A boat with charm, chaos, and curtains older than some of our crew.
Mark, who definitely said “We’ll just have a quick look” and then immediately took 87 photos.
Bramble — proving that every boat has a story, and some of them come with decorative curtains you’ll never emotionally recover from.
Today was our first proper nose around Bramble — the newest, smallest, most secretly charismatic addition to The Hideout Collective fleet. She’s not ours officially until 1 January 2026, but now that the deposit’s down, she’s basically in that “we’ve already fallen for her but don’t tell her yet” phase.
She sits tucked along the canal like a friendly neighbour who’s lived there forever. Deep green sides. Cream lining. A roof full of mysterious items that look like they’ve each lived three separate lives. Solar panels doing their best. A tiny table on top, presumably for alfresco tea or dramatic monologues.
Inside? Well. Bramble is a treasure chest — in the sense that you open it and think, “My god, who built this? And why?” But in a good way.
The main cabin greeted us with carpet that’s seen more winters than any of us, a row of copper kettles lined up like tiny metal soldiers, and mirrored cupboards that made the space feel bigger while also making us question reality. There are enough hats on the wall to outfit a small country, and enough shoes to outfit the neighbouring one.
The kitchen is a proper throwback: patterned curtains covering the under-sink storage, a white gas cooker that’s determined to keep going, and a sink area with exactly the kind of personal touches you’d expect from someone who’s lived on board for years. Lived-in, loved, practical — and absolutely begging for a Hideout makeover.
Further in, the bedroom’s compact, warm, and packed tight. Coats and jackets hang everywhere — it looks like a miniature backstage area at a winter fashion show. The sleeping bunk is narrow, tidy, and surprisingly cosy looking. You can tell it’s been someone’s safe space.
The bathroom is a mix of newer blue tiling, marble-effect wall panels, and a well-used portable loo perched above the shower tray like it’s trying to see over the crowd at a concert. Functional, yes. Aesthetic? Not yet. Potential? Massive.
And then there’s the bow cabin — complete with a little stove, a copper-lined section of wall, and a doorway that feels like stepping between two worlds: outside chaos to inside warmth. The floor here has that classic patchy-painted “I’ve survived storms, leaks, and probably an argument or two” look — which, honestly, just means she’ll appreciate the love when we give it.
Gallery
Bramble isn’t flashy. She’s not pretending to be anything she’s not. She’s all honesty: solid bones, quirky choices, years of history, and a lived-in charm that hits you before you even step through the door.
She’s exactly the sort of boat The Hideout Collective is built for.
Not a blank canvas — a real one.
One that carries someone’s past, and is about to carry someone else’s second chance.
More to come as we welcome her officially on 1 January 2026. For now, she’s ours in spirit — and judging by today’s first look, she’s already smiling about it.