The Boater, Bath

On first impressions when entering from street level off Pultney Bridge, this seems to be a traditional and pleasant but unremarkable pub. Investigate the narrow staircase near the entrance however, and you come first to a cellar bar before going on further to what I’m sure is Bath’s biggest beer garden. The top bar as mentioned is a fairly traditional affair, with a long bar on the left, carpet on the floors and plenty of Bath Rugby photos on the walls. There were three plasma’s dotted around showing the rugby, although somehow this didn’t seem too intrusive. The downstairs cellar bar has quite a different feel with an unusual tiled brick floor and an arched brick vaulted ceiling. There is a further bar counter here. Down a few steps at the other end and you come to a large terraced beer garden that leads down to a walkway adjacent to the weir. It’s a pleasant spot when the sun’s out, although unfortunately the view of the river and weir isn’t quite as good as it could be. It gets packed on sunny days and there is a projector screen which shows big sporting matches. This covered area in the corner looks as though it could also be used for bands on occasions, although whether this is actually the case I’m not sure. Beers on this occasion were Courage Best, 6X, Gem and Bombadier. Ciders were Blackthorn and Gaymer’s Pear.

The first pub of the Bath tour, being around the corner from the hotel. Three floors as said, pool room upstairs. I didn't take a look in the cellar bar. The main bar is a long carpeted room with banquette seating at each end, the bar being in the middle. Red ceiling with mounted fans. Decor of framed Guinness ads, Bath Rugby and Ashes Victory posters, pub/brewery mirrors and a few token pics of old Bath. Three TVs were showing Sky Sports reruns of last weekends football games muted. Live sport shown, there was a blackboard advertising the England v France match. Six handpumps, repeated in two sets of three. Bath Ales Gem, Bombardier and Wadworths 6X.

Tucked away pub close to Pulteney Bridge and a short walk from the Bath Rugby ground. Pub on three levels, pool room upstairs which I did not venture into, nice wooden local's style mid level with traditional bar area with alcoves and lots of Bath Rugby memorabilia And then a downstairs cellar bar , which was quite the opposite décor, being very bright and a bit sterile, more resembling a wine bar rather than a pub bar. I can imagine this is to attract the students and part them from their grants. And then a decent garden area out the back with views across the river towards the Rec. Visited on a Sunday when the food on offer was traditional Sunday Roast which all looked really good and large. The beers on were Wadsworths 6X, CW Bombardier and a local brew which I have now forgotten the name of. All were good and very drinkable, and the two ladies behind the bar were polite and efficient. Imagine it gets very busy on a Rugby match day but was a decent place for a pint during our visit.