The Boat Inn, Rugby

Facebook page of The Boat Inn - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Boat Inn - www.facebook.com

The pub is set on a former wharf of the Grand Union and although the exterior seating will give you canal views,little of this is visible from the interior.It has one large room but clearly split into a higher level dining area to the left and a lower bar to the right with a very welcome wood burner chucking out good heat on a chilly day.The furniture is a mix of modern stuff with some bucket seats,high tables,low tables and stools and dining style tables.The bar itself has bar stools and all tables are numbered so you can eat and drink anywhere.Food didn't dominate my trip and a few boozers were in ,although the area is sparsely populated.The pub grub menu did seem pricey but I wasn't eating so wont comment further. Now a freehouse with lots of pump clips on the ceiling,a changing selection of three ales and a real cider are offered.On my trip neither Nethergate Venture nor Batemans Salem Porter seemed too exciting but the Little Eaton Bates Pale Ale although only 3.8% but very tasty and well kept. There was a homely atmosphere despite slightly too loud muzak but I didn't investigate the Barn Bar where BT Sport is screened,I assume it's the brick building behind a wooden Burger Bar. This pub has suffered a chequered history ,so good to see it open.I assume it is now free of the clutches of a pubco,it's a decent free house and can hold it's own against the other three canalside pubs further north on the canal.

Typical canal-side pub on a busy stretch where there are any number of boat rental operations and thus a captive market in the season, but set up to appeal to holiday and year-round boaters alike, as well as the usual dining trade. The bar area is reasonably down to earth, with some bench seating and a dartboard, then there's a raised dining area unused on a weekday afternoon. Large outdoor drinking area. As well as ambitiously priced food the pub majors on real ale, and the selection changes often, but the Nethergate example we chose was well presented. Well worth a visit, but I suspect boaters and walkers on a budget may press on to the more keenly priced Blue Lias for their supper.

Official site of The Boat Inn - www.boatinnbirdingbury.co.uk

Official site of The Boat Inn - www.boatinnbirdingbury.co.uk