The Narrow Boat, Middlewich

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Bucking Fastard left this review about The Narrow Boat

Despite the name it's not on the canal and from the outside this looks like a small town centre boozer,but as you walk through the interior it's size is revealed with ,at the rear, a large restaurant with a mezzanine level above reached by a staircase.The front of the pub is open plan,but to the right is a former snug,while opposite the bar there are high tables and sofas under the window.A carved beam with the inscription The Boatmans Tavern may hint at a previous more fitting name.Behind the bar is another section with a serving hatch and a mix of furniture,but quite how you could reach for your pint off a normal sized table when seated on an old leather sofa is open to question.The unlit fish tank and restaurant area,and a flatscreen airing a sitcom from Viva to a virtually empty pub on a Sunday evening indicated that all is not well here,and there was a general atmosphere of "couldn't be bothered" despite pleasant service from the young barmaid.The four handpumps were drawing Skinners Cornish Knocker (drinkable but boring £3),Doom Bar,Butcombe Bitter with a reversed TT Golden Best,a selection I guess drawn from a pubco list.Food is aimed to cement the "Steak and Ale House" billing,with most food from the grill £10-£17,while the specials comprise pub grub staples at a cheaper price point.Only one couple were eating,and the other drinking customer also left after having just the one.Quiz nights and live music may bring in more folk,but there seems no USP here and it is easy to walk past when nobody seems to be inside.With more care on their ale selection,I could justify a return,but currently it falls well short of two other real ale outlets in town.

On 30^th July 2014 - rating: 6
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