Food afloat

Cafe on narrow boat

What could be nicer then stepping aboard a traditional canal boat to sample afternoon tea with homemade cake, or watching the sunset while enjoying a candle-lit dinner cruise?

A number of café and restaurant boats operate on canals and rivers up and down the UK, ranging from sizeable party cruisers on the Thames and Mersey to very traditional family-run narrowboats elsewhere. You can find details on these boats by searching under ‘pubs and restaurants’ on specific county or waterway pages.

We have also listed a selection below:

London
Jason’s
Discover London's best kept secret on Jason's traditional restaurant boat. Cruise along the beautiful Regent's canal from romantic Little Venice, through Regent's Park to the colourful street markets of Camden Lock.

Birmingham
Away2dine
A luxury cruising restaurant operating from the Mailbox. Enjoy fine food and fine wine as you dine by candlelight in comfortable surroundings

Lancashire
Lancaster Canal Cruises
Step aboard for a memorable evening. Special cruises include: fish, chips and quiz cruises, cream tea cruises, Lancashire hot pot cruises and pizza & pasta nights.

Stratford upon Avon
The Baguette Barge
Moored in front of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the Baguette Barge offers a great selection of lunchtime food including sandwiches, soup, jacket potatoes and salad. Their cakes are very tasty too.

The Cheeseboat
The name says it all! This isn’t a restaurant boat as such, customers stand on the towpath and are served through a hatch, but the amazing variety of cheeses on offer warrants a mention here. This boat serves cheddar with a difference: bouncing berry, amber mist, ginger spice, pickle power – it is truly a cheese-lover’s heaven. Two cheeseboats travel the canals of England and Wales year round.