End of an era as couple retire from award-winning canal-side cafe in Hillmorton

Ian and Lesley Lauder, of Wateryleaf Curio Cafe, have been entertaining guests for more than 20 years with their award-winnning business – serving everyone from locals to rock stars.

To escape a fun but stressful career path, in 2003 the couple advertised for a canal mooring to restore an historic boat and one was offered at Hillmorton Locks.

It felt right for the couple, but the proprietor kept mentioning ‘The Bistro’.

Ian said: “It became clear that the mooring was part of the lease of the adjoining restaurant which we would have to run.

"That may have put most people off but as a couple of retired qualified and successful restaurateurs, we bought the company that had the lease and moored up our boat alongside.

“First realisation was that the Bistro had been like a drinking club and so we upset the clientele by turning them out and it into, an acceptable restaurant. This coincided with the new Licensing Act which required all such premises to re-licence using a multi-page application form.”

Ian said luckily it turned out that they were the first to apply to a newly-appointed borough council officer in charge of the procedure.

"He suggested we learn together and tick all the boxes to see what was approved,” he went on.

"The result was that we were not only licensed to sell alcohol but also for music, dance, theatre and amazingly that small children could sit at the bar because, thanks to quietening the ‘pub’ image, we were judged to be predominantly a café.”

They kept on their first waitress – Sarah - from the outgoing proprietor – who Ian and Lesley are friends with until this day.

Ian said: “We shall be forever grateful to Tony Miles, a former boater who invited us to his canal-side cottage. He soon became a very good friend and constant customer.

"He helped us fulfil our original aim by introducing a large 1936 working boat to restore named Badsey, which became our home for the next 20 years.”

Ian and Lesley said although their home was very cosy, even in the cold winter months.

“Being woken by the gunshot against the hull as the first boat through cracked thick ice was a shock until a quick rush into the café’s warm kitchen,” Ian recalled.

"When Badsey arrived, a Paul from the nextdoor boatyard came in for a bacon sandwich and said the proper engine for Badsey should be a ‘National’. His dad,

Tony Redshaw had just bought four scrap National engines to restore.”

The two had no idea what a National Engine was or that there was a respected engine restorer with his workshop next door.

"He had no idea we were bringing Badsey to moor there,” Ian said.

“So we gave him a deposit and later went down to see a superbly restored engine. By pure incredible chance, one pile of scrap was indeed the original engine installed in Badsey when it was built. And today it is the only historic canal working boat with its original engine.

"Tony was a valuable support and we were making good friends who helped win us the accolade of ‘Best Waterside Restaurant’ two years running. He also adopted and introduced to the café, newly arrived Polish families and their fabulous sausages, but they never did understand why the canal fishermen put their catch back in the water rather than cook them, especially the huge carp that was their traditional Christmas dinner.”

Ian and Lesley reached retirement age but decided to secure a new lease to carry on.

They reduced hours and changed menus. To mark each change they announced a new name. Badsey’s Bistro became Canalchef Café and finally, Wateryleaf Curio Café.

Every year they had a large party with theatre and musical groups, allowing for musician Ian to entertain.

Ian said: “During Covid lockdown, the café was set up to take orders and serve through a kitchen window to garden tables and it was extremely popular.

"As everyone had missed Christmas, we had one in July. With help of waitress Megan, I produced 70 turkey/vegetarian dinners before grabbing my guitar to join Des Fraser and the band in a canalside marquee.”

Another Christmas saw traditional lunches for 30 weightwatchers followed by a Yoga group exercising on mats in the dining area before their meal.

Customers had great entertainment watching the antics of boaters trying to negotiate the locks.

The couple have fond and funny memories from their time in Hillmorton.

Ian said: “One man who got so upset that his chosen beer was being poured into a glass of another brand that he announced he’s never drink with us again. It got the response “or now” as the beer was poured away.”

They also remember when AC/DC star Brian Johnson was relaxing on a hireboat holiday to unwind after a world tour.

Ian said: "He called in twice with his wife for meals and nobody recognised him until our waitress, Tara, went home and saw him driving his classic Bentley on Top Gear.”

Ian and Lesley are looking forward to retirement and would like to thank all their staff and customers for their support and friendship.

The canal curio artefacts will be sold in the cafe at 10am on Saturday, November 28. Email: [email protected] for more information and a price list.