Friendly, reasonable pub (The Boathouse (Putney, London))

Member Name: honey000

Product:	The Boathouse (Putney, London)
Date:	07/02/09 (200 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great food, good range of drinks, nice staff

Disadvantages: Can be busy in the summer

The Boathouse in Putney is located perfectly if you are a fan of the River Thames. If you are approaching Putney from the Hammersmith side of the river you will see the Boathouse on the left hand side of the bridge.

Outside
It is an attractive glass fronted building which is perfect for sunny days. It has a great outside seating area which has lots of room, in the cooler weather heat lamps keep you warm.

There is a second outside seated area on the first floor of the pub on top of the ground floor bars complete with umbrellas to keep off the worst of the sun.

Inside
The pub has three bars, one on each of the levels. Each serves a great range of wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks. You can hire out the top floor bar for a private party which is good fun.

The pub is recently renovated and is very attractive on the inside. like lots of other pubs it has benefitted from the smoking ban in that it does not smell of smoke anymore and the decor is not ruined by that awful yellow by product of cigarettes.

If all three bars are open there is plenty of seating and you can generally find somewhere to perch if not.

Drinks
The pub is a Youngs pub (unsurprisingly given that the Youngs Brewery was just down the road) so it serves Youngs Original and Youngs Special plus various guest ales. Prices are around average for Putney - expect to pay £2.50 - £3.50 for a pint. There is also a good range of other beers and lagers too, both on tap and in bottles.

The pub has a good wine list with prices starting at around £11 per bottle.

In the summer the pub sells jugs of Pimms and lemonade- complete with fruit, cucumber and mint for £10 which are particularly dangerous on a sunny afternoon if you are sitting outside. You can easily get through several jugs - it is just a challenge when you try to get up!

Of course the pub also sells the usual range of spirits and soft drinks.

Food

The pub serves a good range of food, meals range from sandwiches and nibbles (nachos etc) through to a great Sunday roast lunch (always best after a winter walk along the Thames past). Prices are very reasonable (Sunday lunch £6.95 per person) they also have good special offers which change.

Atmosphere

Now this depends when you go. In the winter it tends to be favoured by walkers and those tired of shopping on the street. On a Sunday afternoon expect it to be full of a mixture of young trendy South West Londoners and familiies.

In the evening it is favoured by rowing and rugby types - great if, like me you favour big men! Famous sports men regularly seen here include Will Greenwood, Nick Easter and lots of the Harlequins players.

In the summer you will get the sun seeking crowd.

The pub is open until 11.00 or 12.00 depending on the night of the week so is great on most nights of the week

Music

Is never too loud here. There is no dance floor - probably why the rugby and rowing boys like it!

Staff

Generally (although they change fairly regularly) staff are laid back and are very friendly.

Top Tip

If you are struggling to get served downstairs sneak up to one of the other bars - often there is an enormous queue downstairs and no one waiting upstairs

Toilets

Available on ground and top floor - again may be worth you walking upstairs for less of a queue. Toilets are normally clean - again a plus for this pub.

If you are in Putney nip in for a pint - you might enjoy yourself!

Summary: For winter Sunday lunch or Pimms o clock in the summer