The Water Gypsy Boat Cafe to open on canal in Wiltshire

Polly Halpin, a boat dwelling entrepreneur and foodie based in the Devizes area, will be launching The Water Gypsy Cafe on a renovated wide beam canal boat.

The business sets sail on Friday, March 15, at the Devizes Marina, when the first customers board the new premises.

Ms Halpin will then launch the vessel on a trip down the Kennet and Avon Canal towards Bath, stopping at numerous towns and villages along the way between now and autumn.

Locals have already registered their enthusiasm for the new cafe, and Ms Halpin is fully booked until the end of March.

She said: “I’m overjoyed by the fantastic response I’ve had so far, it’s been amazing, you never know what the response will be like until you do it so it’s encouraging.

Inside the boat cafe (Image: Polly Halpin)

“I think people are wanting to get back to a more intimate dining space and this is something a little bit different.

“This is where I want to be, and I want to provide something special and different for people in a unique setting that they can enjoy with their friends.”

Ms Halpin bought The Water Gypsy boat in September 2021 and has since been refurbishing it while also learning how to manage and maintain the vessel and cruise single-handedly.

Prior to starting the business, she had run a bar and restaurant in Ibiza and worked for hotel chains before settling into an office job.

But following the pandemic she decided to turn her dream of working on the water into a reality.

Ms Halpin added: “After lockdown a lot of people did a lot of soul searching… a sense of urgency started to emerge that was irrepressible.

“I was working in an office but had always thought about living and working on the canal because I was intrigued by the lifestyle.

“I also had a passion for cooking and hosting so I put the two together and it’s been a labour of love.”

Polly Halpin (Image: Polly Halpin)

The boat will cruise along the canal and customers will be informed of the cafe’s exact location after making a booking enquiry.

This will include locations like Devizes, Semington, Bradford on Avon, Bathampton and Bath.

The boat fits between eight and ten diners and can be booked for events.

Ms Halpin will provide tapas-style grazing boards, and also has a license to serve alcohol, while coffee, cake and soft beverages are some of the daytime options.