs outside on the tow path but they could plonk their bums on the park after they have bought a cuppa and sandwich from me!) re: bill boards... there is a bridge that could have one on should planning department allow it and no it wouldn't obstruct anyone or trip them over! and finally YES I agree with the positive ones on this thread... LIVE YOUR DREAMS... we are only here for a short while and only get one go at enjoying ourselves and making other people happy whilst we are here... I love hearing all your advice and info...THANK YOU x Finally to put the cat among the pigeons... sorry no bacon butties ... totally vegetarian (cannot justify buying dead animals to feed people with...) and will do tempe or halloumi butties or an omlette for breakfast instead... oh no you have all gone off the idea now! Maybe todays debate can be vegetarianism... only joking hee hee!

Heh just want to say THANK YOU to everyone who has replied today. Yes I can see all your points and it all helps to make my future plans more clear. I can't believe that so many of you have found the time to read and send messages. Just goes to show how wonderful the boating community are. If I end up getting permission I will let you all know and you can come and have a free treat on me for helping me get the idea off the ground and into the water hee hee

Cheers Nina, Yes the red tape bit is making me go round in circles. I had my own business by the way ( the medieval campsite in France) yes different from a floating cafe but it was a success and I enjoyed every minute of it. I am 47 so yes still young....ish! My next step is to moor my boat at Hebden and gather together as much support as I can. Your comments have really helped me and can perhaps count as extra research!Cheers Jane

Cheer for your time Mayalid In answer to your questions. 1. The tow path is next to a park that does not have a cafe so all the visitors to the park, parents and toddlers, teenagers using the skate ramps, walkers along the tow path and boaters will wish to come to my floating cafe for drinks and snacks. The other shops and cafes are set in the town centre, not along the canal. 2.By not having a fixed location, a sign can say "come and find me" and have an arrow pointing in either direction and encourage people to walk down the tow path to find me. Or having a fixed location will encourage people to come and find me as it is something unusual in this area. Lots of people would like the opportunity to come and see what a narrow boat is actually like and when they find out how friendly I am (!!!!) they will definitely want to come aboard again. 3.Research has been to talk to people who are living on the canal. They love the idea and welcome me setting up. 4.The times are flexible, as said before I don't wish to inconvenience other people. I assume that if people want to start to moor up for their evening meal then I would have to leave by 5.30 ish however in the winter I would like to provide a "dish of the day" so would want to stay open later. 5.The tow path would not be getting full because I will be only selling snacks and drinks that are quick and easy to provide and most of the trade would be take away as I will only have space on board for 10 people. 6.Parking is in town. I think that people would be visiting Hebden Bridge town and also the canal during the same visit. Also some people will have come down into the valley from the many walks that surround us. 7.I would be disposing it all in the recycling centre myself every day. 8.There will be a hatch from which to sell takeaway items and space for 10 seats inside. Please let me know what your concerns would be about the tow path usage. Again many thanks, all this is very helpful. Jane

Hi Nina Thanks for your reply. Yes I agree that BW aren't business advisors and I think they just said that I should do more research to try to put me off! Lots of people are doing similar things as this but not in this area and I have had lots of advice from them, the trouble is all of them either started their business before The days of BW or started their business without permission and fought to get permission afterwards. As for the idea, i have thought about it for 2 years, I am from a family of boat dwellers and I have worked in the hospitality industry since 2006 running a medieval campsite and work in a cafe at the moment. Hopefully you are right and I just need to be patient and get lots of people keen on my idea