The Boat Inn, Towcester

Characterful canalside (Grand Union) boozer. Pub is distinctly separated into two halves, the ‘front’ (roadside) and the ‘rear’ (canalside). The entrance from the front is fairly unspectacular, enter via a functional set of doors into an almost hotel-like lobby before entering to a fairly basic main bar area (note the bar front is designed and shaped like a boat), offering an excellent selection of Marstons-list ales; Banks bitter (good nick), Jennings Cumberland, Marstons New World and Old Empire, Hobgoblin and Ringwood Boondoggle plus Thatchers Heritage cider. So far, so fair – however head past the bar and take the door on the right through to a set of fantastic rear rooms overlooking the canal side. These are rustic in feel - whitewashed, quarry tiled flooring, polished wooden settle seating, coal fires (lit), massive tree trunk table and a canal-themed wall mural. The biggest draw is the Northamptonshire skittles table which got a couple of games off us. Mention of the cheery landlord, who seemed dead pleased we were taken with the place (found out later that it’s been in the same family since 1877). All-in-all, a bit of a cracker and I’d really like to do this one again someday.