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Disappointment of the week with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Peterboat, Old Leigh, Leigh-On-Sea
Leigh-On-Sea
SS9 2EN
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Peterboat
We visited this large seafront pub in the height of summer on a gloriously hot day, so saw it at what I assume is the absolute limit of its capacity. You enter into a bare boarded main bar area with the servery in an L-shape along the back wall, slightly to your right. The bar has been designed to look like a boat, with masts, port-holes and other such quirky features, all under a nice hop-lined canopy and fairly dull bar back. Opposite, there is a spacious carpeted seating area which opens on through to a conservatory-style space beyond, where smart tables and chairs have been set up specifically to accommodate diners. Passing down the left-hand side of the bar, the room opens out a little into a couple of smartly apportioned areas with comfy seating, upmarket décor, nice leaded windows and old brick fireplaces. This space has signage referring to it as the Peterboat Restaurant, but seemed no more or less food-oriented than the rest of the pub. Pop music was playing in the background for the duration of our visit and as you might expect on such a sunny day, the place was awash with kids and dogs who were causing chaos around the packed bar area. The pub’s standout feature (in the summer at least) is the huge tarmacked garden area (seemingly a former car park) to the side of the building, which is jam-packed full of picnic tables, including a raised section along the sea wall which looks out directly over the water. The garden has lots of bright flowers around the side of the pub and in a few planters, limited umbrellas for a spot of shade and a small booth serving ice creams, hot dogs and a limited selection of drinks. Thankfully, table service is provided out here, so it’s not necessary to trek back into the packed bar to order your fish & chips.
The bar area was so packed, I may have missed a few ales, but I did spot Belhaven Talisk, St Edmunds and Georges Ale, Leigh Six Little Ships and something called ‘The Endeavour’ from an unknown brewery. Due to a mix up with my order, I ended up with Belhaven Time IPA on keg, which turned out to be very drinkable in such hot weather. We also had some food here and found the portion sizes very large, with prices perhaps reflecting the touristy nature of their location.
Despite the crazy crowds that saw us sat at the far end of the garden in what felt like a different postcode to the pub, I enjoyed our visit here and thought the beer range and food both merited recommendations. It remains to be seen whether I’d feel the same sat in the bar area on a cold Winter’s evening, but as a summer destination pub, it was an enjoyable, if somewhat manic, experience.
On 13th November 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Peterboat
A good sized pub in a prime location alongside the estuary, it makes the most of it’s location with a large terrace adjacent to the pub and bi-folding doors along the side of the pub to open out the inside as much as possible during the current hot weather. Plenty of staff were on duty and were offering table service in the outside area if required as well as regularly clearing and cleaning the tables, which makes a pleasant change from some pubs that seem to be taken completely by surprise at how busy they get on sunny weekends.
Internally it has something of a contemporary feel to it, and there also seems to be quite a strong emphasis on food with “Please wait here to be seated” lecterns and so on, not that you couldn’t just wander up to the bar and get a pint yourself if you wished. The flooring was wood strip and the large windows gave it a light and airy feel whilst some exposed brick walling gave it a slightly more rustic feel. The bar counter had bunches of hops strung along the top and there was a small TV on the wall, although the volume was off so this was not too intrusive. A smaller room at the rear looked to be more geared up for dining, and this was a little cosier with a brick fireplace.
Beers on tap were Seafarer’s Ale, Oliver’s Island, Hilda B and Doom Bar, whilst the ciders were Strongbow and Strongbow Cloudy Apple. All in all, a decent enough pub, but whether there would be enough to tempt me back if it were not for the outside seating, I’m not so sure.
On 18th July 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1947 recommendations about 1860 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Peterboat
Prime position in the old town beside the estuary, with some fine views from the terrace if you manage to get a good table. Inside, the bar / restaurant is formed into an overall 'L'-shape with a variety of seating and dining areas. Refurbished with semi-modern furniture and decor. Four real beers from a total of eight handpumps on various parts of the counter, including the 'house' East Anglia Ale (£2.95).
On 7th June 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about Peter Boat Inn
Seems to have gone up market and now is more like a restaurant with a bar at the front.Good news is it noe sells 3 real ales.
On 27th March 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Mycroft left this review about Peter Boat Inn
Great position by the water (or mud) at Old Leigh. No draught beer available last time I was there - only Guinness & John Smith's - which just plain isn't good enough. Eat somewhere else, too - the "rare" steak was brown right through. Looks like both the beer & the food are better at the Crooked Billet up the road. Someone should also tell the group of regulars who hang out in what used to be the lounge bar that there are a lot of English adjectives that don't start with "F".
On 3rd August 2005
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3 recommendations about 3 pubs]