Deva Canoe Club

About Deva Canoe Club

In response to the growing demand from local paddlers in Chester, a dedicated group of canoe coaches came together in May 1999 to establish Deva Canoe Club. Their vision was to create a vibrant recreational club where paddlers of all levels could connect, share their love for the sport, and embark on exciting adventures down rivers, across the sea, and through open canoeing.

Since its inception, Deva Canoe Club has been committed to fostering a strong paddling community and providing a platform for unforgettable experiences on the water. The Club has over 170 members, including experienced paddlers and coaches, who are always happy to provide help and advice to new members. New members often join the Club through pool sessions at Northgate Arena or via the Club's website. Additionally, the junior club Chester Riverside Canoe Club is a great source of new members as their members grow up.

Club fees are £15 per annum, and the Club year runs from 1st April to 31st March. The fees cover administration costs and affiliation to the BCU, as well as providing equipment and courses. We have a wide range of Club boats and equipment, including sea kayaks, open boats, kayaks, sit-on-top, and stand-up paddleboards, which can be used during club sessions to help people get started in the sport.

From April until September, we run club sessions on a Thursday evening, where we use the River Dee and the Weir. Sundays are year-round sessions held at The Riverside Centre, and we also organise river and sea kayaking trips. During the summer, we run training sessions for beginners and the more competent. We also organise training days for Canoe Safety, White Water Safety, Sea Kayaking Safety, First Aid, and Coach Development.

Club Sessions

  • Session Schedule:
    • Thursday Evenings (April to September): Starting at 17:30
    • Fortnightly Sundays (Year-round): 13:15
  • Session Prices:
    • Guest Sessions: £7 per session
    • Club Members: £3 per session

From April until September we meet on Thursday evenings starting at 17:30. We also meet fortnightly on Sunday afternoons, from 13:15. See our calendar of events for times and dates. New paddlers are welcome to come and join in a few sessions as ‘guests’, before deciding whether to join the Club. This will give you the opportunity to sample ‘real’ canoeing, get free coaching, advice on boats and equipment, and meet a lot of friendly people who are interested in a range of different paddle sports. Under the terms of our insurance, people are able to attend up to a maximum of three sessions as ‘guests’ after which they would be expected to become members of the club. The club has a wide range of boats and equipment that it is prepared to let guests use in order to get started in the sport. There will be a charge per session of £7, this includes the use of all club equipment (Members pay £3 per session).

Equipment and Clothing

We can supply everything to get you onto the water for the first time. Boats, paddles, buoyancy aids, spray decks and helmets can be provided by the club. We also have basic cagoules to keep you comfortable, although if you have your own kit we encourage you to bring it. All our equipment is checked and replaced regularly. You will require a change of clothing, footwear and a towel. On the water thin, warm layers are best with either track bottoms or old lightweight trousers (not jeans or thick cotton) and old trainers or shoes. A wetsuit or over trousers are alternative options if you have them. We always advise beginners not to buy any equipment until they have had a chance to try club kit and chat with members. Local canoe and paddle sport retailers give Deva CC members discounts. (e.g. Go Kayaking in Runcorn and Manchester Canoes and Kayaks in Warrington).

Pool Canoeing

Northgate Arena pools will close for major refurbishment on 22nd December 2024.

The last Deva Canoe Club pool sessions for 2024 will be on 16th and 17th December. The refurbishment is expected to take until February 2026—yes, over a year! We appreciate your understanding during this extended closure and will keep you updated as we learn more.

  • Location:
    • Northgate Arena, Chester
    • Session Times: Monday and Tuesday evenings, 20:00 to 21:00
  • Prices:
    • £11.60 standard
    • £10.60 with Brio Leisure Card
    • £8.50 for Deva Canoe Club members (annual card £6)

Sessions are held at Chester’s Northgate Arena sports complex. They are voluntarily hosted by members of Deva Canoe Club on behalf of Arena’s operator, Brio.

Sessions are adult-only (over 18’s) and run on both Monday and Tuesday evenings during term time from 20:00 to 21:00. Three of Deva’s officers are amongst the coaches present during the Monday evening sessions and would be delighted to tell you more about our club and the benefits of joining us. It’s interesting to point out that most of our new members join as a result of these pool sessions.

We generally recommend that people new to the sport of canoeing start off with a series of lessons at the arena as this enables them to learn and practice the basic skills in a nice warm and safe environment. The club’s experienced instructors will be there to welcome and personally guide you on your paddling journey and to take you to whatever level of ability you aspire to.

All equipment is provided, and all that you need to bring is a swimming costume, T-shirt, and towel. Goggles and a nose-clip are useful but optional. You can pre-book on the Brio website or just turn up at about 19:30 for whichever session is convenient and ask to pay for a canoeing session.

Get changed in the dry changing rooms and then bring your green basket of clothes through to the poolside. Don’t hand your clothes basket into the basket store as this closes at 20:00, but leave it by the palm trees. We meet on the right-hand side of the pool near the bottom of the slide.

Session prices are set annually by Brio and are currently:

  • £11.60 Standard price
  • Sign up for Northgate’s Brio Leisure Card (Free) to obtain a £1 discount on the standard price.
  • Members of the Deva Canoe Club can get a club discount card that, for £6 per annum, reduces the session price to £8.50.

Community and local support

At Deva Canoe Club, we believe in supporting our local community and doing our part to protect the environment. In addition to our normal paddling activities, we are proud to contribute to various charitable causes and events:

  • Hospice of the Good Shepherd: Until 2016, we helped with their annual November "Light up a Life" ceremony by laying remembrance lilies onto the River Dee. We also support this local charity with small financial donations.
  • The Dee Mile Swim: For many years, we have provided safety cover for this historic river swimming event, with our kayaks and canoes serving as flotation devices for swimmers.
  • Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI): We organise club activities like Fish and Chip suppers to raise funds for this vital organisation.

We also take environmental sustainability seriously and are committed to protecting our local waterways. That's why we're thrilled to have been named a Paddle UK Champion Club, recognizing our efforts to promote environmental awareness and sustainability. As part of our commitment, we organise river clean-up events to remove litter and debris from the riverbank and prevent pollution. We hope to see more groups like ours taking action to make our waterways safer and cleaner for everyone!