Boat Inn, The

Located alongside the top lock of the seven canal locks at Stoke Bruerne on the Grand Union Canal, this lively waterside inn is more than just a much-loved local, providing a wide variety of food and entertainment for a widely-drawn clientele, including passing boaties, as well as those who just like the association with boats minus the ruinous cost of keeping them.

The timber and stone barn style restaurant, opened in 1978, offers an air of elegance, splendid views over the surrounding action, and makes an excellent venue for candlelit dinners, business lunches and that great British pastime, Sunday lunch.

The Boat Inn is run by the fourth generation of the Woodward family, and is very firmly independent of any brewery. Its location, together with the picturesque thatched roof and limestone construction, ensures that it has more than the customary share of attention lavished upon an idylically set historic inn.

However, all this would be to little avail if the food was not also worthy of attention. The prime menu is The Boatmans, a good selection of essentially up-market pub food, offering starters of mackerel on toast with warm potato salad, crab and ginger salad, prawn and smoked salmon timbale or duck and port pate with toasted bloomer.

Prime sirloin steak, or grilled fillet steak topped with spicy freshwater prawns head a formidable array of meat dishes. A stir-fry of sweet chilli prawn with egg noodles or curried red snapper fillet with coconut and lime introduces an element of what so many have come to regard as their favourite imported cuisine, and the homemade touch is applied to spicy crusted hake with raita.

I strongly suspect that the boatmen of former days would have survived on food a good deal less inviting than this particular menu. However, the big night of the week is Saturday, when the candles are lit and a menu no less good, but owing rather more to style and sophistication is deployed amongst happy groups of people for whom this is the Big Relax of the week.

Nor are vegetarians made to feel the poor relation with a spinach and ricotta tortellini, butterbean and squash crumble or pan fried parsnip cakes made with Savoy cabbage, peas, coriander and spices served with a chunky tomato sauce. For those with dietary difficulties the chefs are happy to prepare and adapt meals to suit the condition.

Bar food is available in the canalside bars, and the lounge offers a selection of wine beers and wines, and a bistro provides snacks, breakfasts and meals for parties.

For further details about this bubbly and welcoming venue click on their informative and easy to use Website.