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Boat Hire

A boat on the River Great Ouse outside The Kingfisher pub with rooms.
Here at The Kingfisher we are delighted to announce the return of Badger, our electric boat. We're looking forward to getting you back out on the water for another season of cruising the River Great Ouse.

Welcome Aboard!

Available for hourly hire, Badger is a fully electric open top Ruban Bleu boat focussed on absolute comfort. With a capacity of up to 6 sailors it is perfect for a friends or family get together, a romantic cruise or a fun filled team building activity.

Badger features a sun awning for those glorious summer days, spent ‘simply messing about in boats’.

Boat hire is subject to availability

Boat Hire

HOURLY BOAT HIRE

This is for self drive boat hire and includes fuel, lifejackets, on boat training and insurance

£60 per hour

 

WEDDING DAYS

Enhance your wedding day with picturesque images on our boat on the River Great Ouse. This includes a skipper and a bottle of chilled Prosecco, with an hour’s cruise

£120 per hour

 

GROUP ADVENTURES

For friends, family or colleagues you won’t find a better activity! This is self drive boat hire and includes an iced bucket of 4 beers and 4 soft drinks

£100 per hour

Wind In The Willows Break

Here at The Kingfisher we are delighted to offer a fantastic boating break. Come and stay riverside and enjoy the following;

  • An hour’s boat hire sailing down the River Great Ouse, in our very own boat, Badger, a fully electric open top Ruban Bleu boat focussed on absolute comfort. Training, lifejackets and insurance included!
  • A Wind in the Willows Afternoon Tea – served in the stylish surroundings of The Kingfisher
  • An overnight stay in a Double or Twin room
  • The best breakfast in Bedford before your journey home – a selection of freshly cooked dishes and Continental

This break is priced at only £199 per room – but hurry, boating bookings are limited!

Subject to availability this offer is based upon two people sharing a Double or Twin room. Upgrades to King rooms are £20 supplement per night and upgrades to Suites are from £40 per night. A special vegan afternoon tea is available. Available on Thursdays to Mondays only, from Friday 20thMarch until Monday 28th September inclusive. Prices include VAT.

Something to sip

A bottle of chilled Prosecco and up to 6 glasses – £32

An iced bucket of 6 soft drinks – £25

An iced bucket of 6 beers – £40

Drinks packages are available to enjoy on board throughout your boat hire.

Boat Hire FAQs

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A Kingfisher update: 

We’re making a small change to keep our chefs comfortable in the heat. From tomorrow until Friday, the kitchen will be closed between 3pm and 5pm each day. 

All existing bookings are unaffected, and we’ll be back as normal outside of those hours. 

Thank you for bearing with us 😊
New summer rule: if the boat isn’t included, we’re not interested. 

There’s something about being on the river. It just makes sense. 

You bring the company - we’ll provide the post-sail food and drink 👀

📍 The Kingfisher, Bedford
We are absolutely chuffed with this one 🥈 

Last night, we were named Runners Up in the Bedford’s Best Business category of the Bedford @smeawardsuk which is the very same category in which we took the gold home last year! 

To be listed in the top 2 businesses that Bedford has to offer (for 2 years now!) is a genuine honour, and we are feeling very proud today. 

This is in no small part thanks to the incredible team behind us, so thank you team - you are wonderful! 

A huge congratulations to all of the finalists in the category 🏆 

#SMEBeds @thebedfordshirechamber @smeawardsuk
We are delighted to share that we will be showing all of the early evening kick offs for this year’s FIFA World Cup, out on The Jetty. 

The games will be show on our brand new TV screen. 

With drinks and food on tap, and the biggest sporting event in the world on show, there really is no better place to be. 

See you there 🍻 

(Please note this will be weather dependant given the current state of torrential rain 🌧️ In the event of bad weather, we will also be showing the games in the bar)
The perfect way to spend an evening in Bedford this summer 🚤 

📍 The Kingfisher, Bedford

Join us for a summer of boating, eating and drinking. What’s not to love?
Your summer plans just got a whole lot more exciting 😆

Stay with us between 24th July and 31st August and save 20% on the below rates:

🛏️ Bed & Breakfast

🍽️ Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

Book your stay via the link in bio 

T&Cs apply
Forget WFH, WFP is the latest upgrade 💻 

Laptop optional. Riverside view guaranteed. 

Book a table via the link in bio…
Consider this a formal invitation ✉️ 

Boat hire is here, and the weather could not be looking more perfect for it. 

We’re ready when you are…