please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Tottenham area isn’t noted for its quaint historic waterside hostelries so finding the Ferry Boat Inn initially comes as a bit of a pleasant shock. Originally the base for a ferry that crossed the River Lea (which was presumably a bit wider than it is now) it was made into a pub in 1738. From the outside, it has the appearance of a country dining pub but it is geared as much for comfortable drinking as it is for leisurely dining. The rambling interior has undergone fairly extensive refurbishments but does at least still retain a kind of old farmhouse style with flag stoned floors and a couple of large brick wood burning fireplaces. The central main bar is quite open with a couple of narrower but good sized areas tucked down the sides of the pub, tucked away behind the remnants of the retaining walls. The décor is of a rustic nature without being particularly interesting, a few settles and old dressers, some old pictures of the Tottenham area (including one of an 1895 Tottenham Hotspurs (sic) match) but overall it is a bit generic. Behind the pub is a pleasant and fairly large beer garden that runs alongside the River Lea with plenty of seating.
There were 3 Ales on my visit but nothing to get excited about - Green King IPA, Adnams and Bombardier (not available). The Adnams was drinkable but so cloudy it looked like it had been scooped out of the adjoining reservoir which was disappointing for a Cask Marquee accredited pub. The IPA was much better (and I don’t often put that in a review). Since the area is largely a Real Ale desert, anything on offer becomes a plus point but you can’t help thinking that the place should be aiming at something a little more imaginative if it really wants to step up a level. It should be noted that the wine list and food menu looked very reasonable although I have not tried either to date.
Due to the lack of any realistic competition, the Ferry Boat is certainly well above average for the area and does have a lot of appeal but it just lacks that bit of extra detail and effort that would make it a pub to go out of the way for.
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Went in yesterday with friends>firstly, because the computers were down they could not open.While in the car park discussing where else to go i noticed that they had opened up.they didnt tell us.I ordered chicken mushrooms brocolli with baby potatoes.i got small chicken leg with beans and carrots.The staff were in a 'I dont care mood'.Dont bother ordering dessert,you wont get it.
Then one member of staff had the nerve to ask if everything was alright.Yeah right.wont be going back
Beer not bad,had better
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Visited on a wet and windy Tuesday night. Very cosy by the log fire with an excellent pint of GK IPA (which is become rare in my huble opinion). The staff didn't seem entirely contented but the range of beer was good, both lagers and ales. Not sure whether I'd gamble on the food after reviews below but certainly appears set up to be a restaurant. Much nicer in the summer I should imagine.
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It's a pleasant, cosy pub and perfect for summer in the beergarden or cosy fireside drinks on a winter sunday. One of the few pubs in the area you can take your parents to. The food generally is 5 or 6 out of 10 which is a shame because it could easily be much better (the basics are good but spoilt by being overcooked, underheated or on cold plates, ie poor microwave technique) They could serve exactly the same food with a bit more care and it would be 7 out of 10. BUT out of everywhere I've eaten steak in London this is the only place apart from the Gaucho Grill that actually serves a rare steak rare! For that I can forgive a lot of cold plates. Now if only they sorted the chips...
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We visited this pub yesterday afternoon. We had actually planned to just have a pint here and give the food a miss, given the comments below, but by the time we got there we were hungry. We really had no trouble with the food service, the food quality, or the food prices.
I'm not sure why our experience was different from other people's; possible factors are (a) it was a very sunny bank holiday Monday and maybe they had extra staff on to cover the expected rush; (b) it was around 3pm rather than a peak time; (c) we ordered sandwiches rather than main meals; (d) we're not familiar with average prices for the area.
I had a bit more of a problem with the only beers being Marston's Pedigree and John Smith's! Pedigree was good enough for a sunny day though.
I did like this pub, and would go back if I was in the area and the weather was good. We sat outside, and I didn't do the going-to-the-bar part, so I don't really know what it's like inside. The garden was nice though — it even had an apple tree!
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Totally agree about the food. They realy have no idea what theya re doing. I am sure I remember the food used to be good a few years ago. Maybe it is the managers, they need to stop walking around with their bloody dogs and learn how to cook (minus a microwave).
anonymous - 4 Aug 2007 14:43 |
From outside it looks like a beautiful picture of a country pub on the river bank of the Lea and really it is that!! The pub inside is beautiful with its stony fireplaces and huge back gardens make it out of place for where it is.
The service is ok nothing special, but what really lets this pub down is the food!! Outside is a sign suggesting the 'best of British food' this is an insult and really should be removed as I feel embarrassed to take anyone there, who is not from the UK, on the menu they suggest seasoned chips with certain dishes what I got was not British chips but what I would pay £1 for at the chicken shop. Scrawny thin fries!!! The pie was over cooked and their presentation on the food was terrible!!! I really mean TERRIBLE!!!
How they can get away with charging the prices they charge for the quality they serve up is beyond me!! Believe me I do not mind paying high prices for quality, but when I paid the bill I felt like they owed me an apology, and that they should be paying me to eat there!!
I would go there again BUT not to EAT!! Nice gardens and being a smoker it one of the best places in the area to only drink and light up a fag!! My suggestion is eat before you go there, I mean eat anywhere but there!!
anonymous - 12 Jul 2007 20:07 |
Lovely pub....considering the area!... beautiful, well kept garden... very relaxing and hassle free...(no drunken yobs)...however, i'm inclined to agree with the previous post....something NEEDS to be done about the food service. Although the staff were pleasent enough, and we didnt actually get any attitude, we waited approx 25 mins (dare i say 30)..for our roast beef dinner to turn up, which was nearly cold, unappealing and quite bland ...if it wasnt for the fact that i could have ate a scabby horse as i was sooo starving, i doubt i would have got through half of my meal.
This service lets the pub down. A few stern words, and maybe an extra couple of kitchen staff who know how to communicate with each other, should rectify the problem i feel. I can only rate this pub as a 4, and shall return in a few weeks and hope for some kind of improvement, because if it wasnt for the food issue, i could quite easily make it my local.
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Went to this pub last night with 4 friends and had an awful evening. Ordered our food, 4 roasts beef dinners and a steak. Took approx half an hour for the staff (not a busy restaurant) to tell us that they only had 3 roast dinners left and would the 4th person like to pick an alternative. We queried with our waitress why it had taken so long and could we have some drinks whilst we waited for the alternative dinners. She called her manager over who preceded to argue with us over a 5 minute difference in the ordering times. He said we had ordered 25 minutes previously not the half hour we were insisting! But as a “gesture of goodwill” they would only charge us for 4 dinners not 5. After a further 15 minutes the 3 roast beef dinners came out without Yorkshire puddings and cold. We asked for the manager who said it has been a mistake in the kitchen and they were sent back for the missing Yorkshires and to be heated up. 5 minutes later the steak and Turkey dinner turned up. A further 10 minutes later the 3 roast beefs turned up fresh from the microwave. Now whilst I understand that mistakes in the kitchen and with meals do happen. What there is no excuse for it the appalling attitude of the staff. To argue with your customers over a 5 minute time difference is completely unnecessary when a simple apology would have been enough to pacify us at this point. Also when the dinners came out incomplete and cold, I would have expected more than “oh right, yeah the kitchen made a mistake I reckon” you don’t say. Not even a sorry at this point either.
If you want below average pub food from rude and disinterested staff – the Ferry Boat Inn is your place!
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Simply the best pub in the area. Lovely old grade II-listed building with gorgeous fireplace. Friendly and attentive service - table service in fact. Good quality and reasonably-priced food from an extensive menu. There's nowhere else like this in the Tottenham/Walthamstow area - it's an island of civilisation in a sea of run-down nastiness. Nice stop off on a stroll up the River Lea and surrounding marshes too.
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Decent pub food at reasonable prices and a fair choice of beers (usually Charles Wells or Marstons or similar) - unusual round these parts. Great in the summer, seating outside overlooking reservoirs - feels like being in the countryside. But also great in the winter with its roaring log fire. Great pub to take kids - disabled/baby-changing facilities, clean toilets, high-chairs, etc. Friendly staff also. Can get busy at lunchtimes as it is mainly a foodie pub, but this means it never gets too smoky.
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Don't go here for Christmas day lunch! Ever! Very slow service, waited 50 minutes for first course, unable to catch the staff's attention. Despite having a huge appetite, when it did arrive the food was so unappetising I only took 4 mouthfuls. Or was it my distaste for the service? Couldnt wait to leave.
On balance, I visited here in the summer, and the food was fairly ok and the garden pleasant which is why I have given this 2 out of 10 - losing the 8 for that awful memory of 2006 Christmas...
anonymous - 24 Jan 2007 22:45 |
Having just acquired this pub as my new local a couple of months ago, I have frequented this establishment on a number of occasions in this time.
The pub is fantastic, the food fab and at a good price with drinks to match. The interior too is quaint, with a working fireplace and comfortable seats. Although the lack of competition in the area may be of a hinderence to the appeal of the pub, I recommend it due to the combination of everything that it offers. There is however no TV, therefore no sport and therefore will not appeal to footy lovers when it's on.
I did not notice one foreign worker on my previous visit.
anonymous - 18 Dec 2006 13:10 |
Bit of a walk from Blackhorse Rd Tube. A country style pub in the city. Food ok when I was last there. Nice garden to write lyrics in. There was a stunning waitress there in 2002.
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definately the best in the area but most of the staff cant speak english and the ones that can seem to be too busy chatting to each other and always looking tired, like they dont want to be there.
food is a bit overpriced too seeing as its definately not homecooked
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In response to the previous reviews: The food's reasonably priced. The only cheaper pubs in the area (Tottenham Hale/west Walthamstow) serve manky food. I've been going here about once a month for the last five years & have never been let down by it. The menu changes a bit every 3 months too which is nice.
It's really cosy, especially when it's winter & the log fire's lit. The orange hue when you drive past on a dark night just calls you inside.
The staff are a bit hit & miss, there seem to be a few people whose English isn't fantastic or must have had long shifts or something. Generally it's ok though.
Main complaint - the soft drinks are rubbish. And as it's a pub where generally someone has to be a designated driver they should make more effort here.
anonymous - 31 May 2006 14:31 |
It is such a shame the food is terrible - and it’s not inexpensive either. It is a great pub in a picturesque location. The staff are friendly and polite. It is the perfect venue for families to have a meal at and relax. All it needs now is a decent chef. I live locally and would go there every week for a feed with my family if the food were better. Several other locals have said the same.
anonymous - 27 May 2006 08:33 |
I must have caught this pub on an off day. The beers were OK, but the food was a tremendous disappointment at the price
anonymous - 2 Mar 2006 14:22 |
What a marvellous pub !!!!!
there's nothing like it in the area
great food and large open wood burning fires in the winter...
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If you live in the area this is THE place to go for a classic Sunday lunch. Good selection of beers and the beer garden is essential on a barmy summers evening.
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This pub is more of a dinner spot than drinking pub and is perfect for the Sunday carving. Prices are 7-10 quid for the roast but it is worth it. Super nosh, not typical pub grub.
Robert - 8 Nov 2004 11:22 |
Not really a place for drinking as most go for the nosh and good it is too. Nice garden in summer.
anonymous - 12 Jan 2004 21:49 |
Lovely - classic pub atmosphere - good food. In summer sit outside and watch the herons.
Nancy Albrecht - 16 Dec 2003 18:22 |
