The Boat Inn — Restaurant in South Staffordshire

We had dinner at The Boat Inn this evening,  and the main course was lovely. I had the honey beef sizzler, while my wife had the chilli chicken sizzler.

Sadly, this was let down slightly when it came to the dessert. We ordered one cherry crumble with custard, and another with ice cream. Both options were on the menu, so we hadn't asked for anything special. Some time later though, the waitress brought out one crumble with both ice cream and custard. In any other pub, that would have been a special order, so why on earth they thought that's what we ordered is beyond me.

We told the waitress what we'd ordered, and she took it away with an apology. The waiter simply brought it back minus the ice cream. So I then asked for a spoon so I could actually eat it, as that wasn't forthcoming. The waitress brought me a soup spoon and a knife wrapped in a napkin. Not ideal, but I didn't want my dessert going cold so I got on with it. When the waiter came to apologise about the wait, we asked for dessert spoons, so we got yet another apology.

Just a couple of minutes after I received my dessert, the waitress brought out a lasagne with garlic bread for my wife. "Er, no that's not for us. We're still waiting for my wife's cherry crumble". Which she did finally receive after I'd finished mine.

No shortage of apologies from the waiter and waitress, but these were very basic, and some would say quite comical service errors.

While we were eating our main course, the table immediately behind ours had 3 young lads, and my wife noticed one of them start vaping. My wife watched him like a hawk to see if he'd do it again. He did, but another customer shouted at them from across the room for him to stop. He did, and just a few minutes later, they all left. They really weren't any trouble, but customers shouldn't have to police the clearly signed "no smoking or vaping" rule designed for the health and comfort of everybody. No member of staff challenged them for vaping, even though there are signs on all doors saying no smoking or vaping.

If that wasn't enough, when we were about to pay for our meal, I noticed another young guy vaping, but this time he was sat at the bar, chatting to the bar maid. I asked the waiter to point out the no vaping signs to him. I also suggested that the barmaid should have told him. The waiter passed this onto the barmaid.

It struck me that there were no responsible "adults" on duty, only very young or new bar staff, who clearly require...

The Boat Inn in Stafford is a delightful establishment that perfectly captures the essence of a traditional British pub. Nestled in a scenic location near the canal, it offers a charming and relaxing environment for both locals and visitors.

The interior of The Boat Inn is warm and inviting, featuring classic pub decor that creates a cozy and comfortable atmosphere. The combination of wooden beams, snug seating areas, and tasteful decor makes it an ideal place to unwind with friends or family.

The menu is impressive, offering a wide range of dishes that cater to various tastes and preferences. From traditional pub classics like fish and chips and hearty pies to more contemporary options, the food is consistently well-prepared and flavorful. The Sunday roast is a particular highlight, known for its generous portions and delicious, home-cooked quality.

The bar is well-stocked with a variety of ales, beers, wines, and spirits. The selection of local and regional brews is commendable, providing a great opportunity to sample some of the best drinks the area has to offer.

Service at The Boat Inn is friendly and efficient, with staff members who are attentive and eager to ensure a pleasant dining experience. Even during busy times, they manage to maintain a high standard of service.

One of the standout features of The Boat Inn is its outdoor seating area. Overlooking the tranquil canal, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy a meal or a drink during the warmer months. The picturesque views and serene setting add an extra layer of charm to the experience.

Overall, The Boat Inn in Stafford is a fantastic pub that offers excellent food, a wide selection of drinks, and a welcoming atmosphere. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick drink or enjoying a leisurely meal, it’s a place that delivers on all fronts. Highly recommended for anyone...

Haven't been to The Boat in more than 20 years so about time to pop in again! Carpark has been blocked off these days so it's every man for himself. We parked round the corner and walked. We popped in on a Sunday at 1pm intending to have a Sunday roast and boy, were we in for a treat! 2 of us - 1 pork and 1 chicken. Each, 3 very generous slices of meat, 2 medium sized roast spuds, homemade mash, broccoli and leek as one veg in a white sauce along with parsnips and carrots, roasted of course, as 2nd veg. You could tell, the veg were chopped by hand as pieces irregular but heavenly done! Fresh herbs must have been used as you can taste them. A little jug with gravy on the plate for you to pour - not too skimpy as after a 2nd helping, I still had some left. I would also guess this to be proper gravy with Bisto left in the shops! A choice of additional sauces were also offered. Lovely decor - rustic in fact but modern in an old pub. Staff attentive, quick to serve and check if everything was ok. The only thing that let our experience down was a large party of around 12 where the tables were placed so it was difficult for us to leave our table. An additional highchair was placed such that it would completely have blocked us in but a guest moved the participants of their party about to accommodate the highchair without causing inconvenience to the 2 tables that would have been blocked. On hindsight, the 2 tables should have been placed differently so guests sat a little away from the larger party. Whilst the larger party stopped us wanting pudding as we simply had no privacy, 3 children u 5 and about 9 adults chatting which left us feeling awkward being so close but not part of that party so we left after our lovely Sunday roast which was priced superbly at £7.99. We will however come...