About Freedom Boating Holidays
Freedom Boating Holidays was formed in 2007 by Andrew Banner and Darren Lewis; both experienced within the Norfolk Tourism industry. It's aim is to provide quality holidays aboard well appointed cabin cruisers on the Norfolk Broads without breaking the bank. Our value for money holidays are, in part, possible due to the conscious decision to not use one of the traditional booking agents, instead selling direct to the holiday maker and passing on the savings gained by not paying commission to an agent.
Although small, Freedom Boating Holidays' aim is to build a sizeable hire boat fleet quickly using quality cruisers that are entirely typical on the Norfolk Broads. Both Darren Lewis and Andrew Banner operate separate family businesses (DRL Marine and Norfolk Cottage Holidays respectively) that focus on good, old-fashioned service and it is their intention to bring this ethos to Freedom Boats.
The Norfolk Broads once hosted over 4000 hire boats and the area was awash with tourists throughout the year. That was in the 1970s and since then we've seen a steady decline in the number of boats and, indeed, the number of businesses. Today, there are fewer than 1000 hire boats and long running operators are closing their doors each season as competition from package holidays and cheap flights mounts. It is therefore surprising that Freedom Boating Holidays should want to risk investing in a new business.
"Freedom Boating Holidays is the small business answer to Norfolk Broads Holidays", says Andrew Banner. "Although not a native to Norfolk, I spent almost all of my childhood holidays on a hire boat on the Broads and was lucky enough to be able to move here in 2003. In my lifetime, I've seen the heyday of the industry in the 70s and the poor relation that it has now become. Many of the remaining operators are huge businesses with overheads to match and there is now space for a new, smaller business to enter the market, providing the same quality cruisers at a more advantageous price point".
"I've been in the Norfolk Boating industry in one way or another for over 20 years.", comments Darren Lewis. "In the early 1990s, I ran my own hire feet of 16 boats ranging in size from 2 to 11 berths. Since such times, I have been involved with Boat Building, marine insurance and now, back in charge of a riverside marina, I have the opportunity once again to operate a hire boat business. I look forward to the coming seasons and the ability to welcome newcomers to Norfolk so they can view it from the best possible position; the river."
