Nurse quit her job to run narrowboat café with her son

A former nurse quit her job to pursue her dream of opening a quaint narrowboat café. Tucked away in the quiet spot that is Droylsden Marina, The Safari Narrowboat Tea Room sits just 12 customers at full capacity, and is run by mother and son duo Maria and Philip.

Owner Maria Smart knew she had to change her job at a private nursing home, which often saw her working long and gruelling hours. She decided she wanted to open a tea room on a canal boat, after spending years holidaying in one on weekends with her husband.

The mum, 54, took the plunge and is now a thriving success along with her chef son, becoming a top spot for dog walkers and cyclists alike, with many customers travelling from all over the country for an afternoon tea or warming cup of coffee.

READ MOREWhy the Jewish Museum's award-winning Cheetham Hill café is 'good for the soul'

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News , Maria said: "I trained for three years to be a nurse in 2004 and was working in the sector for 14 years at a private care home in Manchester. It was very stressful and rarely had time for myself.

"Me and my husband used to own a narrowboat and went out on it on weekends and for small holidays whenever we had time off. Once I had given up nursing, I knew I wanted to do something different and decided to open a tea room.

"I knew if I just bought a shop on the high street, we would be the same as everybody else. We wanted it to be something a little bit different, offering people a quiet space to come at the marina."

Maria's son Philip, who worked as a chef in Manchester previously, now prepares the food at the waterside cafe, with Maria holding up the front of house role. Philip also has more time for himself, and now no longer works long