For those looking to get out and about, stretch their legs and explore Greater Manchester’s canal network, there’s no better motivation than the thought of a floating pizzeria and cafe waiting for you at the end.
Moored up somewhere along the Macclesfield canal, you’ll find just that. Known as The Waltzing Matilda, this charming sage green narrowboat travels up and down between Stockport and Cheshire – visiting different towns every weekend.
The floating pizza and coffee operation is run by father-son duo Paul and Chris. Chris is a professional chef who used to live in New Zealand, whilst his dad, Paul, is a seasoned traveller of the city’s canal network having lived the narrowboat life for some five years now.
Image: The Waltzing Matilda
Image: The Waltzing Matilda
Image: The Waltzing Matilda
Paul’s daughter Rebecca, or Spud, as he calls her, is also involved in the operation, baking their cakes – an essential component to pair with their freshly-ground coffee, we’re sure you’ll agree.
Inspired by a desire to be closer as a family and to connect more with their local community, they first got to work on setting up the boat in early 2021.
ADVERTISEMENT
More than a year later, the concept is a huge success – drawing people from all over Manchester to sample The Waltzing Matilda’s many wares.
When the weather is good, they put out seating on the two path so you can really get the full floating cafe experience.
ADVERTISEMENT
Father and son duo Paul and Chris pictured on their floating cafe, The Waltzing Matilda. / Image: The Waltzing Matilda
Paul said: “The Waltzing Matilda boat is a pizzeria and a coffee shop, it’s to serve the community, we think along the canals there’s not a lot of places for people to stop and enjoy the scenery, and have a great coffee.”
“The challenge we embrace is to create an area that invites all the community to stop, relax and appreciate the surroundings of the canal and everywhere we go. ”
ADVERTISEMENT
All the pizza here is cooked authentically – the dough stretched by hand, then fired in a wood-fired oven placed in the belly of the boat.
A ‘Swagman’ pizza coming out of the boat’s wood-fired oven. / Image: The Waltzing Matilda
Menu staples include ‘The Swagman’ with chorizo, nduja, fresh chilli, candied jalapeno and hot honey; the traditional ‘Proscuitto Crudo E Rucola’ with fresh chili, Proscuitto Crudo, Grana Padano cheese, fresh rocket and garlic oil; and all-time classics like Margherita, Pepperoni and Marinara.
Elsewhere, though, you’ll find a regularly-changing specials list. The latest? A pumpkin and sausage beauty, made with a pumpkin base, wild broccoli, Italian fennel sausage, red chilli jam and confit garlic oil. Mmm.
As for dips, think confit garlic mayo, nduja infused mayo and pesto mayo.
Image: The Waltzing Matilda
There are natural treats for your dogs, too, and on occasion, other vegan picnic bits and sweet treats for sale like non-pork pies, sausage rolls and Bakewell slices.
As the boat is always popping up at a different location, you’re advised to check their socials before planning a visit – they tend to announce where they will be two or three days in advance to give walkers and other keen pizza and coffee lovers some time to plan their visit.
Give The Waltzing Matilda a follow here to find out more – you won’t regret it.
Feature image – The Waltzing Matilda
News
Kevin De Bruyne confirms he is leaving Manchester City
Danny Jones
One of the Premier League’s best-ever players and a true Manchester City legend, Kevin De Bruyne, has confirmed he will soon be leaving the club.
Announced in a series of emotional social media posts on Friday, 4 April, the brilliant Belgian footballer will be calling time on his career at the Etihad Stadium come the end of this season.
Having spent a decade in the iconic blue of Man City, De Bruyne will undoubtedly go down as one of their all-time greats, having helped them to their first Champions League trophy during the Treble-winning year and a record four consecutive Premier League titles – of which he’s won six in total.
As you can see in the lengthy message shared on his social media, ‘King Kev’ informed City supporters that this current campaign will be his last in their colours, writing: “Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter.”
The 33-year-old, who has suffered from increasing injury problems over the last couple of years, goes on to say that “Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players we all know this day eventually come. That day is here – and you deserve to hear it from me first.”
In what is clearly a heartfelt and just as difficult a post for him to write as it is for fans to hear, he added: Football led me to all of you – and this city […] This will always be our HOME.”
Blues all over Greater Manchester and beyond will be heartbroken, but many won’t be completely shocked given his in-and-out
It’s a sad day to be a Cityzen, no doubt.
Speaking in the pre-match press conference ahead of the Manchester derby, manager Pep Guardiola said: “In the Premier League, he is one of the greatest midfielders in this country and top of the Club. Great, if not the greatest.
Manchester City will bid an emotional farewell to Kevin De Bruyne this summer when his contract expires, bringing an end to a glittering 10-year period at the Club 🩵
Although his talent will never come into question, it’s no secret that he’s struggled to stay fit and be as prolific a creator in Guardiola‘s side – though this is largely in contrast to his ridiculously high levels and just how much of a talisman he has been over the past 10 years.
Starting just 19 matches this season, he’s still managed to score four goals and register seven assists, but a recurring hamstring problem has seen game time limited.
Regardless, when he’s at his best, there’s no question about it: he’s the best player in the Premier League, and the club have promised to pay fitting tributes to their generational number 17.
With 106 goals to his name in 413 appearances – the first midfielder since Colin Bell to reach over a century – across all competitions for City, not to mention 118 assists in the Premier League alone, he’s been one of the most creative and, frankly, ingenious players on the planet for more than a decade.
Whether you’re a Blue, a Red or otherwise, no one can deny the joy of watching him play football. Thanks for the memories, KdB.
Featured Images — Brad Tutterow (via Flickr)/soccer.ru (via WikiCommons) Kevin De Bruyne (via X)
News
Prestwich’s regeneration plans take another step forward
Danny Jones
The regeneration plans being put forward for Prestwich have taken another step forward as a construction company has new been appointed to bring the vision of a new village centre to life.
With full planning permission for phase one of the redevelopment granted back in July 2024, it’s been pretty much full speed ahead on lining up one of Greater Manchester’s latest regeneration projects and adding more to what is already one of its best up-and-coming suburbs.
Prestwich Village Regeneration LLP are pumping over £100 million into developing the main square, and with Chroma Consulting having now passed on the baton to those erecting this new-look town centre, the joint venture between Bury Council and national ‘place maker’ Muse, work can soon begin.
You can see one of the first early renders down below:
CGIs of the new space around the Longfield Centre. (Credit: Supplied)
VINCI Building were officially appointed as construction partners last month, and with enabling works (surveys, ground investigations and so forth) now complete, the contractors are expected to get underway soon.
Additions to the vibrant new village centre will include a multi-storey Travel Hub, which will also see 301 new parking spaces, along with electric vehicle charging points, cycle storage and a car club. This will replace the Fairfax Road car park, which closed when the early stage began last December.
Beyond this, the Prestwich regeneration plans are set to include a community hub, library and flexible community space for arts and cultural events, a new Prestwich Health Centre; a fresh village square with ‘family-friendly social places’ and room for open-air markets, festivals and more.
A dedicated Prestwich Village Market hall will be the perfect place to house local retailers as well as food and drink vendors, not to mention a much better entry point into the village courtesy of plans to transform the “arrival experience from the tram” by integrating with surrounding green spaces.
Speaking of which, there will also be extensive landscaping in and around the village centre, with the existing fountain set to be removed and new public art installations created in its place.
A glimpse at the new Prestwich Village Market.An overview of all three phases.Credit: Supplied
Beyond the public spaces, over 200 new homes – which made up a big part of the initial application – are also included in the wider vision, with a mix of affordable housing and FTB (first-time buyers) properties.
Leader of Bury Council, Eamonn O’Brien, said of the latest developments: “We are thrilled to announce the next stage in this multi-million pound transformational regeneration scheme, which marks a significant step towards revitalising the heart of Prestwich Village and creating a vibrant, sustainable future for all.
“As well as enhancing local infrastructure, our ambitious plans will foster economic growth and improve the quality of life for the whole community.” A final completion date is yet to be confirmed, but work on the Travel Hub specifically is set to carry over into next year.
Exciting times are ahead for Prestwich. It’s not the only borough making plans for the next chapter and set for a bit of TLC.
Georgina Pellant -
22nd April 2022 
