All Aboard! Unlock Runcorn Prepare to Set Sail with New Boats, Voices, and Visitor Adventures
All Aboard! Unlock Runcorn Prepare to Set Sail with New Boats, Voices, and Visitor Adventures
[The voices of Runcorn’s new boats]
Anchors aweigh! Unlock Runcorn is making waves as preparations surge ahead for the launch of their much-anticipated boat trips along the historic Bridgewater Canal—just in time for summer. With the café plans also brewing nicely, the Canalside is fast becoming a vibrant hub of activity and heritage.
Behind the scenes, the Runcorn Locks Restoration Society (RLRS) has been hard at work transforming the visitor experience. Construction is well underway on two bespoke trip boats that will soon glide visitors from the heart of Runcorn to the serene grounds of Norton Priory, passing Wat Phra Singh Temple along one of five routes.
Crafted at Collingwood Dock, the boats are expected to be completed in the coming months. And thanks to a spirited community vote, they now proudly bear names rooted in Runcorn’s rich past—‘Aethel’ and ‘Fraeda’—a tribute to the town’s legendary founder and warrior, Æthelflæd.
But these boats won’t just float—they’ll speak! RLRS Communications Lead Stephen Holloran shared, “We’re passionate about involving the community at every stage. That’s why we held auditions to find the perfect voices for Aethel and Fraeda. These narrators will bring the canal’s history and local legends to life in a way that’s both personal and powerful.”
With the voices now cast, the team is collaborating on scripts that will guide passengers through centuries of local stories, ready to launch this summer.
“This is going to be a major visitor attraction for Runcorn,” said RLRS Chair Graham Wallace.
