The Boaters Inn Reviews Summary

Location

Pros:

• "The location is great but it is an average pub."
• "Super riverside gastropub with a strong focus on craft ales."
• "Fantastic location and glorious view of water."
• "Great location on the river with a large beer garden."
• "The location of this pub is right in the park next to the river so is a little chilly but beautiful."
• "The Boaters Inn is located right on the River Thames! There is indoor and outdoor seating and believe me, during this heatwave- you want to be outdoors! The outside seating is beautiful with magpies popping in to say hello- not disruptive at all!"
• "Nice pub with an excellent view of the river Thames."

Cons:

• "Inside a bit of a bland chain pub feel to it."
• "The area we were sitting in was a little cramped which wasn’t ideal for a relaxing time with other diners bumping into you every time they needed to move…"
• "Entry on this site says open at 11am. Arranged to meet 7 friends here and they're shut until 12."
• "The atmosphere only ruined by the lady next to us with her incessantly barking dog in a pram."
• "Most annoying for us as a larger group was the volume of the live music."
• "Typical pub in a great location by the river. In the summer the view must be gorgeous and peaceful. It was freezing and we had to sit outside so I won't be rushing to return."
• "They sat us outside without a heater near our table."

Service

Pros:

• "The staff are efficient but the service could have been a tad smoother but overall a great place to go."
• "Heather the waitress was also fantastic and checked in on us to see if we needed anything."
• "Staff are very friendly and attentive."
• "Efficient service and friendly bar staff."
• "Service was quick despite it was busy."
• "Service, which was attentive, prompt and the staff really listened."
• "Amazing, the staff were polite, friendly and ever so helpful."

Cons:

• "I felt ignored. I would of preferred him to be rude and attentive rather than polite and ignore us."
• "The workmen drilling around us just added insult to injury."
• "Service was disappointing, we asked for things several times, the manger promised something but did not bother to keep his easy promised."
• "Service was really slow."
• "Slow service, distracted, disorganised staff, clueless manager."
• "Service could have been a little more attentive - like checking if the tap water jugs need refilling."
• "It was difficult to get the servers attention, even for drinks."

Food

Pros:

• "I like the tempura soft shell crab burger (they call it bun here) very much. It is just unexpectedly tasty."
• "We both had the steak sandwich which was really tasty and sticky toffee pudding for dessert which was to die for!!"
• "I had a lovely rack of ribs and chips which was a large portion."
• "The food is absolutely fantastic, I had the Sea Bass and Sourdough bread and highly recommend it."
• "The harissa chicken burger was better than the beef burger, but both were great."
• "The food was delicious 😋 with lots to choose from the menu."
• "The food was very, very fresh, quickly served and very well presented."

Cons:

• "Horrible Sunday Roast, we have tried both chicken and beef and they are both terrible."
• "The roast was appalling, chicken so dry it was inedible, potatoes barely cooked."
• "We ordered a vegan burger which tasty absolutely awful it had no flavour or sauce and the chips were not cooked enough."
• "Mac & Cheese - just macaroni with cheese sprinkled on top, truly bizarre super salad and badly presented whitebait & squid thrown over a smudged blob of tartare sauce."
• "Food is not a great quality and massively overpriced."
• "The food was probably the worst I've had in a very long time."
• "The vegan Roast dinner ordered today was nothing short of awful."

Pricing

Pros:

• "Price a little on high side but overall a good experience."
• "Very reasonably priced for the standard of food and service."
• "Good beers at reasonable prices."

Cons:

• "The drinks are extortionately priced - we left because of this."
• "The pricing for the food is on the higher side."
• "Soft drinks cost a bit more than I usually pay."
• "Very pricey."
• "High price for average food and average service."
• "The cost of it all was a absolute rip off."
• "But... pricing on drinks is absurd. At least 40% higher than any other pub in Kingston."

Atmosphere

Pros:

• "Always had a friendly atmosphere."
• "Great atmosphere, helpful friendly staff Service with a smile."
• "The pub itself is always humming and serves delicious looking food charmingly served."
• "Great views of the river and friendly staff."
• "The atmosphere was very relaxed and inviting."
• "Good vibes and a nice mix of families and groups out for a Sunday roast and some chat."
• "Lovely location and atmosphere."

Cons:

• "The food was probably the worst I've had in a very long time."
• "Outside it just felt a bit unloved in the main garden area and in need of a bit of a spruce up."
• "Atmosphere is not that nice. People are bit stuck up."
• "The place had a really bad smell.. not sure when the floors and toilets were last cleaned."
• "The seats on the terrace are a bit close together and I get the impression the people next to us got frustrated with the lack of space."
• "Clearly a place exploiting it's fantastic location."
• "One particular member of staff quite rude."