Floating cafe is now booming after dreams ran into troubled water

MARINA EATERY MAKES OUR SHORTLIST OF TOP FIVE CAFES

- By OSCAR FISHER

A DERBYSHIRE couple whose dreams of starting a boat trip service near a shopping hotspot were halted by the pandemic have told how their fortunes changed in recent years after hatching a clever idea.

Christopher Dean and Kim O'Sullivan purchased their 71ft narrow boat in 2020 with plans of opening a tea room that offered tours around Mercia Marina.

But just weeks later, their plans were shattered by coronavirus. However, unlike businesses around the county, their status as a new venture prevented them from taking government grants and support. They were left with nothing but a big boat and the need to hatch a plan.

The pair, who both live in Derby, knew they needed to take advantage of the two activities we all rushed to following lockdown - the outdoors and takeaway food.

So they got to work on their little boat, and Boat Street Cafe was born.