Nice pub with good food near water - Thames Valley(ish)

[omniflow]

Hi,

Looking for recommendations for a nice pub that does good food and has lots of outdoor space that overlooks water - either a river, canal or a lake. Ideally within 1 hours drive of Great Missenden. I'm not looking for the Waterside Inn, but neither am I looking for a Harvester.

Thanks

[adamlstr]

The Ferry at Cookham, is/was always decent. Not been for a little bit now though.

[spikeyhead]

The Grove Lock, just south of Leighton Buzzard

[itsnotarace]

Wallingford seems to be within your cachment area ~45 mins, and offers a few alternatives.B4009 is also quite a nice drive

Food: https://www.waterfrontcafe.co.uk/
Drink: The Boat House, Wallingford

Another 10 minutes drive past Wallingford try the Barley Mow at Clifton Hampden - both food and drink: https://www.chefandbrewer.com/pubs/oxfordshire/bar...

[Kinky]

Would The Mill House in Hook/Odiham qualify?

[Thankyou4calling]

The Compleat Angler at Marlow. Nice bar and riverside location.

https://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/our-hotels/south...

[Ryvita]

Haven't been there for several years so can't speak to the food quality now, but for location, The Swan at Pangbourne is pretty good.

[omniflow]

Thanks - I should have added that I'd like to avoid any "chain" pubs - e.g. Fullers / Mitchells and Butlers as the food in those is pretty much identical regardless of where you go. Unfortunately most of the nice pubs on the Thames are one or the other.

The Swan at Pangbourne is a good shout, as is the hotel in Marlow - I hadn't realised they had several options for eating - I thought it was only their flagship Indian restaurant. "On the lawn" looks pleasant, but the food options are a bit limited - salad or all day breakfast....

[Thankyou4calling]

If a place advertises an All day breakfast

I’m in.

[silobass]

French Horn, Sonning?

[RichFN2]

itsnotarace said:

Another 10 minutes drive past Wallingford try the Barley Mow at Clifton Hampden - both food and drink: https://www.chefandbrewer.com/pubs/oxfordshire/bar...

Driven past that a few times over the years and thought what a perfect location for a pub

Three Horseshoes out by Bourne End is a very old country pub tucked away by the canal, not the biggest garden though

https://www.the3horseshoeswinkwell.co.uk/

Not exactly a pub, but a lovely venue with great gardens and a lake

https://www.hartwell-house.com/wine-dine/restauran...

[motco]

adamlstr said:

The Ferry at Cookham, is/was always decent. Not been for a little bit now though.

Can't get much nearer the Thames than The Bounty at Cock Marsh, Cookham. Haven't eaten there for a few years though...

Edit: a quick look suggests it's more bar snacks these days, sorry.

Edited by motco on Tuesday 28th July 13:50

[Turn7]

Isis farmhouse Oxford
Right on the Thames with a huge garden and home cooked food .

https://www.theisisfarmhouse.co.uk/

[omniflow]

Turn7 said:

Isis farmhouse Oxford
Right on the Thames with a huge garden and home cooked food .

https://www.theisisfarmhouse.co.uk/

Now that looks fantastic. We had an evening picnic at Iffley lock about a month ago - with a takeaway from Oli's Thai. That's a very nice part of the Thames.

[Boz123]

Swan at Streatley v good, was a fancy hotel but now much more like a pub.

Way more car parking than the Swan at Pangbourne!

[Hobnobgti]

spikeyhead said:

The Grove Lock, just south of Leighton Buzzard

Seconded, although it is a Fullers so I do find their menus a bit lacking sometimes. Another choice nearby is The Globe Inn which is on the towpath of the canal and does very good food and plenty of outdoor space. The drive into it can be interesting when its busy though.

[spikeyhead]

Hobnobgti said:

spikeyhead said:

The Grove Lock, just south of Leighton Buzzard

Seconded, although it is a Fullers so I do find their menus a bit lacking sometimes. Another choice nearby is The Globe Inn which is on the towpath of the canal and does very good food and plenty of outdoor space. The drive into it can be interesting when its busy though.

I'd forgotten about the Globe, mostly because I gave up going there as parking became so difficult, but that was a long time ago and it may have improved.

[anonymous-user]

The Letherne Bottle ... https://leathernebottel.co.uk


I would have added the The Beetle & Wedge Boathouse in Moulsford but it's being refurbished at the moment.

[NormalWisdom]

You said not the Waterside so how about Roux at Skindles, the Brasserie they opened next to Maidenhead Bridge?

https://rouxatskindles.co.uk/

[omniflow]

NormalWisdom said:

You said not the Waterside so how about Roux at Skindles, the Brasserie they opened next to Maidenhead Bridge?

https://rouxatskindles.co.uk/

Went here yesterday - fabulous - a complete 10 out of 10 from me. Great setting, great service, really nice food. I was asked how I wanted my burger cooked, and when I responded with "How am I allowed to have it cooked?" the waitress said - "However you want". I had it medium-rare - a fantastic burger. Will definitely be going back here.

Went to the Isis farmhouse a week or so ago. Another great setting - a massive garden right on the river. Loads of tables. Food was ok - it will be interesting to re-visit post covid and see what it's like. A great place to go if you haven't pre-planned anything, as there are so many tables I doubt it's ever completely full.

Thanks for all the suggestions - I'm going to try the Leatherne Bottle when we get back from holiday.