Avon Boating Ltd — Local services in Stratford-on-Avon

I recently booked a private boat with Avon Boating to scatter my Nan's ashes on the River Avon, and I cannot thank them enough for providing such a perfect, respectful, and smooth experience during a difficult time.

Our party was quite large of 25 family members plus a Buddhist monk, and the two gentlemen managing our boat were incredibly welcoming and accommodating from the moment we stepped aboard. They handled our large group with ease and professionalism.

What stood out the most was their profound respect for our ceremony. Throughout the monk's prayers and the entire scattering ceremony, they were completely quiet and unobtrusive, giving us the space and peace we needed to honour my Nan without any interruption. Their sensitivity and understanding meant the world to us.

A small note for future customers, there are several boats companies in the area. We had initially thought we'd booked the one that serves tea and coffee, but it turned out we had booked with a different company that was unable to provide this service. When we realised the mix up, the team could not have been kinder or more flexible. They immediately gave us the option to cancel without charge or to bring our own food and hot drinks aboard. This fair and understanding approach removed all stress from the situation, and we were very happy to bring our own refreshments.

Throughout the trip, they also took safety very seriously, clearly advising us on how to stay safe on the water, which was reassuring for everyone.

It was a beautiful, sunny, serene, and perfect send off for my Nan, and a large part of that is thanks to the compassionate and professional team at Avon Boating. Thank you so much for helping us give her the farewell she deserved. I would highly recommend their services to anyone looking for a meaningful way to...

Disappointing Experience with Rude “Office Manager”

unpleasant experience with the “manager of the office” (not sure his role anyway. was presented like that) of a boat service. While the boat itself was satisfactory (ok tbh), the customer service I received was abysmal, primarily due to the manager’s rudeness making faces while I just wanted a simple and correct refund.

I needed a refund due to the lack of a “document” that the boat service was supposed to provide and never provided to me. Despite having my receipt and all necessary proof for the refund, the “manager” did not make any effort to sort out in a polite/human/empathetic way.

Lack of customer service. His behavior clearly indicated that he did not care about the customers or the quality of service his company provides.

In conclusion, while the boat itself was acceptable, the bad customer service from the “manager” made the overall experience disappointing. I would...

Disappointing Experience: Unfair Assumptions

As a group of three sober and respectful males, we recently attempted to rent a boat from Avon boating. Despite presenting ourselves as responsible individuals, we were initially denied the rental (by a strawberry blond male employee) due to concerns about our "group dynamic." It was incredibly disheartening to be stereotyped based on our appearance and gender.

To add insult to injury, we later returned and were able to rent the boat from a different employee. This inconsistency in treatment raises serious questions about the company's judgment and customer service standards. It's unfortunate that such discriminatory practices are still prevalent in today's world.

I would strongly recommend that prospective customers be aware of this potential issue and consider alternative options for their...