A former nurse quit her job to pursue her dream of opening a quaint narrowboat café. Tucked away in the quiet spot that is Droylsden Marina, The Safari Narrowboat Tea Room sits just 12 customers at full capacity, and is run by mother and son duo Maria and Philip.
Owner Maria Smart knew she had to change her job at a private nursing home, which often saw her working long and gruelling hours. She decided she wanted to open a tea room on a canal boat, after spending years holidaying in one on weekends with her husband.
The mum, 54, took the plunge and is now a thriving success along with her chef son, becoming a top spot for dog walkers and cyclists alike, with many customers travelling from all over the country for an afternoon tea or warming cup of coffee.
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Speaking to the Manchester Evening News , Maria said: "I trained for three years to be a nurse in 2004 and was working in the sector for 14 years at a private care home in Manchester. It was very stressful and rarely had time for myself.
"Me and my husband used to own a narrowboat and went out on it on weekends and for small holidays whenever we had time off. Once I had given up nursing, I knew I wanted to do something different and decided to open a tea room.
"I knew if I just bought a shop on the high street, we would be the same as everybody else. We wanted it to be something a little bit different, offering people a quiet space to come at the marina."
Maria's son Philip, who worked as a chef in Manchester previously, now prepares the food at the waterside cafe, with Maria holding up the front of house role. Philip also has more time for himself, and now no longer works long night shifts.
Despite only seating 12 people inside the cosy narrowboat, on summer days customers can make the most of outside tables and chairs beside the marina. Their menu offers various afternoon teas, homemade cakes, sandwiches and even alcoholic beverages.
They had only been open for 18 months when the pandemic came crushing down on the business, forcing them to close for two months. Shortly after, they were able to reopen again for takeaway orders - but now the Safari Tea Room is back in full swing.
"I knew I wanted to open a cafe because I love all the little quaint things, like the teapots, knives and forks, fine china. I run the front of house and my son cooks all the food and we run it together," Maria said.
"People come from all over to visit us. We have gotten quite popular through word of mouth but we also get a lot of dog walkers, cyclists and walking groups who didn't know we were even there.
"We offer hen parties, baby showers, birthday parties and other events. People really appreciate how unique and different we are, and how its so quiet despite being so close to Manchester. It's calm and quiet, and such a lovely set up."
The Safari Narrowboat Tea Room is open from Wednesday to Sunday every week from 9am - 3pm, except for on Fridays, when they close at 2.30pm. It can be found just off Manchester Road, on Lock Keepers Court. More information is available on their Facebook page.
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