The Boat, Berkhamsted

This is a smart Fullers pub with an ideal canal-side location. The pub has a roughly U shaped interior, with a servery which follows a similar shape. You enter from the canal side into the left hand side of the room which has a smart, lounge bar feel to it, with plush furnishings, nice décor and several fancy mirrors on the walls. Opposite the main section of the bar there are a few seats available which are under the front windows. Parts of this front wall comprise folding doors which can be opened out to a decent sized area of canal side decking in what I imagine would be a nice spot for a drink in the summer months. The right hand side of the pub had a large screen showing the evening’s late football fixture, and judging by the number of patrons wearing rugby jerseys, I suspect the afternoon’s six nations matches had preceded this. Several other TV screens were dotted around the pub and were also showing the game. The large crowds watching the big screen made it very hard to explore this half of the pub, but there looked to be quite a bit of standard table and chair seating. Music was playing fairly loudly, as you might expect in a busy pub on a Saturday evening. Four Fullers ales were available at the bar – London Pride, ESB, Chiswick and Front Row – with Honeydew on tap. I gave the Front Row a try and thought it was in good condition and better than I remember it from previous years. The bar was well staffed, preventing long waiting times and they seemed like a friendly and courteous bunch. With the pub so packed on my visit, it was tricky to get a good feel for the place, but I thought it was another solid Berkhamsted pub with good beer and friendly staff and locals. It also acts as a nice counterpoint to the more traditional Rising Sun, a little further along the towpath.