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REVIEW: The floating pods at Tattenhall Marina, Cheshire

May 30, 2022

What I loved about it:

Nestled in the foothills of two of Cheshire’s famous Castles, Beeston and Peckforton, sits the peaceful Tattenhall Marina. Skirting the edge of The Ice Cream Farm, one of the region’s most popular attractions, you feel a million miles away from the busy crowds as you drive the narrow lane towards the water’s edge.

Tattenhall Marina is situated 9 miles south east of Chester, in the rolling Cheshire Plain, a short hop from the Shropshire Union Canal and the Sandstone Trail. Completed in 2009, Tattenhall Marina has 300 moorings with a chandlery, workshop, Boathouse Cafe, and Bar. As well as being the ideal place for avid boaters to settle, day boat hire can also be arranged as well as overnight stays in the quirky floating pods.

The six beautiful glass-fronted a-framed pods sleep 2 adults and 2 children with one pod also being dog friendly. Although compact the pods feature a living area with sofa bed and TV, a fully equipped kitchenette including an oven, toaster, kettle, and fridge/freezer, a shower room, and double bedroom. The pods also come with free Wi-Fi, Smart TV, and heating. For transparency, the Wi-Fi was unfortunately broken when we were there, but we were able to use it in the Boathouse Café.

Location:

Tattenhall, Cheshire CH3 9NE

Suitable for:

All ages (and dogs!)

Value for money (out of 10):

Website:

CLICK HERE

The floating pods at Tattenhall Marina, Cheshire

Bright and modern in style, and costing around £120 per night at weekends with a 2-night minimum stay – these floating pods offer a unique Cheshire mini-break option for couples, families, and those with dogs. Surrounded by water on all sides, the pods also have a deck area to watch the world go by and plenty of adjacent car parking. With direct access to the canal, the area will suit avid cyclists and walkers due to its proximity to various breathtaking walks as well as those looking to explore more of this part of Cheshire.

Onsite, The Boathouse Cafe and Bar serves all-day breakfasts from 10 am, alongside a lunch and evening specials menu. All the food is handmade and cooked to order with the bar staying open until 11 pm. Oliver and his team, including Trina behind the bar, are all so friendly and helpful with Carol cooking up a storm in the kitchen! Prices to dine are reasonable for a family of four – our evening meal cost around £45 including drinks and Breakfast was around £25.

Close by, the idyllic Cheshire villages of Tattenhall and Buwardsley are ideal to pick up amenities and take a wander around their pretty streets. With The Ice Cream Farm on your doorstep, general entry to the Willy Wonka-inspired playground can be obtained for £2.50pp with pre-booking advised. Picnics are welcome onsite as well as there being a huge ice cream parlour, Sticky Paws Restaurant, and various snack shacks dotted throughout.

For those hoping to keep costs down, our children equally enjoyed the wooden playground at Tattenhall and a visit to the nearby SPAR is a must. Head to the back of the shop and you can pick up plenty of local treats in their deli including Chatwin’s cakes. Nearby, The Pheasant Inn, Shady Oak, and Inn at Huxley are all recommended for lunch or evening meals. Poffee in Buwardsley and Alison’s Country Kitchen in Tattenhall are great choices for lighter bites.

REVIEW

This is a Girl About review. I was invited by the management free of charge in exchange for an honest and frank review. All my opinions are my own and in no way have they been swayed by their kind invite. Girl About reviews are always 100% honest. We only publish reviews that, for the most part, are positive.