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Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
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Detail Pages
The Boater, Bath
Bath
BA2 4BQ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about The Boater
Pretty - if subtle - frontage, I presume that this was converted into a pub maybe not a million years ago. Inside is a fairly bijou oblong interior with a bit character via the Fuller's makeover mob - varnished wood floorboards, chunky wood tables, Chesterfields etc. Downside was a less-than-bright staff member dimming the lights to the point of hobbitness despite it being barely 5pm on a sunny summer’s day and in fact it felt like the whole set of staff were a fairly perfunctory set. Reviews below mention a beer garden which I have to admit I didn’t notice. Six pumps with four Fuller's and their stable. My Pride was barrel-endy and tasted like it'd been on since the weekend (NBSS 2). I can see why this missed the GBG when it's sister pubs in town didn't. Has potential – could imagine an experienced guv’nor could make this a destination, rather than a bit of crawl fodder. 6.5
On 16th May 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Boater
Much as described below, still owned by Fuller’s. The young staff were mostly pleasant apart from the foreign barman who was completely clueless. Ales on were faux-HSB, ESB and Pride, plus Wild Beer Millionaire and Dark Star Hophead. Rosie’s Cider was also on draft. There were also 3 craft ales on keg and the usual bank of megakeg offerings. It was expensive even by Bath standards, so while it’s a relaxing and pleasant place to visit, you need deep pockets if you want to stay here for a protracted period.
On 9th August 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3281 recommendations about 3246 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
BobOs . left this review about The Boater
A traditional town centre pub with a long bar to the rear (bathukolpian barmaid!!! - loads of extra Brownie points) and set for dining at the front. There is another bar downstairs but that was full of rugby players on my last visit. Normally 3 or 4 well kept beers in six handpumps - my Bombardier was excellent - but the menu is a bit pedestrian although good value for money. Average.
On 16th July 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 370 recommendations about 355 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Boater
On first impressions when entering from street level off Pultney Bridge, this seems to be a traditional and pleasant but unremarkable pub. Investigate the narrow staircase near the entrance however, and you come first to a cellar bar before going on further to what I’m sure is Bath’s biggest beer garden.
The top bar as mentioned is a fairly traditional affair, with a long bar on the left, carpet on the floors and plenty of Bath Rugby photos on the walls. There were three plasma’s dotted around showing the rugby, although somehow this didn’t seem too intrusive.
The downstairs cellar bar has quite a different feel with an unusual tiled brick floor and an arched brick vaulted ceiling. There is a further bar counter here. Down a few steps at the other end and you come to a large terraced beer garden that leads down to a walkway adjacent to the weir. It’s a pleasant spot when the sun’s out, although unfortunately the view of the river and weir isn’t quite as good as it could be. It gets packed on sunny days and there is a projector screen which shows big sporting matches. This covered area in the corner looks as though it could also be used for bands on occasions, although whether this is actually the case I’m not sure.
Beers on this occasion were Courage Best, 6X, Gem and Bombadier. Ciders were Blackthorn and Gaymer’s Pear.
On 26th April 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1947 recommendations about 1860 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Boater
The first pub of the Bath tour, being around the corner from the hotel. Three floors as said, pool room upstairs. I didn't take a look in the cellar bar. The main bar is a long carpeted room with banquette seating at each end, the bar being in the middle. Red ceiling with mounted fans. Decor of framed Guinness ads, Bath Rugby and Ashes Victory posters, pub/brewery mirrors and a few token pics of old Bath. Three TVs were showing Sky Sports reruns of last weekends football games muted. Live sport shown, there was a blackboard advertising the England v France match. Six handpumps, repeated in two sets of three. Bath Ales Gem, Bombardier and Wadworths 6X.
On 18th November 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Boater
Tucked away pub close to Pulteney Bridge and a short walk from the Bath Rugby ground. Pub on three levels, pool room upstairs which I did not venture into, nice wooden local's style mid level with traditional bar area with alcoves and lots of Bath Rugby memorabilia And then a downstairs cellar bar , which was quite the opposite décor, being very bright and a bit sterile, more resembling a wine bar rather than a pub bar. I can imagine this is to attract the students and part them from their grants.
And then a decent garden area out the back with views across the river towards the Rec.
Visited on a Sunday when the food on offer was traditional Sunday Roast which all looked really good and large. The beers on were Wadsworths 6X, CW Bombardier and a local brew which I have now forgotten the name of. All were good and very drinkable, and the two ladies behind the bar were polite and efficient.
Imagine it gets very busy on a Rugby match day but was a decent place for a pint during our visit.
On 28th January 2008
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]