Riverside barbie might float your boat
SUMMER isn’t over yet and, I don’t know about you, but I’m heartily sick of smelling like a barbecue.
for the first couple of weeks it’s all fun and games, but after a while, the smoke, dropped sausages and spilt drinks all get a bit tiresome.
We find ourselves longing for the novelty of dining al fresco, without the hassle.
That’s where The Boater comes in. Located on argyle Street, near Bath’s Pulteney Bridge, you’d never guess this cosy english pub has a chic, Mediterranean side.
head in the door and down the – very steep – stairs to your right and you’ll find yourself stepping out into the “riverside garden”. Cards on the table, the river avon isn’t actually going to flow past your bench like a Venetian canal, but it is close enough to see and just a 20-second walk away.
The view, coupled with the fairy lights, parasols and relaxing music, make for a lovely atmosphere. Oh, and I should mention that there’s a barbecue too.
Whether you’re into beef, lamb, tofu, pork or chicken, there’s something for everyone on the Boater’s barbecue menu. any burger costs £8 and you can add sides for £3.50 each.
There is also a full complement of reasonably priced cocktails on offer too.
I plumped for an aperol spritz and turned my attention to the food menu.
The only – figurative – fly in the ointment was that the Owton’s wild boar and apple burger that I’d seen on the menu at the front door wasn’t listed on the menu at the till. I ordered the Chalcroft farm beef burger instead.
at £8 and 874 calories, I was expecting a well-dressed patty and so didn’t order a side to go with it. Then I sat down and enjoyed the sun for around 10 minutes, while my lunch was cooked on the barbecue.
When my burger arrived in a polystyrene box, I was a bit disappointed. It wasn’t the al fresco dining experience I’d hoped for, but rather something that looked like it had come from a chip van at the fair.
It came with lettuce and a bun, but absolutely nothing else – not even a sachet of ketchup. The burger itself was delicious, thick and well-cooked, but it was crying out for some burger sauce and a bit of cheese.
all this considered, I thought £8 was a bit steep, but then prices are rising everywhere and perhaps it’s unfair to expect a £5 burger these days. It did keep me full for the rest of the day, but it was an uninspiring dining experience.
Thankfully the beautiful setting, music and sunny weather more than made up for my mediocre meal. I drained my aperol spritz, put my polystyrene box in the bin and
headed out to enjoy the day.
The Boater is a great shout if you want quick, simple food and an outdoor get-together with your nearest and dearest.
however, if you’re a real foodie, then it might be wise to eat before you head out.
Imogen Mcguckin
■ The Boater, 9 Argyle Street, Bath, Somerset, BA2 4BQ. Tel: 01225 464211. Visit: www. boaterbath.co.uk