Perched on Swans Nest with gaping views of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, The Boathouse was opened in 2019 by award-winning chef Nick Rowberry. Gaze across the light-dappled River Avon on sumptuous velvet seats surrounded by crystal chandeliers, a zinc-topped bar, and protea floral arrangements on a rustic backdrop of reclaimed wood, fisherman’s lanterns, and salvaged rowing boats. Here, you can sip Malfy Italian gin slings and sink your teeth into tempura battered crab in bao buns or smokey clam seafood chowder.

Nestled along the picturesque riverside, The Boathouse promises freshly prepared food and a welcoming, laid-back atmosphere. Just a stone’s throw from the town centre, this delightful pub offers some of the best river views and has been lovingly refurbished with reclaimed wood to pay homage to its rich heritage. Their well-stocked bar boasts an array of beverages including draught beers and lagers and handpicked wines, spirits, ciders, and craft beers.

Luckily, the Boathouse is home to one of the largest fleets in the country and offers motorboats, punts, and rowing boats. We highly recommend the latter, as once you’ve fought against the current and passed the recreational ground, you’ll find complete serenity among nature, only rudely interrupted by the odd house which backs directly onto the river – dreamy. Once you’ve had a good nosey at the houses, it’s utterly idyllic.

You know the Boat House is a top riverside pub and restaurant in Stratford-upon-Avon as this is where all the Avon Boating teams congregate after a hard day’s work on the river. The Boathouse is open all day for lunch, pre-theatre dining and dinner and is popular for its daily fresh fish specials. Address: The Boat House, Swan’s Nest Lane, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 7LS

Enjoy sitting outside during a warm day and watch the boats go by as you tuck into some delicious food. The Boat House is located right on the river side in Stratford-upon-Avon and offers a delicious array of food from lamb rump to pork belly, fried chicken burgers to sweet potato tarts. It’s a unique dining experience with the best views of the river.

Just two minutes walk from Avonlea, The Boathouse is our ‘local’. On a sunny day it is lovely to sit in their riverside garden and watch the world go by. The restaurant upstairs overlooks the river too and, fear not, unlike most places with such a desirable location the food does not disappoint with its varied bistro-style menu.

The Boat House is more of an honourable mention, as it probably can’t be described as a pub!. Nevertheless this is my favourite place to grab a drink in the summer. It sits right on the river and has a great outdoor area, where you can really lap up the sunshine.

The Boathouse is just one of the many excellent places to eat before taking part in River Avon wild swimming. There are an array of great choices for every taste.

The Boathouse, recently opened restaurant with a modern menu and excellent fish dishes. All served in a lovely riverside location very close to Midsummer House.