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Detail Pages
Boat House, Wallingford
Wallingford
OX10 0BL
Pub Type
John Barras (Spirit Pubs)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nick Davies left this review about Boat House
Now under new management and not a moment too soon. It all been brightened up, everything is fresh and clean, it no longer smells of stale lager vomit on a Sunday lunchtime. Everything set up nicely outside too. Real ale, cider and craft beers are advertised outside and indeed extra handpumps have been installed dispensing a nice selection including top notch Ramsbury Bitter, cheerfully served and with a Camra discount too. Plenty of families were enjoying the warm spring sunshine and riverside location when we called.
What a difference a day makes.
2011 Notes
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Only Punch Inns could squander such a perfect location as this so comprehensively. Years ago this was a boathouse renting out rowing boats by the hour to visitor, with a widely regarded restaurant above. Times have changed, the boats went and after a spell as a too-posh restaurant it ended up extended and converted into the vertical drinking barn we now have. Situated by the bridge with a courtyard to the side, large terraces to the river complete with moorings and views over the river to the park the other side it could be perfect. However it has decided its core clientele is every seventeen year old for miles around looking for a gallon of Stella and a punch up. So we have a scruffy smelly dingy barn of a place complete with loud music and Sky TV. You could be any similar establishment in any town centre in the country.
During the day it is a little more sedate, and it is pleasant enough to sit outside (with care, the furniture is filthy and covered with a thick patina of fag ash) watching the boats go by - and go by they will, a big sign saying "no-mooring' sends that well-heeled passing trade on its way, luckily for them. If you are brave they will microwave you up a meal from Brake Brothers value range.
I do pity the many tourists whose first and maybe only experience of the town is this establishment. It really is an absolute bloody disgrace to the hospitality industry.
On 10th March 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 567 recommendations about 559 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Boat House
Upmarket John Barras pub (converted boathouse, presumably) in a superb location with views over the River Thames, including a terrace garden area. A bit of a missed opportunity inside. Quite opened-out, with a conservatory for dining (empty). Oddly, for somewhere with upmarket pretensions, there’s a pool table and the standard of punter attitudes was shown by it being used as a bum perch. Modern chart music not exactly creating riverside ambience. Two pumps, only Red Squirrel actually available though it was a decent drop at least. Could be essential, but isn’t.
On 30th April 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]