please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Is this really a pub? Doesn't look like one. We stayed in the hotel and found it a pleasant place, with very nice staff. If you want a pub, I can recommend the Kingfisher, just the other side of the bridge. Decent food and lovely staff.
|
Is this really a pub? Doesn't look like one. We stayed in the hotel and found it a pleasant place, with very nice staff. If you want a pub, I can recommend the Kingfisher, just the other side of the bridge. Decent food and lovely staff.
|
Many months have passed since my last comment and there have been many changes of staff.
Which is a pity, as the current management (and I use the term in the loosest possible sense)simply have no idea what they are doing. Or possibly they don't care. I think the current chaos at the bar is a little of both.
They don't care about the real ale any longer that's for sure. Rather than serve the stuff they'd rather clean the line (anyone who has run a bar knows you don't need to do this every barrel change - although perhaps that's a cask marque reg (what a waste of time that lot are)).
To me it just shows a total lack of knowledge of your product.
The real pity is, that there is a young barman who is very, very good. He would make a fantastic manager given the right education in how to run a bar. I do hope that he has the sense to realise that he's not going to get it at this place and goes somewhere else to develop his potential.
There are others. There are two i'd say are have been there long enough to know what to do when the barrel/gas goes. But they don't! Not their fault of course, but where the hell is the management to show them?
Judging by this place's latest intake of management, running a pub is a secondary consideration to running a pub.
|
The Boathouse. Well, i think its a nice pub! Friday night we had a good craic in here..! Mrs TJ even ordered a decaf-latte...at 10pm...and we got one...free of charge..!! How's that for service!! (Mind you, we did spend about £50 on drinks..!!) Gr8 pub! Roll on Spring/Summer, when i can drive the launch down there.. and moor up wiv the toffs..!! I understand the comments from 'huntface' and 'Isaac Hock', but a bar is what you make it!! Take a bit of atmo with you, and you can have a good evening in your back yard...!! I'll drink to that...! Ciao4now TJ
|
Odd one this. The boathouse suffers from a bit of an identity crisis. Too much of a restaurant to be a pub, too much of a pub to be a restaurant.
On the restaurant side I’ve found nothing to complain about. The food is good, not a particularly exciting menu but its always fine. Honest I think is the best word to describe the menu. It doesn’t pretend to be a gastro pub by sticking a bit of coriander in everything i.e. fucking it (Jamie Oliver has a lot to answer for). I’ve never had a problem with service, however it does it get stupidly busy on occasion, so if it is busy be prepared to wait. But hey, get nailed whilst you’re waiting.
Which brings me neatly to the bar. Three well kept (hence the Cask Marque accreditation I guess) ales; Abbott, Courage Best and Young’s Special. The usual suspects on the lager front if you’re that way inclined.
The staff are all very friendly and attentive. Which is nice.
Oddly a place to spot the occasional celebrity. Bernard Cribbins and Ben Miller (of Armstrong and Miller fame (returning to BBC1 this Friday) have been spotted in the BH. And that journalist bloke who runs about Heathrow annoying people. He was on Airline or Airport or something. Not that he’s really a celebrity, more a famous leach.
Oh there’s ample parking available and a free paper is offered, even if it is the Independent. Still, you can’t have everything.
To sum up then I’d say: Good for a pint, good for spot of dinner, and if you’re reading this of a Sunday morning thinking ‘Shite, I’ve gotta find somewhere to take the mother in law today!’ perfect.
|
nice location but i find it sterile and like sitting in a waiting room. no..well...vibe to the place. everyone is v. pleasant though
|
tried the boathouse last night instead of the kingfisher opposite - should have gone there instead. the service is slower than usual and thats bad - it was taking 20mins+ to get served at the bar and they werent very busy and food was about 1hr15 wait and again it was pretty empty for a very nice sunny evening. staff didnt even seem to know what a pint glass looked like so ended up with 3/4pint tall glass? the food was fairly good - never a problem but just let down by the poor service - perhaps the manager may want to consider using the other half of the large bar which ive never seen used and a few more staff serving - the kingfisher is a much smaller pub and the wait/service is far superior. location is great so they have that right..
|
Used to be a great pub back in the day when it was still The Galleon. Now it is sterile, devoid of atmosphere, and rubbish. No more needs be said.
|
I live opposite so it is kind of my local. Beer is nearly always good quality but limited to Youngs or Abbot. Food is pretty standard but very reliable in quality. Staff are freindly and generally efficient.
This Pub really comes into it's own in the summer when the outside benches are great- if a bit noisy from traffic over the bridge.
One final thought... roll on the smoking laws! Then the best seats in the house - the leather sofas will be fair game for us non smokers!
|
Go on.. push the boat out..! Have a drink down at the Boathouse. Never disappointing, always refreshing those parts we needn't mention!
Love the food, and the river aspect. Great pub! 10/10 TJ
|
Once you venture inside away from the rather unpleasent modern exterior, you begin to appreciate the fantastic views onto the River Thames from the main bar and restaurant. The staff had made a real effort with classy Christmas decorations, which my 3 yearold loved. The staff were very friendly and the service was good. The food could have been a little hotter by the time it arrived at the table, but it was tasty, well cooked and of good quality. Really impressed and will return in the summer to take advantage of the outside seating. Great place for well mannered kids.
|
THE BOAT HOUSE.
They have Kronenbourg, Saint Miguel, John Smiths, Fosters, Strongbow, and Kronenbourg Blanc, on tap. Fantastic venue, plenty of room, i spent most of the afternoon outside in the sun, overlooking the river & watching the ducks (and fighting the wasps off!).
Then 'Laid back Ron' and 'Phil the Fossil' dragged us inside 4 a bite 2 eat. The 20yr old bar chappy was from Vancouver (Canada)...great place...my boys in Vancouver Island at the moment. If you've not been to Vancouver, i suggest u go. See the best city in the world! Bar none...!! (I luvvit there) Unless u know otherwise...!?! TJ
|
The Boat House is an excellent pub for Sunday lunches by the river. I recommend it highly.
On a sunny day its great. Folks come by car, boat, & foot, to sample the delights here!
I've brought the family here a couple of times for Sunday roast dinners, and never been disappointed. You may have to wait 30mins at busy times at weekends to get your meal, but thats the sign of a good pub, everybody goes, and goes again!
If its too busy, try the Kingfisher pub immediately opposite on the Shepperton side of the river Thames. They're both decent pubs. See you there..! TJ
|
A sanitised hotel rather than a pub, however, the service we got was pretty good and the food wasn't bad either.
|
A real "Family" pub and make no mistake - If you have elderly relatives visiting, take them here for a meal they will love it.
Therefore, not the place to go for a fun night out - But perfectly nice for a drink and a meal as the food was excellent.
TheGP - 29 Oct 2005 18:56 |
we tried the boathouse, for the first time in ages after we'd seen a review in the Daily Telegraph. Still the same 'order at the counter' format but apart from that everything was outstanding. Food was good (I had the Lamb rump, Sheena had the Chicken & Avocado salad), bit of a wait but it was saturday night and they seemed quite busy. Friendly staff, worth a visit.
anonymous - 24 Apr 2005 17:32 |
Is that waitress still screaming into her mobile phone in the carpark?
anonymous - 2 Mar 2005 15:28 |
We stayed in the Boathouse and bridge hotel for two nights and we were astonished by the pleasant and helpful staff, room standards and scumptious food.
We would reccomend this excellent hotel and will return in the near future
Mr mckinney - 27 Sep 2004 20:07 |
