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Detail Pages
The Navigation, Towcester
Stoke Bruerne
Postal town: Towcester
NN12 7SD
Pub Type
Traditional Food (Marstons)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nick Davies left this review about The Navigation
Unchanged since Q's visit, it is indeed a lovely spot though the corporate nature gets to you. We nabbed a table looking over the canal and passed a pleasant half hour watching the goings on, which was mainly people bringing their kids to use the play area on the way back from school.
The Wainright was fine once we got it, they haven't quite figured out how to do table service: it took a good ten minutes between ordering it and getting it.
Stoke Bruere is a bit of a tourist, and possibly Covid, honeypot, what with the Watwerways Musuem and picturesque setting. Murder, maybe literally, on a summer weekend, but perfectly safe on a dank midweek afternoon.
On 10th October 2020
- rating: 5
[User has posted 567 recommendations about 559 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Navigation
Corporate Marstons outlet in an attractive stone-built building with a wonderful position overlooking the canalside. Whilst most of the original character has been lost, overall it isn’t too bad inside - a large multi-area interior with the aforementioned canal views if you're lucky and some outside seating affording an alfresco waterside experience. Note the old flagstone floor by the bar. Mute TV news, mass-catering food and muzak, you know the score. Four ales on from the Marstons stable; Pedigree, New World, Ringwood and Banks Bitter, the latter of which was in good shape. In terms of pub quality it can’t (and doesn’t really try to) compete with the Boat over the road. But it does the job it’s designed to do relatively well. And is probably well-worth a summer’s pint if you can bag a canalside seat.
On 2nd August 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Navigation Inn
The Navigation is down from the top lock in the attractive canal village of Stoke Bruerne.
Despite its situation and a large car park, it's short of outdoor space with a childrens play area to the right as you enter, a small terrace at the back and tables and chairs spread along the towpath.
I think it was an old Northamptonshire stone farmhouse as prior to its current incarnation it certainly wasn't a boozer. Inside,Marstons have done their very worst and it's been decked out in modern drinking barn style with any trace of original character and features lost.
Three beers on from the Marstons stable, EPA, Pedigree, which was in good nick and Hobgoblin.
For character, I'd head to The Boat by the top lock.
On 27th November 2012
- rating: 5
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Navigation Inn
An attractive, stone built pub in an idyllic setting alongside the canal. The pub takes full advantage of this, and there are plenty of outside tables and chairs in the terraced beer garden, and even on the towpath itself. Signs advertise jazz nights on alternate Friday’s, and “Quiz and Spice” nights on Wednesday.
Inside, it’s something of a surprise to find it has the kind of mass produced corporate feel where they try and make a new pub appear old. Understandably perhaps in a modern, characterless pub, but why on earth give a pseudo “olde worlde” makeover to a pub that is genuinely old in the first place? The only original bits appear to be a few flagstones that haven’t been carpeted over and a few wooden support posts and rafters. Besides that, it’s a cavernous affair, seeming to go on for ever, in all different directions. There is even a mezzanine floor at one end.
Decor wise it’s a bit of a mixture, with quite a bit of exposed brickwork and wooden partitions. Besides that there’s a whitewashed stone wall as well as some wallpaper. Most of the seating is geared up for diners, although there is a small area opposite the bar that has a few high tables and chairs clustered around a plasma screen showing a news channel, and a couple of leather sofa’s in the corner. There were a couple of impressive, brick built fireplaces which are presumably an original feature, although these days all they contain is a wood burning stove. A wooden roof was probably the most interesting feature.
The menu looks to be a mass-produced PubCo affair, with most of the main courses being around the £8-£10 mark. There was also a few extra choices on a specials board above the bar. Unfortunately the quality didn’t seem to be up to much; my beef and ale pie was a pile of fatty beef encased in a pastry “crust” that was so soggy it was indistinguishable from the accompanying mash. Bizarrely I was asked if I had finished when I was still half way through and had my fork poised for another mouthful. Perhaps he could tell I was none too impressed.
Beers on tap were Hobgoblin, Marston’s Pedigree and EPA. The solitary cider was Strongbow, unfortunately. In summary, this would be a great spot for a beer on a sunny afternoon, but other than that I can see little reason to visit.
On 19th October 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1948 recommendations about 1861 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Navigation Inn
The Navigation has a range of real ales from the Marston portfolio of breweries and my seasonal brew from Wychwood was acceptable.The food service was swift and a reasonable standard for pub grub and that is what most customers come in for,although it is quite possible just to drink here either inside or in the extensive outdoor areas.The interior decor is a little dull and the pub lacks real character but from my experience the Navigation does exactly what it says on the tin.
On 8th February 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]