Boathouse #4 Restaurant in Portsmouth

We wanted a decent meal in quiet surroundings and found it in Boathouse No 4 in Portsmouth Dockyard just past HMS Warrior. The boathouse itself is fascinating but if you go upstairs at the back you’ll find a peaceful restaurant with first class service - Phil was wonderful, explaining everything and answering all our questions. The restaurant has great views over the harbour but the food is the reason for going there. Thoroughly recommend Cheesy, hammy, eggy, an old naval favourite, was my choice, beautifully cooked and presented and I’d certainly have it again on my next visit. Great coffee, and with quick unobtrusive service, this is an excellent place to come when you’re visiting the Historic Dockyard.

Beautiful restaurant and location completely spoilt by drinks menu printed on cheap copier paper with scribbled out prices and typos.

A really great meal, in great surroundings, our table had a view of Warrior. The staff took good care of us during our meal. Would highly recommend.

Wow! What a find this restaurant is. Fabulous Sunday lunch with excellent staff. Very polite and attentive. Food was amazing . Will definitely go again and highly recommend it.

Great views of the work going on in the boathouse itself, and the dockyard comings and goings. The food was competent (if suffering a bit from the current "every bread product has to be sourdough" obsession in food outlets). Value for money was reasonable. However, the table was horribly sticky - my hands stuck to it, so did the menu, even my phone! It didn't improve after the waiter cleaned it. Given how few people were there when we visited, service was very very slow.

Great service when we arrived with a group of about 15 people. Food was excellent and great views of the harbor and boat restoration facilities.

I ordered the brunch burger with gluten and lactose intolerance. The egg, bacon, and hash brown in the burger were absolutely delicious. The chips were done beautifully too! I want to highlight the quick service and how they clearly communicated what I could have and offered swaps as needed. They were clear and accommodating, swapping the bread and patty to accommodate my dietary needs. Personally, I found the flavor of the vegan patty a bit overpowering. But overall, it was a great experience with lots of tasty elements!

Didn't even realise this was here! But glad we found it. Amazing views of the Warehouse and the Sea. We were lucky enough to see one of the navy boats coming back into dock. The food was really nice and the staff were all beyond lovely. Highly recommend a visit.

We ordered a burger and a medium well steak. The steak was served pretty much raw. It was sent back, staff were very apologetic and took the steak off the bill. The steak came back, fresh chips were added however the photo shows the outcome of the second attempt. Apart from being raw still, the grizzle meant that the steak knife couldn't get through it. Pointed this out to the staff and he was completely disinterested. It's already been taken off the bill was his comment. Well, that's ok then, I still don't have lunch. I've given it 3 stars because the burger was nice but the attitude of the staff when the steak was still raw after the second attempt means I wouldn't recommend nor return.

The staff & service were very good but the food was disappointing. We had the Sunday roast. The food was barely warm & served on cold plates. There was only a choice of two desserts. The Cognac was served in a Whiskey glass. If the prices were more reasonable these things wouldn’t be an issue but we expected more for the price we paid.

Hi, this is a great place with lots of interesting things to see and a lovely view of the harbour. The service was excellent, we had a variety from cheesy hammy eggy to scones and cakes and soup. The only downside was the scones and the cake were not fresh but everything else was good. The place was spacious and clean. This is the second time we have visited this place and it’s well worth it.

A superb lunch at Boathouse 4..great service, delicious food at good prices delivered promptly. Lots of space around us, quiet venue. We'll visit again!

A real hidden Gem with a magnificent view. Sunday lunch was lovely, lots of veg ( all very nicely cooked) tasty rich gravy. Really friendly accommodating staff.

An amazing spot with beautiful views of the harbour. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was lovely. The staff were extremely welcoming and attentive, even though it was extrmley busy. Their beer taps were broken when we visited which was a shame. But these things happen.

On entry we waited ages to be seated even though restaurant not really busy. ( people in front of us walked out due to this ) staff basically ignored us . Eventually got seated and ordered. Very limited menu and quite expensive. Eg bottle of Diet Coke £3.30! Bacon roll £7 . coffee /tea with scone £8. Only really positive was the scones were huge and warm and tasty

The service was so poor we had to leave the restaurant after the starters. No apologies from the staff; the manager was off-site and the chef was a stand-in. I wouldn't go here for anything more than a coffee.

Disappointing. The avocado toast was cold. When we mentioned it at checkout (not in a real complaining way) there was absolutely no interest at all, it 'Oh Well' was the response we got! Previously there it had been good.

We had a lovely time at The Boathouse4. The staff were very helpful and the food was great. We will definitely go there again, thank you!

Had a lovely Sunday lunch with family visiting from Canada. Such a unique setting and excellent food. We had all the choices and they were all equally brilliant. Nice bottle of wine too.

3rd visit. Excellent venue, food and service. Would definitely recommend as lovely unique venue. Loved the English wine too.

Great restaurant, great location and great staff. But the wait for our main course was unbelievable! I didn't mind, it actually made me laugh because on that Monday 17th of July, it was rather quiet there, and at least all my drinks turned up promptly. My main; the lamb, was not as great as I had expected. I am the last person to want to publicly criticize anything in Pompey, so I did email the manageress, Ally I think, but did not get any reply. That was a shame. But all in all we had the most wonderful day in that dockyard. It is an awesome place. The staff and volunteers were delightful and I can't thank them enough.

Booked this venue for a family birthday celebration and everyone loved it. Service and food were excellent. Would definitely recommend it for anyone wanting to celebrate a special occasion.

Thoroughly enjoyed our lunch celebrating the Birthday of my husband. We had a table by the window giving us a great view of the comings and goings in the harbour. Service was exceptional as was the delicious food. Would highly recommend,we will be back.

The resturant is light and airy with a nautical theme, and is located quite high up at the back of the building. It affords some very good views out over Portsmouth Harbour and HMS Warrior. You are also provided with an eagle's eye view of...

A group of friends went here for Sunday lunch. We did have a few problems communicating with the restaurant prior to the event and it seems that this is something they are aware of and addressing. The food was, in general, very good and the...

We'd been here for a wedding reception the weekend before, and saw the great brunch menu so decided to visit again with family on Saturday morning. Great location and really nicely decorated with interesting views across the harbour. Tasty coffee and good brunch options -...

Came in for lunch after exploring the Historic Docks. Food is great - tasty, well portioned and good value for money considering the quality of the food. We got the lamb rump and the cod, both delicious. There is a separate children’s menu too which has great choice for the little ones. Location is good, with choice of seats overlooking the harbour or the boat workshop.

Not a good experience. The waiter was taking us to a table but then left us to prepare a bill. He then took us to a table and then said it was reserved. We had to wait some while before he took the order. He...

A hidden gem inside the dockyard. We went for Sunday lunch and have to say that the roast beef was cooked perfectly, amazing selection of vegetables and generous gravy jug to boot. Just the right levels of service and a good wine list. Wish we...

Lovely location. Food was Luke warm. It was a shame. Staff very busy chatting loudly to each other.

This place is fantastic. By far the best restaurant for miles. If you're keen to try modern British food at its best in a fabulous, historic setting with perfect service, then you need to be here. I've been a number of times and it's never...

We had family visiting and thought we would try the Boathouse for Sunday lunch. This followed a recommendation from friends who had dined here earlier this Summer. It was absolutely first class. Lovely food, wine and stunning location at the top of this historic building...

Had brunch here, got a fantatic view of the dockyard. Food was ok but portion was abit small

Absolute heaven. The decor, the food looked and tasted heavenly (of course) and the staff were great. There was a big event planned and then the club supper and we still got everything we needed with a smile. Great views. Amazing place. I brought my...

You know it's going to be good when you get a warm welcome from the young man . Our main server a guy with a beard really looked after us ! . Lovely brunch served on hot plates . It's the little touches such as...

We celebrated a friends birthday here. Such great service, lovely decor, fantastic views and not forgetting the amazing food. All of the waitors were very friendly and helpful. We all had 3 courses and the food was delicious. Cool location inside the boathouse, we will...

Great views. Good service. Great food. Good wine list. In an interesting venue. Well worth a visit.

Had a truly indulgent & lovely afternoon tea. Food was great & the service was excellent. Looking forward to going back for lunch.

This was my second visit and the food is consistently excellent. Friendly staff and a lovely location overlooking the sea. The watercress soup was a tasty starter and our mains - from both the special and regular menu were delicious. Great chips too!

Perfect for a special birthday lunch with friends. The food, beers and staff were exceptional! The venue is amazing!

What a unique location. A mezzanine floor overlooking an historic working boat repair workshop at Portsmouth Dockyard. Very knowledgeable and helpful staff, reasonably priced and lovely food. Add to that our favourite coffee from Explorer Coffee in Gosport and a lovely ale (Mary Rose) from Powder Monkey Brewery (also Gosport) and you have a cracking brunch. It’s just a shame that it isn’t better advertised as they’re doing something really well that deserves to succeed. We’ll be back.

What a find. Delicious food, delightful staff all in an amazing setting.

All round - great food and experience for our Afternoon Tea here. The afternoon tea itself is plentiful, delicious and of high quality. All served in the spacious and wonderfully appointed restaurant, overlooking HMS Warrior and Portsmouth Harbour. The overall ambiance of the restaurant is very good and the service wonderful. I can highly recommend this - and for all the attributes above, this also represents decent value for money.

Popped by for a quick lunch on a Wednesday afternoon. Lovely restaurant, and the food is top notch for the price. I had the mushroom risotto and it was hearty and flavoursome, pairing well with the South African Chardonnay on their menu. The complimentary bread board was a pleasant surprise as well. Total bill came up to £25.50. If you visit the Historic Dockyard museums, I'd seriously recommend checking this place out!

Why would anyone give this place a bad review? Delicious good looking food, attentive polite staff, very reasonably priced excellent wine and fabulous location in the amazing working boathouse with a view over the harbour with working ferries and HMS Warrior

Excellent food, excellent service - highly recommend.

We used to love this place as the food was good and reasonable priced. We have been once since the new opening and we can say we will not be returning. The food was nothing exciting, protions really small and really overpriced. I guess you pay to have "known" chaf cooking for you? Really not worth it, the only good thing now are the views. Shame.

We had our lunch here and it was really good. Literally had the whole place to ourselves (some other tables were just having coffee). Nice view of the harbour. Staff were friendly and very efficient. Although the menu selection was quite small, the food was superb. We had the risotto, the market fish, the lamb rump, south coast cod, ginger cake and chocolate panna cotta. Every dish was delicious but a special mention for the market fish of the day. The restaurant was a little bit tricky to find. Up the stairs of boathouse 4, and around the platforms and past the toilets.

Situated on the upper floor of the boathouse, you have a choice of view of the boatbuilding in the boathouse or the boats on the Solent. Good lunch menu, can recommend the hammy, cheesy, eggy.

Conveniently located in an elevated position in a large warehouse area where many boats are either preserved or being built. It was not very busy and service was good. Not an extensive menu but the food was ok, it had gluten free options which was a bonus.

Coffee was only just hot enough but the soup was Luke warm. Sent all three back and they returned piping hot. I think the cook had decided to get his own back on our complaint by adding a very hot chilli or curry powder. We ate it but when we asked if it said on the menu that the soup was ‘spicy’ our request fell on deaf ears, which I think confirmed our suspicions . The restaurant was virtually empty and I just don’t understand how food that needs to be hot (it was a bitter cold day as well) can be served cold...odd.

We’ve been there several times as it does GF food (ltd choice though) but service is v slow each time. No one seems in charge directing the staff and I had to go to the bar to order when it wasn’t even busy (restaurant is table service). Food is nice, but steak and chips was tiny. A lovely setting. This could be good, but it misses the mark.

Today I enjoyed a lovely early Valentines date with my girlfriend at Boathouse 4 Restraunt. We were served by both Jack and James at different points throughout our time here. The food was fantastic and the service was exceptional. All of the staff were very friendly and helpful. Will definitely be returning.

We ate here for a light lunch and had the most delicious home-made soup. Service and ambiance were excellent. Highly recommended

Terrible food we both had fish n chips. Fish soggy, chips dry and hard, peas cold, curry sauce yuck. Served out of date bottled coke (BB may 2019) flat warm tasteless. Staff run off their feet, staff very polite and pleasant, only positive. we imagine this place keeps open with tourist one off visits. We're local but will never return.

We stopped here for lunch having earlier in the day perused the very limited (and dull) food offering at the Mary Rose Museum cafe. we were not disappointed and ate a selection of starters and a dessert. The food was top quality and beautifully presented.

Went for lunch and enjoyed it very much, definitely recommended 😊 Good choice on menu, all freshly cooked and delicious. Lovely views out to sea too

Lunch in a half empty restaurant. Food good and a view over the harbour, but it took 45 minutes to receive a minute steak and a salad. Hate to think how long it takes when restaurant is full.

We needed a good lunch after our visit to HMS M33. We both enjoyed the mixed fish, chips and brioch bun. The surroundings were pleasant and the views great.

The restaurant is on the terrace of the actual working boathouse with spectacular views of the docks and HMS 1860 . No reservation need during the week but on Sunday lunch for more then 4 people is recommended.

We stopped by here as we were touring the dockyard. We were greeted by a lovely waitress, full of character and cheerfulness. The menu was good and we all chose the fish and chips. This proved to be an excellent choice. one of us had dessert too which was also lovely. It was a great lunch and we will certainly eat here again when we re-visit the dockyard.

My friend and I went to have a coffee and cake here before doing the Mary Rose Exhibition, and we loved it so much we came back for lunch!

We stopped in here for drinks and had a look at the menu to decide if to have lunch here. We tried the Curious Apple Cider which was lovely. I like that they serve local and regional beverages.

Lovely interesting food and fabulous views. Good service and value for money. Much better than the other venues for adults, not really suitable for children.

It was an odd experience dining at Boathouse #4, we chose it because there are good views of either the harbour or the boat workshop, depending on which side of the restaurant you sit. We arrived and were told that not all of the menu was available (we couldn't have any mains), because a chef was on a training course. We ordered a number of small plates and sides between us and were told no, several of these items were also unavailable. All of the mains we could have required no cooking at all. Had we known this we would have gone elsewhere. Eventually the manager agreed that our selection of sides would be fine and these were completely acceptable when they arrived. Maybe he cooked them himself. In addition, when the bill came we were only charged for 1 out of the 3 items we had and the manager was very apologetic. So we have given the place an average score, the food we had was average, the experience overall poor but saved by the discount and apology. Check the chef is in before going!

Great food, a lovely view of the harbour and friendly staff made this a very pleasant lunch after visiting the Mary Rose museum

Great food, service and lovely view of the harbour. Always really attentive and friendly staff who are always welcoming and accommodating of children in our experience. Thank you Boathouse 4 Restaurant for a superb meal every time we visit!

Excellent place. Great food in good portions. Pleasant playlist. Amazing location. Deserves to be busier.

So I wrote a review of the Boathouse itself - this is just about the restaurant. I stopped with 2 friends for a quick lunch on a wet Friday afternoon on our way to the Mary Rose. If you don't know the restaurant is there it would be easy to miss being at the back of a large workshop/museum. We had a small selection from the menu, but everything was top quality. Dishes included a cured meat platter, and fishcake. This is not the cheapest place, but the food and drink seemed to be well chosen and prepared. Service was prompt and friendly (it was quite empty when we came at about 2 O clock). I like the decoration, and the view is superb. Thumbs up from our group.

Upon entry into the Boatyard #4, you need to head upstairs to get to the restaurant. While doing this you can get a great view of the Boatyard and active work below. The restaurant is full of windows and has a nice, upscale atmosphere. Our party of four had quite a variety of food: from doughnuts to Lamb Kofta. We all enjoyed our meals and the time at this place

No signs to lead you to the right queue for food or menus. Cash desk could not take card but again nothing to tell you until you reached the front only to be told to queue up at a different queue which does take cards. It’s the little things that let this place down.

This is the best cafe/restaurant on the site. The building it is set in is really interesting. There are boats being built from scratch, boats being repaired etc. Fascinating to look down n the workings from the balconies upstairs. The fresh cakes were delightful.

Stunning looking restaurant, amazing atmosphere, great service, food was amazing, we can’t wait to return! Good choice of food too.

Initially order was taken quickly but then took just shy of 45 minutes to arrive during which time we had drunk our drinks and were left unchecked and ignored. Drinks glasses were not all clean either, so had to go to the bar to ask for clean ones.

I went with my family and we had a lovely lunch. Although the service could have been better, they brought the olives before any drinks and they were a little bit slow even though it was not very busy. There is a lift to access the restaurant if you need it.

Not fast food as freshly prepared. Relaxed atmosphere sat at window looking out over harbour has children’s options also

View of the harbour and lots of options for kids and adults. We prefer to eat plant based and loved the burger. Highly recommend!

First visit to this establishment, greeted straight away by Staff member. Service efficient and meal well presented.

We went with one member of the party needing gluten free food which we had noted when we booked. All the options were explained on detail regarding gluten free and nut allergy. All the food ordered was good as was the service and view

we attended a wedding reception here and were pleasantly surprised with this venue! The staff were great, the venue was modern, clean and was such a quirky place with stunning views! The food was great and well presented.

We booked a table at Boathouse No. 4 as we were taking two of our Grandchildren to visit the Portsmouth Historic dockyard. We were shown to a nice table overlooking the water with good view. The staff were friendly and efficient and took our food and drinks order quickly. The meals arrived in good time and the Cheesy, Hammy, Eggy was greatly enjoyed as was the Warrior Burger and also the soup. We felt this was an excellent choice for lunch when visiting the dockyard and would not hesitate to visit again.

We were looking forward to having a light lunch here after having such an enjoyable day at the Docks. Service was incredibly slow. On one hand we had a full table just get up and go because no one had even given them a menu and on the other hand another table who came in after us were served very quickly. I asked about the Tiger Tails and received a blunt “don’t ask me, I am a vegetarian”, the same waitress later told us “I’m having a day of it” when she forgot part of our order. The bed of lettuce was brown and soggy in parts so I couldn’t eat it. Mentioned this to the waiter and still received the full bill, eventually this was deducted as a large part of my plate was inedible.

My husband and I we so glad we stumbled upon this place. After touring the HMS Victory, we were starving, and this spot has wonderful reviews so we decided to check it out. He got the chicken sandwich, while I got the vegetarian Sunday roast. Both were very, very good. Definitely recommend if you're in the area.

We ordered the "Mary Rose ale battered Cod" with chunky chips and our small grandson had plaice goujons with chunky chips. At £14 a portion and being so close to the sea I did expect that the fish would be fresh. What was served instead was a very small piece of triangular shaped frozen fish so very disappointing. My grandsons goujons were so overcooked and hard that you could not put a fork into them and I did in fact have to snap them in half. A 330ml bottle of peroni or cider was £4 and a soft drink at £2.50. I'm happy to pay the price for food that is quality but this was definitely not worth the money and was not cooked well either.

We (family of 6 [67 -16]) visited this twice over our holiday. Busy on both days and yet quiet place to sit and take stock. Nice service by unflappable staff. Grandaughter say hot chocolate better than Costa.

We were visiting the dockyard and were in the boathouse to look at the small Dunkirk boats etc and thought we'd grab a quick bite of lunch.

Can’t recommend this place enough, location is amazing, views worth it alone. Lovely staff, our food was delicious, great menu and a fantastic pit stop for touring the historic dockyard.

This is the restaurant in the Historic Dockyard with great views and apparently the best food too.

The restaurant is situated in Boathouse 4, above the area where apprentices are busy. It is reasonably spacious and the tables are well spread.

Took my youngest for a lunch date at Boathouse 4 about a week ago.

This is a great find. We were lucky to get a table overlooking the water watching ships and boats of all sizes. I had chicken salad which was really good. Great staff. Nice atmosphere and a good menu. The Boathouse itself is interesting with a few activities for the children. We visit Portsmouth a few times a year and will be returning to eat here next time. Am returning with my elderly mother in a couple of months so found out there is a lift so I bring her which she will love.

Having written an honest but not totally glowing review after a visit in January it is only right that a balance is struck. So we returned in April for a late lunch following an early kick off.

Popped in for lunch after a visit to the Mary Rose. We were a large group of 9 which included 5 children. Service was swift and staff engaged with the children. Food was absolutely beautiful I had the chicken burger and chips it was delicious. Lovely setting with views of HMS Victory. Inside the boathouse is just as interesting with lots for the children to interact t with.

We visited during the bank holiday and both had a main, a desert and a drink each for about £50.00.

Needed a hot drink after a long before seeing The Mary Rose museum. Interesting setting, upstairs in a boat house. Good range of seating with lovely coffee and hot chocolate. Home made cakes looked good and were well made. Good texture with the correct level if sweetness. Slow service when not very busy lost them a star. We will come back to view the rest of the dockyard and will return here.

We recently had our sons Christening here for 50 people. I can honestly say it was such a smooth and relaxing experience. Nothing was too much trouble both in the planning and on the day. We were able to decorate our tables and choose from an extensive and scrummy menu. Portions sizes and taste were spot on!!

We had a late lunch on arrival in Portsmouth for our 4 day short break. It was a great start! The chicken burger was mouth watering and my other half had the Fish & Chips which was also very good. The staff were friendly and professional. The decor and ambience was excellent. Thoroughly recommended.

My husband and I visited Boathouse 7 restaurant on Sunday 24th March, when we arrived we where attended to by Karen, who pointed out two teas should of had two pots and not just one, she went and fetched us another one and was really helpful, after this service, we decided this is where we will have lunch, we returned at lunchtime and again enjoyed wonderful food and excellent service from Karen, it really is a delight to go somewhere as strangers and to leave feeling like friends as this is how we felt, Karen really goes above and beyond our expectations off service in a cafeteria, she obviously loves her job and has a rapport with the public in general.

As a solo traveller I was made extremely welcome from the beginning. Karen is an amazing customer ambassador. I enjoyed ever moment.

We decided to have lunch here whilst visiting the Historic Dockyard in Portsmouth.