The Boat Inn, Telford

A very nice, traditional pub near the footbridge over the Severn. Being below the level of the levee means that it is subject to occasional inundation, which events are recorded on the disused door in the right hand corner (see photo). Once inside there's a quarry tiled floor, a traditional wooden bar and a kitchen range, which was not lit. I was staying at the youth hostel and called in here both evenings. On the first there were a handful of local customers and the beer was in very good condition (Banks's Bitter); on the second night there were eight or nine folk musicians, of whom the two banjo players seemed very good, the fiddlers and penny whistlers less so; perhaps it's my ears. The Bitter was clearly towards the end of the barrel, so I switched to the Banks's Mild, but this was disappointing, though more the fault of the brewer than the cellarman, I would guess. The other beers were Marstons Pedigree and EPA; with better beers I would have given this pub an 8, as I liked it very much, but as it is it will have to be content with a 7. Date of visit: 8th November 2017

A delightful Marstons canalside pub surrounded by beer garden and patio space. The pub itself is a split undressed brick building, with one half being slightly lower level that has dormer windows. With rounded sash windows the pub has a nice painted sign on the brick with the Banks's logo 'unspoilt by progess'. The interior has a couple of rooms. A smaller room is to the left on entry, with a larger bar room to the right, where the serving bar is. The decor has beigey/coffee walls with some green and browm with exposed brick, especially around the fireplaces. The ceiling is coffee and beam and there is a red tile flooring, which isnt surprising considering it has been flooded out a few times (hence the floodometer on the exterior). There is an eclectic mix of furniture and of old prints and photos on the walls. There was a large screen TV that dominated one end of the pub showing 'Midway' and there was no background music .The service was very friendly and there was no other clientele in at our visit. Beer; usual tap stuff with a couple of handpulls with a decent Hobgoblin and Marston's EPA. The number of real ales increaes later in the year the owner was telling me. A fantstic location, a great looking pub (in a plain kind of way) all make this a pub worthy of a visit. A nice find and one i would be happy to return to.