Bookstore on barge is one hull of an idea

Tales from the riverbank could be coming to a canal near you with the opening of a floating bookshop.

The Great British waterways has its very own literary outpost in the West Midlands with the launch of The Book Barge.

The canal bookstore has opened near Lichfield, fulfiling a lifelong ambition for a Staffordshire woman. Moored at Barton Marina, Barton-under-Needwood, The Book Barge is the brainchild of Sarah Henshaw. She has transformed her 60ft narrowboat into a haven for book lovers wanting something different from high street chain stores with the help of her trainee carpenter boyfriend to help.

Sarah and her partner Stuart Dixon, aged 30, a former pupil at Chasetown Specialist Sports College, spent a week sailing their newly purchased cruiser stern narrowboat from Warwick to its new home.

English literature graduate Miss Henshaw said: "Opening my own bookshop was a childhood dream but I began to fear it would never come true. I didn't have the money to rent a high street shop.

"Then we came across Barton Marina and loved it, it's so pretty. But when I inquired about units there weren't any available."

The couple eventually came up with the inspired solution which meant they could set up shop in the place they had fallen in love with without forking out for a retail unit.

Miss Henshaw, who is originally from Christchurch Lane in Lichfield but now lives in Tatenhill, close to Barton Marina, said: "Lots of people have already come on and said it's an interesting idea, although it's a little cosy if there are a few customers at the same time.

"The stock is about two-thirds second hand and one-third new and I have kept it to fiction as the boat is a bit limited for space being so narrow.

"I very much want this to become the community bookstore, not just a gimmick, and the locals are being very supportive," she added.

The Book Barge will be open seven days a week between 10am and 5.30pm over the summer.

Miss Henshaw will also be introducing a book club, author signings and mother and toddler reading sessions.

For more information about the book barge visit the website at www.thebookbarge.co.uk or telephone 07946 605324.