Did you know that one of the best ways to see the City of Stories is from the River Wensum? Paddling peacefully alongside wildlife, beneath wide open skies and weeping willows, not to mention past historic sights and with a stop or two at Norwich’s waterside pubs!
Thanks to Pub and Paddle, both locals and visitors alike can discover this new perspective of our fine city. Whether you’re whiling away your weekend canoeing between Norwich and the Broads or enjoying a paddle, pint and pizza after work on a summer evening.
As Pub and Paddle celebrate their 10th anniversary, we spoke to co-owners Nick and Chantal about the allure of getting out on the water.
You’ll find Pub and Paddle on Elm Hill Quay
Our one-way routes are probably the thing that makes us unique – we offer a few trips where you can start in Norwich and paddle downstream for a half or full day without needing to turn back on yourself. You can keep floating down the river and we will collect your boat from the end point! (It’s down to you to make your own way back!)
We enable you to explore the city by water. We have a lovely river that runs through our fine city, and by getting out on it you will see Norwich from a completely different perspective! We offer kayaks and canoes and also rowing boats which are great for families
Absolutely, and most locals are very surprised when they hop into a canoe or kayak and view the city from the Wensum.
You may have walked along the river hundreds of times or crossed the bridges on your way to work and back every single day, but you’ll be amazed how different it all looks when you view it from the water! You’ll also be surprised how quiet and tranquil the river can be, and how beautiful it is once you paddle out of the city and make your way towards Thorpe St Andrew and the countryside beyond.
Paddle past local landmarks like Cow Tower
So many! Norwich is full of history and beautiful landmarks. There are all our wonderful old bridges, Cow Tower, Pull’s Ferry, the lovely colourful houses of Quayside, Norwich University of the Arts, the old Bullard and Sons Anchor Brewery… Even Riverside is fun to check out from the water!
Our river is very calm and quiet compared to other places on the Broads. It’s perfect for beginners and offers plenty of interest for everyone.
I’ve always loved woodworking and when I was in my early 20s, I was priced out of the market when looking to buy a wooden canoe – so I went on a course and learned to make my own! What then started as a little side job, making the odd canoe here and there, quite quickly turned into a proper business as the demand for affordable wooden canoes increased
I now focus on making the canoes during the winter when Pub and Paddle is closed, and after a busy season, it’s brilliant to be able to shut myself away in the workshop and purely focus on making them.
There’s no better way to get a different perspective on the city
The canoes are made using the ‘stitch and glue’ method, which helps to keep the cost down as it’s a relatively quick way to build a wooden boat.
I start by cutting out the individual panels of wood which I then stitch together, and at this point the canoe starts to take shape. I then fibreglass the wood to make it rigid and watertight. Once this is done, I add the trim, seats and deckplates. The final step is varnishing the boat. Sometimes customers ask to have custom names or logos added which is always fun and makes their canoe very unique!
This year is our 10th anniversary- it’s actually at the end of summer, as we officially opened in October 2015. We’re very excited about it and looking forward to celebrating this milestone with our customers. We may add some more routes, but our main objective is always to just keep doing what we’ve been doing for the past 10 years- helping people have a wonderful day out on the Wensum exploring our beautiful city and the Norfolk countryside beyond!
Pub and Paddle celebrate their 10th anniversary in October! You can find them at Elm Hill Quay, next to the Ribs of Beef on Fye Bridge, between April – October. Pub and Paddle offer kayaks, canoes and rowing boats (ideal for families). With 4 routes available, lasting between 2 – 7 hours, from £14pp, book your route via their website!
