Great pubs to sail to in Kent, Essex, and Suffolk

LittleSister said:
I didn't rate the pub, but I did rate the experience of going by boat to Paglesham and being able to visit a pub (albeit an uninspiring one) while we were there.

What was quite magical, but no longer available, was anchoring near the mouth of the Roach, and getting permission to go ashore on Foulness Island and walking to the (now former) pub (forgotten name) there one lovely evening long ago.

Fred Drift Left! It's a long time ago, but I think part of our disappointment with the pub at Paglesham was the lack of any food on offer at the time of our visit. An old bugbear of mine: in days of yore, a pub would knock up a sandwich from whatever they had available if someone wanted something eat, but now, paradoxically, when most pubs are so geared to being would-be restaurants, they won't do anything unless the kitchen is fully staffed and it's on the set menu.
Click to expand...
To be fair, I anchored in Applecross bay in the wee boat one lunchtime and rowed ashore for a pint in the pub, which has won numerous awards for its food and atmosphere. It was quite busy with tourists and had a very fancy menu, even in the sandwich dept. I mentioned to the barman that it was a shame that you couldnt get simole things like a cheese and tomato toastie in oubs anymore, and he said, you want one? let me have a quick word with the chef. 5 mins later I had a delicous cheese and tomato toastie with my pint, while everyone else was having apricot and feta paninis and the like. I swear there were a few jealous glances :)
 
The Ferry Boat Inn at Felixstowe does very good food and is easily accessible from moorings at the Ferry. You don’t need a dinghy as the ferry will pick you up if you call them (obviously they charge),

Not a pub, but West Mersea Yacht Club welcomes visiting yachtsmen and serves lunches seven days a week, and dinner on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. The club launch - YC1 on Channel 37 - will find you a visitor mooring on request.
 
It is a shame that Mistley is still fenced off. Anyone know what is happening there. I thought that the court case was won a long time ago and had not been appealed.
 
Concerto said:
At Lower Upnor, besides Medway Yacht Club, the are The Pier and Ship Tavern. In Upper Upnor there are the Tudor Rose and Kings Arms.

If you want to visit Chatham Marina, then you have the Ship & Trades or Pier Five Bar, plus the Copper Rivet Gin Distillery Bar.

At Queenborough you can have a pub crawl with the closest to the water is the Old House at Home, The Flying Dutchman, Admiral's Arm Micro Brewery, The Rose Inn, Queen Phillipa and The Trafalgar.

At Harty Ferry you have the Ferry Inn on Sheppy or The Shipwright Arms on the mainland.chqtham only had shepherd name rubbish Alexander their pub in the outlet area is poor
Click to expand...
 
steve yates said:
I fancy some watery pub crawling, and sailing to each pub gives the perfect reason to enjoy a pint and time to recover the next day, or tide, while sailing to the next one.
What are the excellent pubs worth visiting in easy striking distance of a small sail boat that can get up most creeks? Kieth has already mentioned going up to halstow, and I know the good ones in old leigh and the barge gladys as they are my locals.
But give me the good pubs and and I can hours of enjoyment planning up linking trips to try them.
I’m an ale man by the way, lager only pubs need not apply.
Click to expand...
River deben has Ramsbottom arms
Waldringfield maybes
Felixstowe ferry the Victoria plus ffsc
 
The Plough & Sail at Paglesham used to be a regular trip, but the last time I visited we had to land at a temporary jetty in Paglesham Pool erected by Crouch Harbour Authority due to a dispute with the scrap yard owner in the old boatyard.
On arrival at the pub we were asked if we had a reservation, I thought it was just a pub. They grudgingly agreed to "squeeze us in somehow". Never wanted to return.
Has anyone been to the refurbished Ferry Boat at North Fambridge? that used to be a second home when Bill and Ivy ran it.
 
DanTribe said:
The Plough & Sail at Paglesham used to be a regular trip, but the last time I visited we had to land at a temporary jetty in Paglesham Pool erected by Crouch Harbour Authority due to a dispute with the scrap yard owner in the old boatyard.
On arrival at the pub we were asked if we had a reservation, I thought it was just a pub. They grudgingly agreed to "squeeze us in somehow". Never wanted to return.
Has anyone been to the refurbished Ferry Boat at North Fambridge? that used to be a second home when Bill and Ivy ran it.
Click to expand...
I visited the Ferry Boat at North Fambridge in December and was very disappointed with the food.
 
Last edited:
Plum said:
I can recommend The Anchor at Rowhedge on the R. Colne where you can moor on their quay right outside the pub or on the green just upstream. If you do it on a spring high tide you can have a relaxed roast Sunday lunch. On most spring tides the flood barrier at Wivenhoe just downstream closes for 2 hours so water height at Rowhedge does not change so no worrying about adjusting your lines. Time your departure for when the barrier re-opens.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
Click to expand...

The Albion at Rowhedge is even better for beer?! Or stopping off (for free) at the Wivenhoe SC pontoon and a short walk to the Black Buoy is also very pleasant for some grub and a pint.

The Yachtsmans is also really friendly down in B'lingsea and a 10 min walk up to the Rosebud on the green, never disappoints....
 
Last edited:
The problem with any restaurant or pub recommendation is that changes of ownership or a new manager or chef can radically alter the offering! And that can happen without any external sign. How are we to know that the chef has changed? And for managed pubs/restaurants how do we know the manager has changed? These days a very high proportion of pubs/restaurants are owned by chains, so externally nothing changes. There's also issues to do with individual taste - I like a quiet atmosphere; others like TVs and music! And I was educated about Chinese food by my late Chinese wife, for whom very few Chinese restaurants passed muster! Look at the number of contradictory reviews here; perhaps some are memories of the "good old days", others are influenced by personal tastes and circumstances. For example, my daughters took me for a meal for my recent birthday. My choice would have been a rather good Sushi restaurant, but we had my 5 year old grandson with us so we went to a pizza place. Not complaining - I like pizza - but it shows how choices and preferences are influenced by non-food matters.

Perhaps when giving a review, it might be useful to state when you experienced the place, what kind of experience you wanted, and how the place met it?
 
LittleSister said:
Expand your horizons!

Southwold - Harbour Inn in the, er, harbour. Next take a few minutes walk to find out if it's true that the Anchor in Walberswick is better. Next day take your dinghy up to Blythburgh to try the White Hart.
Click to expand...

Also the Nelson in the town at Southwold has also been great in all of the 15 years we have visited, the place. Never tried the White Hart, will give it a go next time. Thanks for the recommendation.
 
We have had decent food at the Rosebud at Brightlingsea, just at the end of the town high street. I think the last occasion was about 9 months ago. They specialise a bit on fish. The best food I've had out lately was not close to water unfortunately. The Jubilee on the old Ipswich road north of Colchester was where we were taken for a birthday lunch. The place was full mid-week and there was an excellent menu, basically pub food. There were a dozen of us and I noticed that every plate was cleared.
 
What is all this landing and walking to the pub...... At the Butt and Oyster they'll serve you out of the window at the end of the bar if the tides right...... motored up a few years back, got a pint ......and the bar maid. She was about to go on her break and had never been on the river....
 
How about Foulness Island.

George & Dragon gone but I believe there is a Heritage Centre on the island that serves tea and cake.

Would be fun if you could anchor in the Roach and then walk to the centre. Looks like Sunday would be visiting day if nothing else is going on.

Has anyone been and when can you go ?
 
LONG_KEELER said:
How about Foulness Island.

George & Dragon gone but I believe there is a Heritage Centre on the island that serves tea and cake.

Would be fun if you could anchor in the Roach and then walk to the centre. Looks like Sunday would be visiting day if nothing else is going on.

Has anyone been and when can you go ?
Click to expand...
I think it's only open one afternoon per month. It's really set up to cater for group visits by road and that has to be arranged with the bridge security. We turned up on spec once and the lady in charge was very helpful but a bit over stretched.
 
LONG_KEELER said:
How about Foulness Island.

George & Dragon gone but I believe there is a Heritage Centre on the island that serves tea and cake.

Would be fun if you could anchor in the Roach and then walk to the centre. Looks like Sunday would be visiting day if nothing else is going on.

Has anyone been and when can you go ?
Click to expand...
Tea and cake! Bugger that, no ale, no sail :)
 
DanTribe said:
I think it's only open one afternoon per month. It's really set up to cater for group visits by road and that has to be arranged with the bridge security. We turned up on spec once and the lady in charge was very helpful but a bit over stretched.
Click to expand...
Thanks Dan.
I'll give them a ring. Looks like they open at Easter.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top