Christmas 2024

Our Christmas Menu is now available below. Alternateively, to view/download a PDF version click here.

The Boat House Stratford-upon-Avon

Riverside dining and bar

The Boat House is an independently owned riverside bistro and bar offering freshly prepared food in a friendly and relaxed environment. Located a stones throw from the town centre on the south side of the river, we have some of the best views of the river from the first floor of the 18th Century working boathouse which has been extensively refurbished using reclaimed wood, bespoke furniture and nods to the buildings heritage. The panoramic vista from the dining balcony features the Grade I listed Saxon Clopton Bridge across to the historic Tramway bridge and onto the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, The Boat House is a prime spot for watching the world go by whilst enjoying wonderful food and drink in a friendly and relaxed environment.

The well-stocked bar offers a selection of Purity and Carlsberg draught beers & lagers, handpicked wine and spirits list, craft beers & ciders plus a wide selection of soft drinks to enjoy at the huge zinc topped bar or in our riverside garden.

Whether it’s a morning coffee, long lunch, dinner with friends or a ‘burger & beer’, our menu of freshly prepared dishes, trademark fish specials, outstanding Sunday roasts and classic bar snacks has got you covered. Our enthusiastic team of chefs choose the finest locally sourced ingredients to create seasonal dishes with British and European influences.

The friendly and experienced team look forward to welcoming you to The Boat House!

Christmas 2024

2 Courses £32 (available lunch only)
3 Courses £39

Christmas Eve: 12pm-11pm (kitchen 12pm - 9.30pm)
New Year’s Eve: 12pm - 5pm (kitchen 12pm - 4pm), 8pm - Early morning
New Year’s Day: 12pm - 5pm (kitchen 12pm - 4pm)
Christmas Day: Closed
Boxing Day: 12pm - 5pm (kitchen 12pm - 4pm)

Extra Info

  • Sustainability

    At The Boathouse we are dedicated to sustainable practice and ensure that locally sourced produce is sourced where possible. Our fish and seafood is sustainably and ethically sourced and we are committed to low food miles. Our house drinks are carbon neutral and we serve only the most delicious fairtrade tea and coffee. The Boathouse itself is fitted with low energy equipment and exercises a split waste recycling system. All of our suppliers are chosen with sustainability in mind and we avoid single use plastic where possible.

  • Dogs & Sprogs

    COVID update; Children to remain seated AT ALL TIMES both indoors and outdoors, no under 12’s permitted after 6pm.

    Well behaved dogs are welcome in our bar where you can have a ‘glass or two with your cockerpoo’. We also have a few bar tables where you can have a ‘meal for 4’ with your labrador’. It is advisable to book as we don’t allow dogs in our main restaurant area.....not everybody loves them as much as we do!

    Children are welcome to come and enjoy our small, regularly changing kids menu and our chefs will be more than happy to split portions of the adult menu. Due to fire restrictions, we can only allow a couple of pushchairs/prams inside the building but our helpful staff will try their best to find somewhere to park them outside if needed. We have 2 high chairs for small children, please let us know when booking so we can reserve one for you. Our toilets are small, for that reason we unfortunately do not have dedicated baby changing facilities.

  • Access

    We are based on the first floor of a working 18th century boathouse so, unfortunately, we do not have dedicated disabled access but our entrance staircase is not too steep and is wide with a sturdy handrail.

  • Avon Boating

    Did we mention we are situated in a working boathouse? Our wonderful downstairs neighbours, Avon Boating, have been operating out of this location for over 100 years and continue to delight river goers with their fleet of Edwardian vessels as well as canoes, motor boats and river cruises! Open between March and October, spending some time on the river could be the perfect way to work up an appetite or get you in the mood for a drink at the bar. For more information, visit https://www.avon-boating.co.uk.

  • At the Bar

    The Boathouse is not just a place for great food, we also welcome you to come and join us for a drink at our unique Zinc bar! You do not have to be dining with us to enjoy our dedicated bar area and garden. With a well stocked bar of draught beers and lagers you will find the names you know and love alongside a selection of craft beers and more unusual offerings. If you prefer grape over grain, you may wish to peruse our wine list of hand picked selections featuring some stunning options from near and far. Feeling Fancy? We have perfected our Tom Cruise impressions to offer you an exciting menu of classic and signature cocktails including alcohol free options to complement our soft drinks selection. Cheers! Salud! Santé! Prost! Skål!

  • A History of the Boat House

    The Boathouse has been a notable feature of the Avon river bank for centuries, having witnessed countless river festivals, regattas, uncountable river goers as well as having had several inhabitants in the building itself!

    Relatively little is known about the origins of the boathouse, perhaps due to its humble beginnings as a warehouse. Built on the south side of the River Avon, The Swans Nest Boathouse was likely constructed towards the end of the 1700’s or early 1800’s although an exact date is somewhat lost to the archives.

    Read more

  • Parking & Finding Us

    The Boathouse has a very small car park for patrons to use between 6pm and 2am but we are very popular so this is normally full very quickly.

    View map & more info

Come & join us

For a unique experience in Stratford-upon-Avon come and join us at The Boathouse riverside bistro and bar. If you enjoy great food, a friendly and relaxed atmosphere and a well stocked bar then visit us on Swans Lane Stratford-upon-Avon come rain or shine!

Contact

Please note: For bookings please click here to make your reservation. If your preferred date/time is unavailable, please call us on 01789 414960

Any large party enquiries or any other business related correspondence, please use the form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

The Boat House