The Boat Inn, Telford

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.

A bit hidden away this one, on the wrong side of the river for a tourist who doesn't know what they are looking for. It can be reached down the windy road to Jackfiels, or you can park over the river at the Shakespeare (Good Beer Guide 2010 listed) and cross over via the footpath by the ajoining road brige, alongside the canal and over the river by the footbridge. The pub is slightly larger than is seems, though is by no means big, with stone flags and wood tables. There is a plasma screen for sports which maybe a little out of place in this very traditional cottage pub. Outside, the door is marked with the various flood levels over the years and there is a peaceful area at the front overlooking the river. 3 well kept beers from the Marstons stable. Really delightful.

Old fashioned drinkers pub - wonderful. Restricted choice of real ales primarily because the place is quite small. Folk singing 3rd Tues of the month & Irish folk music every Thursday. Difficult to find but worth the effort. Next to the river & has flooded on several occasions so don't expect carpets on the floor. Small beer garden. Very little parking available.