Boatman's Cafe and Gift Shop in South Lakeland

Great place for snacks lite bites

Cafe staff need customer service improvement !! simple breakfast served after 20mns of waiting while no more than 6 customers on the tables !!

Welcoming place on a cold day. Wheelchair friendly. Children and dogs are welcomed. There is plenty of parking nearby. Lovely view of Coniston Lake. Friendly staff, helpful too. Good menu choices are available in the Boatmans cafe. Public toilet facilities are available in the car parking area. Catch the boat up the lake, and learn about Donald Campbell, who died testing out the famous Bluebird. Interesting commentry during the boat trip. Excellent views around the lake.

The food was simple but delicious.

Food was average. They got the order wrong which caused our order to come out in 2 parts. Waited 45 minutes in total and the cafe was empty. All other cafes and restaurants in the vicinity were buzzing and busy which may tell a story.

Friendly staff. Lovely food. A little expensive but the 10% off voucher from the parking attendant helped. The cook forgot to do our bowl of chips but soon got one prepared for us when we asked for it.

Awful staff and very rude. No disabled facilities. November 2023 What terrible staff with attitude. Me and my disabled wife who is in a wheelchair went in for some lunch. I couldn't get the wheelchair through the door and the staff just looked at me no help. I asked where we could sit because most of the tables were reserved. They said in a nasty way there is one over there. My wife needed the toilet but no disabled toilet!! So I asked the staff where she could go they said the ladies. Not disabled friendly!! I said I needed to take her to assist her because she cannot walk. I asked if I could go in and they said I suppose so in a very unfriendly way!! I said this was not acceptable and had to go in the ladies without them even checking the toilets were empty. I then asked to see the manager and a security man came to see me and said I had upset there staff. I explained what had happened and he was on there side. I find this kind of behaviour very unexceptable. My wife felt very humiliated and discriminated for being disabled. The staff should try and see what its like to be in a wheelchair. We are going to report this behaviour it should never happen ever. PLEASE AVOID..You just have to read the other customers reviews to see how rude the staff are!!!!!!!!

The tour bus of my fellow church retreat attendees stopped here after we came from Southport. This establishment was so warm and welcoming to us all. Everyone raved about it on our way back to where we were staying. This whole town seemed somehow disconnected from the passage of time, although it witnessed all the historic events for many centuries, it has not lost its charm from the time when life was simple and the world had not encountered the mad rushing of the 20th and 21st centuries. I am SO GLAD I CAME HERE!!! THIS IS THE NEATEST TOWN ON EARTH! AND THE WARMEST PEOPLE IN ALL THE WORLD, TOO!!!

Gift shop very expensive , didnt get anything for lunch as there was nothing to my liking

Great service prices not bad either

Good Such good people, I needed hot water only for my medicine, the boy on the counter gave me free a cup of water, Thanks

Rude Staff!!! Two steps into the doorway and the waitress decided to shout from across the room that me and my family were not allowed toilets if we're not a customer. Literally two steps in, right on the doorway, in front of all the other customers. We had not mentioned or asked anything about toilets. It was raining and we wanted to get some coffee. We also had two more families joining us from the other car parks so we thought it'd be a good spot to meet up and get away from the rain before getting onto the cruises nearby. We felt humiliated and honestly at the time we were very speechless. I still can't understand why we were treated this way. The staff was extremely rude. She saw our faces (we're east Asian looking) and thought that's what we are all about??

St Martin’s church, old and amazing

Cafe wasnt serving food, so all that was available was sandwiches and drinks. Bit pricey to be honest.

I wouldn't even give it one star shocking service to say the least. Rude staff member saying the toilet is for customers only and demanded we buy something. we came here on a day trip will not be coming again it has ruined our outlook on this lovely place. she said the public toilets over there and pointed but they cost 50p each time. Its human decency to be able to use a toilet especially disabled. Shes shouting and stopping people using a facility like this. Don't listen to her ranting on or any staff member for that sake.

Kurze Pause mit Reisegesellschaft

Very expensive for sandwiches and coffee

Best bakewell tart I have ever had!! However, it comes at a price. £10 + for 2 coffees and cakes. Being a tourist is never cheap in popular places. Clean, polite staff. Gift shop attached. Toilets. Next to coach park.

Polite and friendly staff but sausage barm was the worst I have ever been served. The dog ate most of it and as we were leaning another customer returned his sausage barm. We should have done the same but as usual we just put up with shocking quality of food service

Went as part of a coach trip .took my mum who has dementia and mobility issues only to find no hot food available staff very rude when I asked if she could use the toilet also no where to sit down

Grate location food nice staff friendly & close to the cruise jetty enjoy

Worst customer service experience Very rude staff We went to the cafe to have coffee and breakfast. My parents went to use the washroom, where one of the staff stopped them and asked where is your coffee order. I immediately saw that told the staff that I have already placed an order. But still he asked me if i ordered for each and every person. This is the first time I had such a bad experience in such cafe. I would recomment NOT to use this cafe as the staff is very rude.

Very helpful staff, just limited good menu due to lack of staff.

Great cafe next to the coach park. Very good food and prices .

Grwat service and friendly staff and very nice food

Rude staff, we were on a coach trip and a sales man gave us a speech as a way to pay for the coach parking. I asked if there was a toilet in their cafe and I was told to use somewhere else. After getting back on the coach, all of the women I spoke to were offered the cafe toilet... Seems a bit odd. Also broken products sold for a discount but not even that cheap.

Arrived to find no body in the cafe, asked about breakfast as it was only 10am but was met with a very rude woman at the tills who told us that they weren't serving breakfast until after 11am because they were short staffed. There were no signs to say what exactly was on the breakfast menu which is why we asked. The same woman then proceeded to walk past us (the only table with people on in the whole cafe) and lock the toilets up so we couldn't go in even though the sign on the toilets stated that you could use them with a purchase. Would not recommend.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS! Place should be shut down!! We arrived about 10am and asked about breakfast but was met with a very rude woman at the tills who told us that they weren't serving breakfast until after 11am because they were short staffed?? We we're the only people in the Cafe? There was no breakfast menu and when she said they we're short staffed and then just stood there doing nothing doesn't look the best. The same woman then proceeded to walk past us (the only table with people on in the whole cafe) and lock the toilets up, so we couldn't go in even though the sign on the toilets stated that you could use them with a purchase. She also kept slamming the doors like she has some attitude that needs to be dealt with and was extremely rude, coffee tasted like water and was extremely expensive and the place is extremely outdate.

My little son and me got an ice cream....it tasted very strange....we got hours later both very sick. We felt very healthy before we got at this place an ice cream! Not to recommend!!!!

Fails the basics and generally under par Both urinals out of order Old covid signs still up Initially refused to serve us hot food as they had a pre booked party arrive after we had got there and been queueing. Then said it was 30 minutes.... Even though again we were there before the pre-booked party. We had to eat quickly so in the end bought Sandwiches which were ok but given we are still in August and trade should have been strong the place was half empty when we arrived and bar the pre-booked party nearly fully empty when we left at 12.15pm Disappointed as it really should be a gold mine given its location

Great value cafe in a tourist hotspot, tucked away in the coach park so a bit hidden away.

Visited today with my partners family, 8 out of 9 of us had ordered our food and drinks. Getting to my turn I had only wanted a small meal as I’m pregnant and was feeling nauseous so asked for the kids meal of chicken nuggets and chips, the lady walked away from the person before me and just started talking to another staff member and I heard her mutter under her voice because it looked like she couldn’t be bothered to serve me. She then told me I’m not allowed that meal as it is for under 15s even though half the kids with us got an adult meal so it really made no difference to them? Really shocked by the customer service and we weren’t happy as a family that we’d already paid for the food before or we would have cancelled and went somewhere else. Customer service was terrible, didn’t feel welcome, and served overpriced food which was Wetherspoons standard. Definitely won’t be returning and please find alternative nicer coffee shops in the area that are worth spending your money on.

Convenient place to grab a bite next to the parking lot. If you go after the kitchen is closed only sandwiches are available.

It was fine for snacks and coffee

Nice coffee. Love the blueberry scones

Really good place staff brill and very quick service

Horrible rude staff who will rip you off given an opportunity.

We had a lovely lunch at The Boatman’s. Good food, great service, helpful staff. It’s a spacious café and very clean. Very good value.

Lovely cafe and shop, my husband brought me here for our honeymoon back in 2018 and we came back this time with out daughter who is nearly 2 now. Lovely gift shop where my daughter choose some gifts and she really enjoyed the jacket potatoes 🥔!

Strange. No customers. No food when we were there

Great selection of freshly prepared food . Reasonable prices and friendly staff

I know the weather was bad but to have no food available was not good. My husband is an insulin dependant diabetic so this was not an expierience we would want repeating there should have least been a notice up saying no food available

Not recommended. No food available after 1.30 because we were told they were too busy. We sanitized our own table. Very bad customer service.

Nice coffee and food, lovely views .

Not very customer friendly. I don't like paper cups! I would reply to my email from the owner, but there seems to be no way of contacting him. My phone is not reliable.

Called in at 2pm on Friday 10th September. Place was empty . Manager would not put two tables together to accommodate 5 of us. Gave us lots of ridiculous reasons. Very rude and abrupt man. We walked out and will not be going there again. Not surprised it was empty.

We were going to use the cafe but needed to use the toilet first when we were accosted.. No better word for it.. by the shop keeper telling us we had to order food first then we could use the loo. We had just got off a long bus journey and were desperate!. He was very rude about telling us we couldn't use the facilities!. Couldn't believe it!. We thoroughly explained we were going to have food but urgently had to use the toilet first.. The way he spoke to us was disgusting.. He should be ashamed of himself!

We didnt stay popped in for Afternoon tea and they had run out it was only 1pm .

Best place for parking if your in the local area and you get 10% off at the shop and cafe if you park with them. The 5+ hour charge does you for all day.

Don’t stop here. The staff were exceptionally rude, and I encountered three different people. Shockingly expensive, poor quality, depressing decor and no atmosphere. You have to practically beg to use the toilets. No wonder it’s empty!

We were visiting the Lakes for a week and booked a boat trip for the morning. On our return to the pier, we were feeling peckish and were offered a 10% discount at the Boatman's. On arriving, the cafe was empty, solemn looking and a bit miserable to be honest! Being hungry and not knowing the area, we ordered drinks and food. The prices are LUDICROUS for what we ordered. £7 for a bacon baguette.... SEVEN POUNDS for something I could have made myself. This didn't even come with chips only a mediocre salad. The fish and chips was £8 and looked like they had come from the freezer. I wish wish wish we had not stayed; there is nothing worse than leaving a place to eat feeling ripped off. I don't mind paying nearly £30 for 3 meals, if I'm getting good quality food and service. This place offered neither.Wish I had read the reviews before coming, but we don't know the area. All I can say is avoid at all costs.

If there was an option for no stars I'd give it

Reasonable little cafe although the drinks weren't very hot.

Went here hoping to have lunch here, horrible rude man embarassed us in front of customers for not wearing masks, we are exempt, we did not go inside for lunch and will never go there again, not a good way to treat potential customers

The service was very slow went in for fish and chips x2 but myself and my wife ended up with just a tea and cappuccino and that still took about 20 minutes sorry but not good service at all.

Shop only accepts card payments. Avoid at all costs and go to the Pitlochry shop instead.

Mi finanzas me acababa de proponer matrimonio en el lago Windemere y teníamos sed y necesitábamos ir al baño, así que fuimos al café más cercano.Nos dijeron que no podíamos usar el baño hasta que hubiéramos comprado algo, aunque dije que pediríamos después de ir, esto no fue suficiente. El hombre fue tan grosero que sentí ganas de salir en este punto, pero estaba tan desesperado por ir al baño que continuamos pidiendo algunos pasteles de té y obtuvimos la llave para ir al baño. Honestamente, no puedo creer cómo el personal habla con sus clientes. Es una maravilla que el lugar siga abierto solo por esa razón.El interior del café es deprimente. El lugar es francamente un tugurio, dirigido por gente desagradable y la comida es muy básica, como una cuchara grasienta. Me recuerda al café al que van los perdedores de The Apprentice.No volvería si me pagaras. Arruinó lo que se suponía que iba a ser una ocasión muy especial para nosotros: lástima de Boatman's Cafe. Quizás debería leer algunas de las críticas abismales aquí y prestar atención a sus clientes que pagan su salario.

Staff very unfriendly, no choice on breakfast menu other than bacon roll, which was awful and expensive. Staff in gift shop just the same, they don’t allow dogs!!! Where in the lakes doesn’t allow dogs. AVOID

Again writing using COVID 19 adherence this cafe followed the rules and I felt safe. Access is fine for people with mobility issues. Prices as expected for Bowness businesses. Outdoor seating is also available.

Horrible. Terrible service and rank profiteering. Understandably a number of public toilets closed due to covid. The boatman's cafe was our last chance with a desperate and discomfited 4yo in desperate need. Rather than help the staff of ignored us, then charged crazy prices for two drinks just to gain access to a magic toilet key that was never forth coming. Eventually forcing us to abandon the cafe in increasing desperate need to find facilities. Not helpful, terrible service. Avoid.

Entramos aquí porque estaba un poco alejado del frente. No nos dejaría tener la llave del baño hasta que compráramos algo. Queríamos té y helados que no nos sirvieron durante mucho tiempo.Nuestro hijo estaba a punto de ir al baño. Evítelo, inflicitaron a nuestro hijo innecesariamente.

GOOD FISH & CHIPS. EXCELLENT SERVICE QUALITY PACKAGING

Very nice and cheap staff seem nice and can get very popular in summer

Nice, clean, tidy place with lovely staff members. Thank you for your humble behaviour and courtesy.

Food basic and hot food served cold, coffee more expensive than Costa and all a complete rip off. Staff unfriendly and tables not cleared from previous customers, recommend you keep walking.

Nice café in the beautiful lake District

Very nice food and service is excellent

Este café se encuentra a pocos pasos del lago Windermere, justo al lado del aparcamiento de autocares y frente a un aparcamiento, pero lo único que tiene que hacer es su ubicación.Se supone que sirven sopa del día, papas y relleno, sándwiches, tostadas, pasteles, bollos y comidas calientes, pero cuando fuimos la sopa era brócoli y queso ahumado. . . yuk . . no quedaban patatas de chaqueta y los bocadillos estaban en un paquete. ¡Solo queda una opción de 3! Esto fue a la hora del almuerzo! ! De mala gana comí un sándwich pero el pan estaba empapado y no era tan apetitoso. Había una máquina de refrescos, pero no se usaba y las bebidas provenían de una botella a un costo de 1. 95 cada uno! !Probablemente esté bien solo para tomar un café rápido mientras espera a su entrenador, pero no lo recomendaría para el almuerzo. También fue caro para lo que tienes. Hay varios otros cafés cerca del lago que parecían más baratos que este (y también teníamos un cupón de 10% de descuento), ¡así que prueba uno de esos!

Un terrible almuerzo de sopa, directamente una lata acompañado de un panecillo medio horneado. Pagamos 4. 60 para la sopa de zanahoria y cilantro que puede haber venido de los gustos de Aldi? Las mesas y las sillas estaban limpias pero raídas, cubiertas de arañazos.La única gracia salvadora fue que este horrible lugar estaba a tiro de piedra del embarcadero # 2 desde el cual tuvimos un viaje muy agradable en el lago Windermere. Hicimos el "Tour de las islas" por 9. 00, que dura unos 45 minutos. Bien recomendado El viaje compensó con creces nuestro almuerzo suntuosamente malo e incluso tomamos una taza de té gratis a bordo del barco.

Fuimos para pescado y patatas fritas (que se anuncia a bordo fuera). Íbamos al restaurante de pescado y papas fritas "adecuado" en Bowness, pero estaba lleno con una gran fiesta reservada previamente.El pescado y las patatas fritas eran de la variedad congelada y eran terribles (cuando me quedo “terrible”, eran comestibles y así).El restaurante debería haber dejado en claro que eran la variedad congelada y que nunca habríamos entrado.

It's nice and clean place to eat and use the toilets.

Called in for breakfast, along with 2 dogs. They were very accommodating, giving the dogs treats & a bowl of water. Breakfast was excellent too 😊

Good for browsing, not expensive

Convenient for the coach park and just across the road from the Lake Windermere boat trips. Also just a short walk from the shops and town centre

Warm, cozy and quiet place. Clean. Staffs are very polite and helping.

Gotta love this place. Staff great and friendly.

Called for a snack, bowl of soup, crusty bread and butter. Reasonably priced and brought to our table piping hot and very tasty. Bread fresh and decent quality butter. Definitely value for money.

Love this place right by the riverside. Great food. Lovely views. Highly recommend..

Nos dieron cupones de 10% de descuento como parte de nuestra visita grupal, así que decidimos llamar después de un viaje en barco muy frío. Tomamos café y bollos. ¡Los bollos estaban frescos que se cayeron a pedazos! Volvería a llamar con o sin un cupón de descuento.

I had a lovely time in the gift shop there. I was really spoiled for choice. Such friendly people and i really enjoyed all the gifts.

Absolutely fuming at the prices. £2.60 for a cup of black coffee that wasn't even big enough to satisfy (pictured for size) and £2.75 for a 400ml bottle of milkshake that sell for 50p in Tesco. I understand economies of scale but there is no excuse for these prices. The proprietors are obviously taking advantage of the number of foreign tourists who dont understand the currency. Shame on you. I wouldn't mind if the decor was nice but it's just greasy-spoon style tables, cutlery, crockery and condiments. Wont be back.

Good prices and comfortable seating. Also nice little gift shop.

Good place to pick up a few gift from Giethoorn.

Visit here regularly great staff and really tasty food

Awful place. Embarrassment to an English tourist hot-spot. Full of foreign visitors as it is right by the coach park. Toilets were filthy and smelly. They were just taking advantage when with the right management and attitude, it could be lovely.

Very bad service, they do not care about their customers at all.

Gift shops ok café absolute rip off! Bacon roll and smallest fowlest tasting coffee ever £5.44 disgusting they're exploiting tourists further up bag of chips £2 and a coffee £2 more for less

Nice place spoilt by disgusting toilets, lady friends told me they wouldn't even sit on the toilets, mens toilet full of water and tissues. Shame, as it's a lovely view of the lake.

I would like to set the last review straight by error of placement I gave an incorrect review about the Boatman,s Cafe the establishment was on the pier head , I did go in to the Boatman's gift shop and brought some goods and received polite, service. Again I apologize for the first review right area wrong Cafe

Very busy. Food not good not bad. My opinion only.

Very expensive but it is a gift shop. Only one person serving at a really busy time.

Cafe adjacent to coach park at Bowness,great selection of sandwiches, hot food, ice cream etched.

Great family day out to the lake district by coach went on old steam train then 45 minutes on boat then stopped of in bowness for few hours shopping the boat man's cafe and gift shop

Great shop bought lots of little bits and peices at a good price

Good people really nice place

The best cafe I've been to for a while, plenty of choice on the menu friendly staff will be back again when I'm next at Windermere with a group of toursit

Cafe and gift shop next to coach park, brilliant spot for a much needed beverage,plus ten per cent off anything purchased in the cafe and gift shop. Staff were very friendly and helpful. All in all no complaints.

Nice place with a relaxing atmosphere.

Only had a cup of tea but the food looked lovely and dogs are welcome. Will be back to try there food👍

A friendly clean stop off, staff polite and curteus, good choice of food and drink, resonable prices well worth a visit.