Isn't it sad.......

boatone

boatone

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 Jul 2001
Messages
12,845
Location
Just a few cables from Boulters Lock
www.tmba.org.uk
Isn\'t it sad.......

Reading the various posts following on from my disappointment re the Compleat Angler it strikes me that it is really sad that there are so many places on the river we boaters could enjoy if their proprieters would be a little more friendly and contribute to the life of the river.

Does the River Thames Alliance really stand a chance of changing anything? The hotels we are talking about dont even seem to belong .

Another one that springs to mind is the one just above the Staines railway bridge - actually has a mooring but neglected and needs dredging a bit.

Should we start our own system of grading for establishments on the river? Maybe we could award them a YBW Thames Forum Boat Friendly award?

How about the EA and local authorities establishing some special grant-aid for projects to improve riverside access for boaters? They seem to be spending a lot of effort on improving things for other visitors /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Re: Isn\'t it sad.......

Tony the list of places no longer welcoming boaters is virtually endless. My way you have the Leathern Bottel which actually discourages people popping in for a meal unless they have pre-booked a mooring.
 
Re: Isn\'t it sad.......

this is the only thing that has slightly dissapointed me in our first year on the thames. When saving for the boat, I would often look forward to the the time were we could pull up in our boat, at, or even near a traditional riverside pub for a lunch or evening meal.
The reality is, as mentioned that this is not the case. Often it will involve mooring some way from a village / town because they are the closest mooring and then having to walk / cycle to the pub.
 
Re: Isn\'t it sad.......

We moored up at the Swan Hotel at Pangbourne a while ago to enquire about overnight moorings so we could enjoy a Birthday meal out, and they said it was £25 per hour.

Big mistake given my penchant for vast quantities of expensive food and Wine...

Twats...the mooring was empty too /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Re: Isn\'t it sad.......

Ahh but you see all you are doing is putting a great hunk of steel and or fibrerglass in front of the very dining room / garden that attracts people there in the first place.

Agree it stinks but that's the real reason for lack of mooring in most places.
 
Re: Isn\'t it sad.......

[ QUOTE ]
Often it will involve mooring some way from a village / town because they are the closest mooring and then having to walk / cycle to the pub.

[/ QUOTE ]

But I think thats the best way.
I choose to moor in the middle of nowhere and walk through some of the most beautiful countryside to get to a pub.
In our first few years of Thames boating we had no idea of what lay a few yards either side of the river.
 
Re: Isn\'t it sad.......

[ QUOTE ]
We moored up at the Swan Hotel at Pangbourne a while ago to enquire about overnight moorings so we could enjoy a Birthday meal out, and they said it was £25 per hour.

Big mistake given my penchant for vast quantities of expensive food and Wine...

Twats...the mooring was empty too /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think you would really like to moor there overnight, it does get pretty raucous. Much better to moor on the meadow and than have a gentle stroll there and back, even checking out other establishments on the way.
We used to have the main meal in one and the sweet in another in days gone by. We can't even afford a sweet nowadays.
 
Re: Isn\'t it sad.......

[/ QUOTE ] But I think thats the best way.
I choose to moor in the middle of nowhere and walk through some of the most beautiful countryside to get to a pub.
In our first few years of Thames boating we had no idea of what lay a few yards either side of the river.

[/ QUOTE ]

Can we have a post that remains at top of page below river conditions listing all the boat friendly places also those in reasonable walking (staggering home) distance.

I would like to add The Rising Sun in Hurley Village just a 5 miniute stroll from the lock.

Chill
 
Re: Isn\'t it sad.......

Had a strange meal in the rising sun last year. Both had steak (after drinking and chatting in the bar with the local butcher who had supplied the meat that day), and the steak was brilliant, but was served with microwaved vegetables and a pre brought heat and pour sauce (the waitress confirmed this).

shame that they go to the trouble of sourcing local decent meat and then ruin it with what and how they cook it with.

Spoke to the lock keeper the next day (we were moored up at temple lock) and he said we should have gone to the Hare & hounds instead - up the lane nr the lock towards henley road on the outskirts of marlow
 
Re: Isn\'t it sad.......

While reading this post I took a call from a client who mentioned Boulters and had I been there. We talked about the moorings and I understand this is on their list of things to do. It would be worth them talking to a few boaters to understand what we need and they can then gauge how much it is worth spending.
 
Re: Isn\'t it sad.......

Every time I have tried to get into the Hare & Hounds it's been fully booked, even a few days ahead. Must be something good about it, wish I could find out - must try harder!

Wouldn't fancy walking there from Temple or Hurley lock though!
 
Re: Isn\'t it sad.......

The Hare and Hounds is now under refurbishment and new ownership, to be opened soon as "The Cheerful Soul" as per the TV programme "The Restaurant". The new owners are the winners of the last TV series.

http://micheleenglish.co.uk/Therestaurant.aspx

Although it's quite a walk from the Thames path, you can walk it in 20 minutes from the downstream mooring from Temple lock. Also walkable if moored at Harleyford, as you can cut through the back of Harleyford onto the lane that comes out opposite the pub.
 
Re: Isn\'t it sad.......

..ahh ok I know where you mean, however I have a strict rule about booking moorings on the river, NEVER. The appeal is just stopping where and when you fancy and not having to plan anything.
 
Re: Isn\'t it sad.......

[ QUOTE ]

Another one that springs to mind is the one just above the Staines railway bridge - actually has a mooring but neglected and needs dredging a bit.



[/ QUOTE ]

Shame about the mooring, yes, but the food and service there are even worse!
 
Re: Isn\'t it sad.......

Compleat angler far too stuffy, but opposite is a slipway and a place to moor - its the end of St Peter St. and the site of the original (wooden) Marlow bridge.

50 yards up that rd is the 2 brewers. My favourite pub/restaurant in Marlow, excellent food and absolutely second to none, friendly but not stuffy service. If you don't like that you can walk to 17 pubs and 24 eateries (at last count).
If that single mooring is taken just stop in higginson park upstream of the bridge and walk through the churchyard to the Brewers.

As for the Angler I've been there I guess 6 or 8 times. My wife has held a few busines awaydays for her team there (so she can walk home!) Every single time there has been a "mistake" on the bill in their favour. We just don't go there anymore.

The Bridge at Staines is very shallow - outdrive boats only with the drive up and the boat dragged in.

I agree about waterside stops and it could be better - but it could be worse too. When we went up to Oxford last year we stopped in a pub garden, for free, every night bar Abingdon.

for example
CIMG0682.jpg

CIMG0606.jpg


I miss the Thames and used to always keep the boat there for half the year, but the increased licence cost is the final straw when added to the cost of changing marina and the fuel for bombing round. It means I probably will just enjoy the Thames on foot or by bike in future.

Now that is sad....

[oops beaten to the 2 brewers recommendation in another thread]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top