Hart's Boat Yard

Hart's Boat Yard is located on the banks of the Thames in Surbiton and offers a lovely view of the setting sun over the gardens of Hampton Court Palace. The new furnishings of leather tub chairs, teak oak tables and atmospheric lighting complement the pub's stylish feel. There are three levels of outside dining - upper restaurant deck, lower bar deck and light snacks available beside the river and a ferry crosses the river from the pub to Hampton Court Palace. Boats are available for hire.

The atmosphere is comfortable and relaxing, whether you're there for a reflective winter pint, a cup of coffee or a gastronomic extravaganza. Open fires and a large bar invite guests to sample their choice of chilled continental beers, classic English ales and champagne. Whilst the menu is modern European pub fare there are plenty of homely comfort foods as well as some more refined dishes.

To set the right note of fashionable sociability there are sharing plates, Spanish tapas of stuffed pequillo pepper, tortilla and Parma ham, a baked Camembert with rustic bread, Greek mezze with taramasalata with humus, tzatziki, feta and flatbread, or a pizzette with garlic, rocket and Parmesan.

Amongst the starters, there is soup of the day, smoked ham with poached egg and muffin, chicken liver parfait, crayfish and salmon ravioli or caramelised onion tart. Look, too, for Black Pearl scallops when the market is right. The salads offer tandoori chicken with spinach, mango, cucumber and mint, for the seafood fiends some seared salmon Caesar with marinated anchovies and parmesan or roasted squash, goats cheese, cherry tomato and rocket.

These days no self-respecting gastropub can afford to be without its pizza range; expect to find a classic Margherita of tomato, mozzarella and basil, another with pepperoni, chorizo and jalapeno or the delicious duck, plum sauce and spring onion option.

The grills for hearty eaters are worth trying and choices include pork chops and salmon among others. These are all served with frites, garlic butter, brandy peppercorn sauce, béarnaise, burnt tomato and onion salsa or mango and chilli. For the big event, there is always a fish of the day on request. The steak burger with cheese, onion and mustard mayo is popular, a sign of the times and improving taste in eating. There is lovely rack of lamb with chorizo as well as venison and wild mushroom or the creamy risotto.

A wide range of supporting dishes includes baby potatoes, Belgium frites and mayo, and greens, leeks and peas. For desserts resort to the blackboard, where there is always a good display, often with some of the local cheeses to set the buffs alight.

More information, including full menus, is available on their Website. Please note that the E-Mail Contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.