The Boaters Inn

Riverside dining is one of the great experiences afforded by the coming of summer. There is something rapturous about enjoying your meal while sitting next to a gently flowing river. Yet the paradox is that because it is so enjoyable, a lot of people want to experience it for themselves.

The sheer weight of numbers often makes it difficult trying to find a decent spot. The South Bank offers some decent places but the atmosphere on an average evening is typical of the mayhem that dissipates the serenity of the occasion. But there are calmer venues to be found on London’s peripheries, such as the Docklands or south-west London.

I came down to Kingston, a 20-minute ride from Vauxhall and just across the water from Hampton Court with its iconic maze. The Boaters Inn is positioned right on the bank of the Thames and the class of the area was evident in the number of boats adjacent to the bank.

I started with the grilled squid with chilli, rosemary and garlic (£6.50), while my companion had the coriander and wild basil soup (£4.50). Both were very impressive with the squid being juicy but not too rubbery, while my companion, who I would happily recognise as my culinary superior, was very complimentary about her flavoursome and creamy soup.

What was noticeable about the main courses was the size of the portions and how much you get for what you are paying. Both my companion and I struggled to finish what we had ordered, although it was not for the lack of any quality in the food. My marinated spatchcocked poussin (£12.50) was a fine piece of meat and combined well with the chorizo and coriander salad that came with it. My companion was similarly effusive about her lamp chop, accompanied by tzatziki, Greek salad and new potatoes.

The problem of having eyes bigger than our stomachs struck again with the dessert choice. We both plumped for the sticky toffee pudding with honeycomb ice cream (£6.50) and found ourselves moaning `This is so good. But I can’t eat any more. But this is so good’ over and over.

Overall, the Boaters Inn offers a fine meal at a decent price. Two people eating a three-course meal together with wine won’t have to spend much over £60. I couldn’t say that it is a place worth rushing down to, but if you are in the area and looking for a venue to eat at that comes with a beatific view, it’s worth popping in – especially on a Sunday, when they have live jazz.

The Boaters Inn
Canbury Gardens
Lower Ham Road
Kingston Upon Thames
KT2 5AU

Tel: 020 8541 4672