The Blue Boat, W6

This is a brand new build Fuller's pub in the upmarket Fulham Reach, where I don't reckon there's much "social/affordable" housing about. It's ultra modern inside, with bare-boarded flooring consisting of a herring-bone parquet design. All the "normal" banquettes and standard tables and chairs were laid for diners, leaving some tall tables/tall stools (including a strange round fixed pedestal thing), and some armchairs on a raised area on the left, for drinkers. That's not to say that the former seating can't be used by drinkers at quiet times. The decor is generally quite interesting, with prints and other stuff on the right hand wall, and a large shelving array near the raised area with more knick knacks on top of it, and containing loads of books, some of which may actually be worth perusing (River Thames; Fulham Past). The long bar has a pewter top, which tends to add to the modern look. As you would expect with a riverside pub, there's plenty of outside seating from which to enjoy the views. The anomaly was the ceiling, which looks like an Antic-esque work in progress. Being a Fuller's pub there were no great surprises on the beer front, with London Pride; ESB; Spring Sprinter; and the fairly new Oliver's Island (£2.15 a half) available on handpump. There was a large choice of lagers available (including Veltin and Estrella), plus a couple of ciders. Obviously food is important in any modern pub like this one, and although I only glanced at a menu on the way out, I did note that main courses were £12 upwards. Again, as you would expect in a newly built establishment, an accessible toilet (which I guess must mean that it's suitable for disabled customers) is located by the other two toilets. This pub is just fine if you like large, modern, newly built pubs. The beer selection is OK without being very exciting, but the big plus with this place is the riverside setting with its outside seating - a great bonus on a nice day.

Official site of The Blue Boat - www.theblueboat.co.uk

Official site of The Blue Boat - www.theblueboat.co.uk