The Boat House

Since Anthony and Tara Weston recently took up the mantle at The Boat House in Wallingford, the drinks have been flowing, the food has kept coming and good times are being had by all - in short, the pub has been returned to its rightful state and the customers are flocking back. One of the first things the Westons set to righting was the pub's decor. After a period of refurbishment, The Boat House is now almost completely open plan, so there's plenty of space to mingle with friends and also more room for new and trendy furniture, such as the high tables and the long and comfortable Chesterfield-sofa-style booth seating. Those who want to sit pretty on one of the plush bar stools will find plenty to intrigue them, with a large range of chilled bottled beers, spirits and wines, as well as hand-pumped lagers, ciders, beers and real ales available. Of particular note is Shipyard Brewing Company's American Pale Ale, which was brewed collaboratively between the US's Shipyard brewery and the UK's Marston's. There are assurances that all tipples will be at their best here, too, as The Boat House has Cask Marque accreditation. The team also take requests, so if there's a particular brew that's well thought of but isn't stocked, they want to hear about it, and will try and source it. Comfort also extends to the pub's outside seating area, which is right against a bank on the side of the River Thames. It's easy to imagine watching the ducks and swans float on by in summer whilst eagerly awaiting a couple of dishes from the traditional menu. Starters here range from deep-fried whitebait with tartare sauce and farmhouse pate to crispy barbecue chicken wings and a deep plate of nachos, whilst main courses include a mass of options across pub classics, grills, burgers, sandwiches and jacket potatoes. There's dishes like hunter's chicken, bangers and mash and lasagne, as well as tomato and mascarpone risotto, chicken and chardonnay wine pie and the vibrant salad: a mix of beetroot, butternut squash, bulgur wheat, peas, cucumber, tomato and red onion on a bed of baby gem lettuce, all drizzled with a honey mustard dressing. There's also a range of monthly seasonal specials, and the mandatory traditional pub inclusion of a weekly Sunday roast. A string of delicious desserts round out the savoury choices. The undisputable king of puds, chocolate fudge cake, makes its appearance known, but the praline profiteroles, which are filled with a hazelnut cream, do present an admirable challenge to the throne. The lemon cheesecake with whipped double cream, perhaps followed by a fine cappuccino, also provides plenty of refreshing and enlivening notes to end a meal on