Calcutt Boats Reviews 5

Extremely well run and very friendly company, felt very welcome from the off.
Thorough and relaxed approach on how the boat and locks operate.
The instructors stay with you until your confidant with the boat handling to allow you to continue with confidence and enjoy your holiday in very well equipped, well maintained and clean boat.
Easy free parking
Would very highly recommend

We had some issues with our boat during our hire, but the team dealt with it superbly - the customer service team are brilliant.

We will definitely return! The boat was well equipped, and the canal routes in the area were also lovely.

Had a wonderful time even with the a lot of the waterways closed off, and located in a lovely part of England, all the staff at Calcutt boats was extremely helpful
Would highly recommend booking with them again

Excellent and thoroughly professional service with the highest level of ethics and morals.
They are punctual and courteous.

On arrival everyone was super friendly, engergised and positive however our booked boat had broken down - it happens. I was given an available Royal Navy boat (Emma), which is looked after by the operator Calcutt Boats for the RN who use it for R&R and adventue training. It was very basic in style and construction and in no way compared to the boat that I had booked.

The top bunks were so narrow that an adult's shoulder hung over the edges. The toilet seat in the shower room was broken, the tap in the basin turned 360 degrees when the tap was turned on, the basin and shower tub were very yellowed and cracked. A curtain was damaged and hanging down. The oven did not work and would not get up to temperature to cook food which is fairly important on a self catering boat.

On returning the boat the Calcutt Boat staff could not have been less interested when I told them face to face the chap behind the counter simply said "Have you filled in a feedback form" and then blanked me every time I spoke to him about the issues, as in he did not even answer me! I wrote a formal complaint 7 days ago and to date they have not responded despite me receiving a delivery and read receipt.

It would be fair to say that not only the boat itself, but the way in which the staff resolutely failed to engage with me marred the whole hiring experience for what was an (expensive) special occasion celebration for the family. Calcutt Boats - your customer engagement is very seriously lacking!

Update 19/06/25.

Following some posted reviews and an email to Calcutt directing to them to the reviews, I have received an unconditional apology, acknowledgement of my concerns and a proposed resolution from the senior manangement team. This has improved my final outlook on the experience, but it really should not have gone so far in the first place.