Location of ABNB

In 2021 we moved into our purpose-built boat sales area within North Kilworth Marina. Based at Crick for over 20 years the move to North Kilworth provided better facitilies for the modern boat buyer and seller, and helped to improve our level of service; the marina offers onsite facilities to ensure a fast turnaround for buyer and seller alike.

We continue to run the company in much the same way as it has always been run; maintaining its excellent standard of operation providing a friendly, professional service, second to none.

The current ABNB team, with varying levels of boating experience, encompasses all aspects of the cut and it is difficult to envisage an area of the canal world in which we wouldn't be able to offer constructive advice and support - be it realising your dream of owning a boat or hanging up your windlasses.

When Andy & Christine retired in 2004, they sold the company to Paul & Lesley Mudie who continued to run ABNB in much the same manner - why mend something that isn't broken! Paul & Lesley lived on a narrowboat on site, were still hands-on and employed additional staff to assist both at Crick and when inspecting craft. Sadly Lesley died. In 2009, two new directors were appointed - Paul & Sheila Smith whose boating experience and expertise have been well proven - putting the 'new' company in a strong position to move forward into the new decade. In 2011, ABNB acquired the lease for Crick Wharf, NN6 7XT, on the Grand Union Leicester Section, offering quiet and secluded moorings. Paul Mudie retired in 2013, for new ventures in Scotland. Justin Green, bringing a wealth of knowledge in the inland marine field to the team, joined the company in 2016, with his wife Emma joining in 2018.

ABNB is now in the ownership of Paul & Sheila Smith and Justin & Emma Green.

As the business grew, Andy resigned from Waterways World and concentrated full time on building the Andy Burnett Narrowboat Brokerage into a thriving business to the point where an office with full time staff was needed and Crick Wharf became the home of ABNB. Paul & Lesley Mudie were employed by Andy & Christine Burnett to staff the office at Crick Wharf and soon ABNB was firmly established as a leading broker of quality boats. In April 2013 ABNB expanded and added further staff to cope with the demand. To provide a better experience for buyers & sellers, the base was moved to new offices within North Kilworth Marina in 2021.

ABNB started life as the brainchild of Andy Burnett whilst he was the Technical Editor of Waterways World, the popular magazine still at the forefront today. In the early 1990's brokers would only sell boats that were taken to their sales base but many vendors were reluctant to abandon their pride and joy, even though they were selling. Andy Burnett Narrowboat Brokerage pioneered and perfected selling boats from their home moorings, which enabled the vendors to participate in the sales process - an opportunity welcomed by many.