Hundreds of events take place each year and we consider the needs of other visitors, check for clashes with other events or maintenance works and make sure all events are planned safely.
If you'd like to plan an event on our waterways, please fill out our online application form. We recommend submitting your event application at least three months prior to the scheduled event date. This allows sufficient time for your application to be reviewed and approved. Keep in mind that submitting an application with less than four weeks before the event is scheduled to occur runs the risk of us declining the event due to insufficient time to process. Once registered, you'll have a live dashboard where you can view the progress of your application. If you'd like to plan an event on our waterways, please fill out our online application form.
Please note, we'll be introducing a £95 (+VAT) non-refundable administration charge for third-party events from 1st June 2023, which will be paid as part of the submission process. The charge will help cover the cost to our charity of processing events. There may also be additional fees depending on the scale and type of event you wish to run. If your event is a free (for all) community event, that is not raising money for charity and is for fewer than 25 people, you won't be charged for your application. Click here for more information on the events rate card and FAQ's on charging.
Our ageing network needs constant care and protection to look after it and large events put extra strain on it. From 1st June 2023 there'll be an additional charge for large-scale (1,000 participants and over), commercial events, charity and promotional events. This will contribute to the cost of keeping the nation's canal heritage alive for today and for future generations to enjoy.
To apply for permission to hold your event, just follow the steps below.
- fill in the online event application form and include your risk assessment and public liability insurance
- after we have assessed your application and we have confirmed we will issue an Event agreement (terms & conditions, this is for us to issue)
Each week we receive numerous requests to promote events along our waterways that are raising funds for other causes. While we applaud this, we're afraid that we can't promote them all for you. However if you're interested in raising money for the Canal & River Trust then get in touch and we'll give you all the help we can.
Are you considering hosting an event on our land or water, but feeling uncertain about the impact of the new charges? Don't worry, we're here to help. Just drop us a line at [email protected], and we'll gladly discuss your event before you apply. As a charity, it's important for us to cover the costs of enabling events and preserving our historic network for everyone to cherish for years to come.
However, we also know that events add colour and excitement to our waterways, inviting more people to experience the joy of our unique places and spaces. Together we can ensure a lively and diverse array of events throughout the year, making life even better by water.
