Cafe on the barge in Torridge

Was really looking forward to trying breakfast but was unfortunately closed. Maybe it was just out of season as it was the last week of September but didn't see any notice boards with information.

Stopped by here on the way home from our holiday in Cornwall, and loved the absolute quirkiness of the place! Starting with the bacon and sausage baps we had - delicious by the way - they were served quite promptly. The surroundings were fascinating. We both loved the retro feel to the place, and the widescreen tv didn't seem out of place either as it was playing old films/music. Friendly staff too.

We came here for drinks and enjoyed our riverside view. Prices are incredibly cheap (2 beers, a coffee and a carton for under a £10!) and it's a cool spot. Inside there is an old fashioned film on and some retro arcade games. The toilets are also very nautical. We sat outside which was really nice and gave great views. This place is dog friendly too.

After walking the coast path from Appledore on a chilly day the Barge was perfectly located for a quick brew to warm the cockles. The riverside view is very nice, but the Torridge, as with all tidal rivers, does look tend to look better when the water level is nice and high. A good excuse for me to pop back for another brew next time I am walking that way and see what the tides are up to

Gasping for a drink having walked from Appledore we stopped here. After a restorative cup of tea we were feeling much better. To sit outside watching the estuary can't be beaten and it was dog friendly too so they had a snooze whilst we watched the world go by. It was just that bit different and better than your standard cafe. Can't wait to come back in October.

Rude. We were so excited to have chips on the boat. When the chips came out the baby cried to eat them before they were cool, within two minutes the male owner came and said “you’ll have to take that screaming kiddie out.” Pointing to an outside room he said “this isn’t working for me.” So I had to get up humiliated and carry two plates of food, push the pushchair and get the bigger two to move through a large line of people to an outside seat. I felt about an inch tall Not family friendly

We celebrated a 90 th Birthday here! An excellent , interesting venue really suitable for a private function. Excellent buffet and bar ! The evening was thoroughly enjoyed by all . Very helpful and friendly staff. Thank you for a great evening!

This café made our holiday! The staff were very friendly and hospitable. The food and drinks were very good, and extremely fairly priced. The décor is unusual , but this added greatly to the fantastic atmosphere. If you like classic old films then you'll love this café. We were soon enjoying some Gene Kelly classics. The icing on the cake

poor timing for us just had a lovely HOT sunny weekend and the cafe had run out of lots of things - shows how popular it is, not fair to review food/drink this visit however staff lovely, good to see them still there since last visit 4-5 years ago, worth popping in to see the venue, keenly priced and as many people say quirky......

Stumbled across this quirky cafe after walking part of the Tarka Trail with Kris and Daisy (our labradoodle). We were made very welcome and enjoyed our toasted sandwich and coffee. Daisy was pampered with a couple of doggy treats and felt very welcome too. It'd make a fun party venue.

Stumbled across this cafe whilst out for a walk on the last day of holiday

Yo estaba en Bideford para una entrevista. Debido a unos problemas de tráfico que era tarde. El golpear en fue que la entrevista fue puesto fuera por un par de horas. El recepcionista nos recomendó un café a lo largo del camino de sirga. Yo estaba tan emocionada de encontrar era un barco. Y qué divertido barco. Unos juegos, una máquina de pin ball. De asientos. Un bar aún más amplia. Una buena variedad de refrescos. Una máquina de slush. No comer, pero tenía buena pinta. A diez minutos a pie de la ciudad hacia el Puente Nuevo que, jajaja, fue construido en el 1970. Buen nivel que bien para los menos capaces.

What a lovely setting and lovely and quirky throughout. Food is lovely with friendly staff and what better than on a sunny day to sit out on deck and enjoy the sun with brunch. Definately be back

An absolutely fantastic evening was had by all😀 A quirky and fun setting... The staff were extremely friendly, helpful and ensured that all guests were happy with their experience aboard!

Have visited many times with family and friends, Bob and Annette are welcoming, the atmosphere is quirky and lively and the kids love both the inside and the outside.. will be going back lots of times this year also...

Had a friend staying and we were looking for somewhere easily accessible to visit on a miserable November Friday. Had often walked past the barge but assumed from the outside it would be a bit scruffy and just selling junk food. Had heard some good...

Had my mothers 70th birthday party here and the service, atmosphere and help received was just brilliant! Bob and Annette can't do enough to help and we loved every minute! Thank you!

We found this cafe on a dog walk and decided to go back later in week for lunch. Would highly recommend lovely hosts good food and very well priced which I lived nearer as this would be a regular spot to visit if in Bideford...

Quirky and fun cafe run by a lovely family who always take the time to say hello to us and...

Came here on a blustery day just for a bacon butty and loved it. Cheap, tasty and really quirky. Brilliant!

I am sure on a fine day with the tide in this would be a lovely place to eat and drink. When we went it was a wet day and the tide was out. The barge is a bit weird with loads of old amusement arcade machines cluttering it up a bit - not much room to move about downstairs although there is plenty of room on deck and the coffee is good.

Have yourself a great meal, and drinks with stunning views, family frendly and animal friendly. Very good services, great place to chill. Good prices would recommend.

Such lovely kind people, very friendly, made the Jazz live band party in the evening really welcoming.... Food a variety of all types of food from around the world, with different areas to relax, dance, sit and watch the river, or play the pinball machines! Great fun, really quirky and something nice and different!No problem for seasick worried people, the boat was rock solid!

We had a wonderful afternoon cake and coffee , it was deliciousThe barge is stunning , staff very good and cannot wait toReturn. hIghly recommend visiting

Great alternative to a restaurant. This wide beam barge at Bideford canal side. great atmosphere and very good service even actors for kids. Best Haddock and chips Ive ever had very competative pricing.

We have visited the barge twice in the last week, it's quirky and a bit basic, but great fun. They now have some decent seating, the location is fabulous, prices are very reasonable, food is basic pub grub but very good. Try it . . You'll love it or hate it - we love it. Thanks Captain Bob

Cafe on a boat....fantastic. Such a good setting. Lovely people running it, great service, real food. Proper cafe in a really lovely spot. Well worth a visit and only a few minutes walk from the high street.

How did I not find you soon enough? We are always at the park, but wasn't brave enough to walk further down. This time, I'm glad we did. My daughter wanted to go on a ship and no way I could deprive her when this quirky ship is so inviting. I thought, I could get her some cheesy chips so my daughter could get up. Turns out to be the best decision. I had nice cup of tea while listening to my daughter's imagination. Lots of it. captain on board is super cool! We will definitely coming back with our sketchbook! ;)

We parked at the Leisure centre Barnstaple £1.70 all day. Rode our bikes to Fremington Quay then Instow on to Bideford over the old bridge to the boat cafe. Parked the 4 bikes. Sat outside on the deck. Had tea and good selection of hot lunches which were all good. Loo was clean. Lots of games if you had your family. We sat for a good hour enjoying being on the barge. Friendly service. We will return & recommend

Stopped at this Cafe in Bideford today for lunch. With stunning views and the funkiest interior of any ship I've been on, this is a gem of a place to stop and eat and drink. We were made very welcome indeed and the food was fresh and tasty. Unlike many other cafes/tea rooms in Bideford which shut at 4pm (during holiday season!!!!!!), this Cafe stays open until 6pm. Make the effort, drive, or walk, to the end of the car park and go visit.....

I had an okay breakfast with you, but came out with tomato when I ordered no tomato, the beans were dry it seems they had been left in the microwave for so long that the sauce dried up. The worst part of our visit was seeing how the staff treated the young waitress, she was being shouted at from across the room, and bossed around by another lady. The poor waitress had lots to do, lots of food to serve and plates to clear but she was managing well. There was no need to speak to her in this way. This is certainly no way to treat staff, we found it upsetting and it ruined our first time visit, We will not be recommending or returning.

We called in here while on holiday, initially for a cup of coffee. The owner was fantastic, very friendly and welcoming. It is a very quirky cafe, musical instruments everywhere, and old films playing on a screen all day, although the volume was low and it was not all intrusive. We had our little dog with us and he was made most welcome, even given several treats. After walking around Bideford we decided to call back in for lunch. We sat on the deck which has amazing views and was lovely and peaceful. We both ordered the all day breakfast, £4. It was quite generous and I had a job to eat it all. 2 large slices of bacon, 1 sausage, toast, beans, tomatoes, and egg. It was really nice and very good value for money. When we are in Bideford again we will certainly be calling in again. Do not expect anything fancy or cordon bleu but it was all freshly cooked and tasty.

An excellent ambiance and super cheese toasties for three of us. Just what we wanted at reasonable prices and excellent surroundings

Very good pricesDog friendlyUnusual setting Decor bit blandNice little afternoon tea though, worth a visit Staff very friendly

A fantastic eclectic café. Interesting and cheery. A woodburner makes it warm even on the worst of days. Don't go if you want Wetherspoons or The Ritz. It is in a league of it's own, food is good and inexpensive and the owners are delightful. It is nice to go to a place that didn't come out of Ikea or a British Rail Station. You can sit in or out on the deck, dogs are welcome and welcomed. The all day vegetarian breakfast is good too and they make a good cup of tea. There is also a bar. Thanks guys, love the place.

Beautiful view, good food and pleasant service, very good value for money, we called for a mid morning snack, bacon bap £2.50' five rashers of bacon! The all day breakfast was lovely, and only £4

We visit the café for a breakfast a couple times a month. The food is always hot and fills the plate. When the tide is up to the vessel and the weather is kind there is no better place to have a sunday fry up than sat outside the Barge.

We visited this place twice, first time for just a drink, second time for something to eat as well. Decent sized mugs so a coffee lasted long enough. I had the fish and chips, the batter was amazingly light, the portion of cod was ample big enough for me. Only thing is the main seating area is on the rear deck and there is quite a steep flight of steps to it so may not be suitable for the less agile. The barge is tethered well so you don't have to worry about getting seasick

First time visiting this place. It's a quirky little place with character. The menu was good value, cheesy chips £2 and a full fry up £4. Even the sauce sachets are free, which is quite rare these days. The staff were pleasant and the service was quick. They do take away too. There is a ramp going to the boat, which makes it accessible for wheelchairs and buggies. The inside cabin is quite small, but the sun deck is bigger. It's quite tucked away at the very end of the car park, but now I know it's there I will be visiting again.

Second visit to this cafe and will,make a point of visiting next time we visit. Very friendly people willing to spend time chatting, food is typical cafe, but very good value for money, check out the chefs special burger!, but the great thing about this cafe is the views, take a camera and enjoy, revisited my youth and had a 'slush puppy' , loved it, if you visit one cafe in Bideford, make it this one!

A beautiful setting, with friendly staff and freshly made food. It was very busy on the first day we visited, so were warned there would be a wait for food. No problem, we had our drinks and sat looking at the unique view of the Torridge, chatting and relaxing until our food arrived hot and fresh and yummy. The lovely lady there gave our dog a treat too, so nice that the dog is welcome. If you want fast food, go to Macdonalds, if you want a great atmosphere, friendly service and somewhere to sit and relax I thoroughly recommend this place :) Kids love their slushies too.

We Visit this Cafe as often as possible, great breakfast (vegetarian option is really good) and plenty of choice on the menu. Love the atmosphere of this interesting and quirky cafe, the owners Bob and Anete are delightful and welcome you with a professional warm greeting. Love it!

We dropped in to get a snack, my partner is disabled and found her access awkward to say the least. We ordered coffee and a cheese toastie each. We ventured out on the deck and soon was served politely with our food which was more than the one round each we requested and had paid for. We both discovered there was no cheese in the toasties. We chose not to complain at the time as we were on the first day of a stress free break and left vowing never again. No complaints about the service, just the lack of cheese ! When we got back I did a toastie and a cry came from the living room don't forget the cheese. We will not be returning there needless to say.

Dirty boat with with no room to swing a cat , tried to order breakfast but they dont sell them if there more than 2 tables waiting on food so I had a cheese sandwich 40 minutes wait an a extra 15 minutes for my partners burger an the chips for the burger never arrived DO NOT EAT HEAR staff are rude un helpful a could try washing there hand an face before work

Poor service, very slow 45 min on a plate of chips, greasy bugger, food came out 20 min apart, taste less, never again

I posted a review about this cafe a year or so ago after a disappointing visit and vowed not to return. However, we were kayaking in the river recently and noticed as we went past that the exterior was looking much smarter with new tables and chairs since our last visit and even a couple of sun loungers. We decided to give it another chance and pulled up on the slip next to it (it is perfectly situated for kayakers/canoeists!). Well, what a differerence. The inside area has been rearranged, the staff are friendly and the coffee was great with reasonable prices. We really enjoyed our visit sat outside on the deck in the lovely sunshine. We heard afterwards that there are new owners so well done for making such a difference and we are pleased to be able to recommend you now!

I holiday here in Devon every year and will now always visit the barge .I had a breakfast the very first time I was told about the barge (recommended by a holidaymaker) , in 2014.and thought it was first class ,I am a heating engineer and visit cafés on a daily basis along the south coast and come across good and bad , and cheap and expensive breakfasts,but in my opinion if this cafe was in my area I would probably visit at least three times a week as it is good food and excellent value I have been back today and had a cuppa and a bacon bap which was only £3.25 for both , I took a guest with me this year and she commented on the novel idea of a cafe on a boat and how it was so cheap ,and only 99 pence for a nice cream ,and £1 for a cup of tea, beat that in Devon. Good luck to this friendly couple see you next year without fail .

We had walked the 7 or so miles round the coast path from Westward Ho! and were in dire need of sustenance when we saw this amazing barge. sat up on deck with a ploughmans and a veggie burger and some ice cold cider. Absolute heaven! Great food and brilliant value too.

Walking the dog along the quayside in Bideford and was tempted in (on?) by the "Dogs Welcome" sign and he was!Quiet day for them, had a nice Toastie and a cup of Tea. Very good plain fare. Dog got a few treats into the bargain.Quirky décor, but worth a visit!

After a ver long wal with three litte dog we stumble upon this very dog frienl cafe on a boat. Very welcoming staff. We only had drinks but the food looke great as did the set up, especially for children.

Called in here having spotted it at the end of the car park as we were about to leave Bideford. Very welcoming friendly owners, seriously eclectic interior design! but tasty burger with everything on (in?). Sue had a toastie which appeared as toasties ie two of with nachos on the side. add in two coffees for less than £8 and who's complaining? Freebie doggie treats,vintage amusement machines and old musicals on the wide screen complete the experience. Loads of games etc available for visiting children so not just geared to dogs!we liked it!

Dropped in here for a snack last Wednesday afternoon, good food and large portions. Owners very friendly and welcoming. Much better than expected and reasonable prices. If we lived closer I am sure it would become our regular.Good luck for the future. Dave and Val.

Great quirky place to have a drink or a snack. Shame it's a bit cluttered but they have great potential here, hope they do well....well done.

We had a cream tea here and it was very good value, staff were friendly, service was really good, we went back to try the breakfast and were most impressed, everything was cooked fresh and served with a smile, lovely place and would recommend It, lovely views

This is not fine dining. But it is good value, the service is friendly and all with a lovely view from the deck thrown in. Bring a love of 1980s music and food - toasties and chicken & chips in a basket are the main offerings. And a huge 99 icecream for 99p - what's not to like.

Have been here on many occasion being local to me it has all the needs I wish for good food which is delicious and good portion for the cheap prices very scenic especially for artistic purposes friendly family service. Novelty cafe for children and dogs allowed. Expected delay on food when busy as only small kitchen but well worth the wait. Always polite service and meet customers needs. Only one thing disappoints me is the people who come on board and expect the fine dining experience and complain about everything on sites like this!!! Good luck to family business hope it's a successful venture for you I love coming there. :)

If I could have given this place 0 stars i would have done. Had gone there and ordered 4 breakfasts plus 1 child's meal, 40 minutes later they turned up, the food had been over cooked and had obviously been hanging around. Other people turning up after us, had been served their food and ours had literally been put on the back burner while theirs had been cooked. We were told when querying this ours was on its way. By the time it arrived our grandson had fallen asleep so that was left, the food in some cases was not edible. The tea was luke warm. Will certainly not be going back there again.

I came across this cafe on a wet Sunday walk by the river so at just the right time.very friendly staff.Real value for money menu.Lots of old arcade machines took me back to my teens. good choice on menu and marvellous views of river.You can sit outside when it isn't pouring down like my visit.Anyone walking by the river should keep an eye out for this cafe based in an old training ship.

Good cuppa venue after a stroll around the shops / park, as the position is quiet and picturesque. The whole feel is undoubtedly quirky, but I personally questioned cleanliness, due to the inherent nature of it being a real boat and not appearing pristine in places (rusty outside deck and lurid 'pub' style carpets / dark wood) might be a little off putting - but that said, it has a 5 rating for food service. Very good range of food / drinks and sweets. Give it a go! It's nice to have somewhere out of the ordinary to go and it is good value for money considering it's position etc. Have a Hockings ice cream from the van close-by - to die for.....

Quite unique, a lovely experience. I just thought maybe it had as yet an untapped potential. The people are great and I hope this venture will become very successful.

We were in Bideford visiting family and thought the Barge would be a diffetent sort of place to have a spot of lunch.We hadn't seen each other for quite a while and had lots of 'catching up' to do, which is just as well. Although there were very few people 'on board' we thought they were being unduly pessimistic when we were told a round of baguettes would be twenty minutes. Pessimistic no, optimistic yes. It was half an hour!The food was ok. It would be difficult to mess up ham and tomato in a baguette, and it was all fresh and tasted fine, as did all the other meals by all account.The whole place was a bit scruffy and would have benefited from a tidy up and a coat of paint but the main complaint is over the excruciatingly slow service.It's an ok place to eat as long as time is not important to you.

A quirky place to go for a pleasant cream tea on the river, bit of a walk from the town centre and the prices were very reasonable

A lovely reasonable unique and quirky cafe. Good prices and lovely people. Best fried breakfast in town! Well worth going to.

New owners have improved the Café on the Barge amazingly. It is extremely friendly and welcoming to everyone, including families with small babies and toddlers. Lovely fresh food served. It's not the best meal you've ever had, but it's not meant to be at the price you pay and the facilities they have, but it is good, fresh, hot and well served food. I thoroughly recommend you try it. Jill.

We have walked or cycled past many times and finally decided to go on board for a bit to eat. The waitresses are lovely and friendly but the food really let's this place down. We had baguettes which were quite big but with hardly any filling -it was all bread and the bread was tough and very crusty. My jaws were actually aching from biting through and trying to chew it and the roof of my mouth is still sore where it scraped the skin off!! The cakes looked nice so we tried the carrot cake but it was so dry and tasteless we had to wash it down with our tea.It was a lovely sunny day and it was nice sitting outside on the deck but it is such a scruffy an dun inviting area with only a few mis-matched chairs and tables and a rusty BBQ.We won't be going back which is a shame because the boat is in a lovely setting and it could be so much better if they tried.

The Cafe on the Barge is now our local cafe. It's a lovely experience to sit out on deck and enjoy the beautiful views over the River Torridge. We haven't had a meal there yet, but if the food is as good as the coffee and tea it is something to look forward to. Excellent value for money, and very friendly service.

We went to the Cafe on the Barge for coffee this morning. Coffee was delicious, children enjoyed milkshakes, all with complimentary biscuits. It is very basic but good value for money and a unique position and experience. Another customer was eating a cooked breakfast which smelt very good.

never open when we have tried to go and the only occasion we did manage to get on board We were told we had to buy food or we could not buy a drink We have NEVER been back.

We ordered some drinks and tuna mayo rolls for our lunch. We sat outside on the deck of the barge, with fabulous views across the river. The rolls were very big and came with plenty of salad and crisps. The staff were friendly and the location was perfect. We considered it to be very good value for money, and would certianly go there again.

Visited a few days ago, was a lovely little place to stop off for a cuppa.It is a large boat situated at the end of the car park on Bideford Quay by the park. There are plenty of sign posts to guid you there (hand written signs)You can choose to sit inside or outside, it was a lovely sunny day but a little breezy so sat inside.The owners are lovely and make you feel welcomed.Was a little expensive, for two coffees and a hit chocolate it came to around £6.50, but you get a biscuit with it which was a nice touch.I can't comment in the food because we only had drinks.Ideal for anyone on a bike ride or out for a walk.