A canal boat that serves the likes of Neapolitan pizzas and sweet treats along the waterway near Stockport is set to appear on a new Channel 4 series. Narrow Escapes is a 20-part series which follows the lives of people who have swapped their homes of bricks and mortar for a new life on the water, including The Waltzing Matilda.
Founded by father-son duo Paul and Chris – Chris being a professional chef and Paul being a long-time resident of Macclesfield’s canals – the quaint narrowboat serves up authentic-style Neapolitan pizzas, alongside chocolate brownies, muffins, cookies and huge slabs of Rocky Road – all of which can be washed down with iced coffees and loaded hot chocolates.
The Waltzing Matilda has previously popped up in different locations from Stockport to Macclesfield and everywhere in between and plan to reopen soon for the warmer months. The floating pizzeria serves up a small variety of different pizzas, including the classic Margherita, pepperoni, prosciutto, vegan cheese and even spicy ‘nduja.
Announcing the news of being on Narrow Escapes, the owners of Waltzing Matilda said: “We are so excited to announce that we’ll be featuring in ‘Narrow Escapes’, a new TV show following the lives of people from all walks of life, as they travel, live and work from narrowboats, across the waterways of the UK! The first episode will air on Channel 4 on Monday 29th April and the show will go out on weekdays at 4pm! For those who can’t wait for more – the first full week will also be streaming immediately online.”
The Channel 4 programme Narrow Escapes interacts with people who call the waterways – the UK’s canal network – home. Whether it be retirees looking for freedom, young people searching for an affordable alternative to the cost-of-living crisis, newlyweds, families or divorcees, the show will introduce viewers to a new and vibrant community made up of people from all walks of life, ages and backgrounds.
The show will follow continuous cruisers to business owners operating from their boats and the workers and volunteers on land who maintain the waterways, giving a snapshot of modern life on the canals as well as the wildlife on the water. On episodes of Narrow Escapes, viewers will see the realities of canal life, from emptying loos to the rules, costs and practicalities of narrow boating, as well as looking after pets, doing some narrowboat DIY, throwing parties and waving to towpath gawpers.
Look out for The Waltzing Matilda on Narrow Escapes which airs on Channel 4 from April 29 at 4pm.