The Ark Northampton in Northampton

Earlier in the year a friend tipped me off about a Vegan Cafe in Northampton. Finally made it here to fuel up for a day in Northampton that is celebrating music, but for me Record Store Day is about also celebrating independent businesses. This is a boat that has kept afloat for 10 years. 2 levels with beautiful views and scrumptious food. Beetroot Hot Chocolate came with a heart and was definitely made with love. Lovely staff.

We visited on Father's Day and what a lovely place! We didn't even know about it or would have been before now. Lovely vegan food and lovely staff, we will be returning.

Myself and my husband have been going to the Ark for a few years with our 2 doggies. Even if it's been a while we're still greeted like old friends when we walk through the door. Nothing is too much trouble and everyone is so friendly. The foods delicious and fresh, and the views are lovely.

Well worth a visit! A lovely setting, very welcoming staff and good food. As a vegetarian, it is particularly good to find places that cater for my diet but equally delicious even if you're not a vegetarian or vegan yourself. Staff are so kind and thoughtful and were very attentive of a young family who were sat next to me. If you are a family there is green space nearby and as a cyclist I also used it as a great break on one of the nearby routes.

Love this place, always very welcoming and great little spot. Food is always great, plus serve a great coffee. I would recommend anyone visiting the area over a weekend to drop in. Loads of parking so very convenient too.

Absolutely beautiful cafe, the staff are so friendly and welcoming and the food and drink is unbelievable. Every time I am up in Northampton I make sure to visit and grab a coffee at The Ark. The atmosphere is delightful and the view from the top deck is breathtaking. It's lovely to feel so connected to nature on The Ark! I don't think I could find a single thing to fault. I honestly recommend this cafe to everyone, vegan or not!

So glad this place has opened again - I can highly recommend it. The food is delicious, especially the vegan cheeseburgers. There’s a wide range of tasty hot and cold food and drinks. The staff are very welcoming and efficient. The setting is great - peaceful and nice views across the river and park.

Such a lovely atmosphere, so people friendly, so glad we went, lovely food, and wonderful cakes, nothing seemed too much trouble, would have liked vegan burgers available during the week, but will go back at the weekend, beautiful setting and very clean, would recommend to anyone, terrible weather that day but still enjoyable, nice and warm and wheelchair accessible, ramps to access, also has chair lift to toilet, would be great on a sunny day as has a roof top terrace, and dance floor on lower deck, so perfect for private hire for a party. Will definitely go back again x loved it

I absolutely love this place, they're so friendly and accommodating.It's so great to have such a lovely place to sit and take in the views, whether it's with a snack, breakfast, curry, or just a cake and coffee. Even better it's dog friendly, so it's a great stop off after a walk.

If you are vegan or not this restaurant/cafe/boat offers so much choice and from the moment you walk in you can tell this is a welcoming family business that likes to do things properly. We came for lunch and we were not disappointed. We opted for the cheese and marmite and cheese toasties, served with their delicious homemade coleslaw, which is undoubtably one of the best coleslaws I have ever tasted. I then opted for a chocolate milkshake which was so creamy and deliciously chocolatey, I did not want it to end. The cafe/restaurant sits on the river in a structure shaped like a boat. It's a little unique but cosy and warm. After you have filled yourself up with their delicious fare you can take a stroll by the river. Parking outside is free. We shall definitely be returning.

Freshly cooked full English breakfast on a Sunday morning , a lovely treat that was super tasty . Looking forward to going back and trying the rest of the menu. Nice cosy relaxed atmosphere.

We held my wife’s 40th birthday party here. The organisation and communication were brilliant, from booking through to the event. The food was delicious, all of it vegan and even though all but three of the guests weren’t vegan, the food still went. There is a full bar and it is well priced too. I would definitely recommend having a party here.

1st time and was very impressed by not only the location but the overall feel of the restaurant. Set on a floating boat is a novelty but it's so much more. The location is worth the visit alone. The menu, while not extensive, is more then adequate for my needs. It's a vegan restaurant and I tried the biscotti cake and it was very tasty and a cappacino. I love the fact that the Ark gets alot of its produce locally( the coffee and the cake from neighbouring subarbs) I'm all for it!!

Did a circular walk from Delapre Abbey past the lake and onto the riverside path. The Ark is almost exactly half way so we stopped for lunch. The interior is light and spacious with riverside views and a great atmosphere. Good choice of lunch items - all vegan. I had the aduki bean curry which was delicious. Great place for a relaxed morning coffee too.

Wow this place is amazing. I had walked by this place for some time and seeing the boat always brought me such joy. Then when I decided to visit it, I was greeted with a smile and a hello as I entered, instantly making me feel at home. It was cold outside but so cosy inside and with the heavy falling rain it felt apt being on a boat called The Ark! So I ordered some food, an amazingly tasty curry. Omg I “woofed” it into me. I almost ordered a second haha. But decided just to have some cake and a freshly ground coffee. Again the cake was amazing and quickly I gave it a good home. Since then I return most weekends and I’ve been working my way through the menu. Not once have I been disappointed as each and every time the food has been amazing (oops did I say amazing already?). However it’s not the amazing food nor the unique venue that is the star attraction! For me the star attraction is the wonderfully welcoming family that own this place! Hard working and skilful in their trade, you can’t help but adore them. Also I must give a shout out to the other customers that enjoy the food and venue, I have made some lovely friends. Hey ok so I’m not totally vegan but it doesn’t matter here, if you love food, if you love friendly service and you love a unique place to sit back and relax, then you’ll love The Ark! Have I said it is amazing yet?? Find out for yourself, this gem is worth a visit!

A wonderful place which is beautifully decorated and serves great food Don't be put of by the fact its vegan The food is truly delicious Great service And wonderful surroundings Take the dog too if you like! Park nearby for free or walk

Fantastic cake and coffee, lovely beautiful atmosphere inside and well decorated. Service was outstanding! Would love to see this place busier

Been here twice now on our way down south. Both times the cake was delicious. Beautiful location too.

We love this place, great food, friendly staff and dog friendly. Beautiful to sit on the water on a sunny day.

The staff (Hema and Charlie) were incredibly polite, laid back and created a lovely and welcoming atmosphere. The vegan burgers were the best I've ever had and I shall undoubtedly be returning to have them again.

Stopped in for a coffee and bite to eat after stumbling across this gem of a cafe earlier. Perfect setting and super friendly staff! Definitely going back soon!

A bright, airy dining area (even on a drizzly day). And a bright, warm welcome on the bridge.

Oreotastic! Love this place, just proves to people that vegan food can be imaginative and yummy. Fabulous biscoff cake! Definitely visiting again.

A lovely place to stop after walking along the river. Friendly and polite staff, good prices and great to soak up the view along the river.

Although quite difficult to find at first, it’s well worth the effort. On a pleasant day it’s a lovely view outside on the top deck.

My daughter and I took the opportunity to visit as passing. Unfortunately we only had time for cake and a drink but was very enjoyed. I chose vanilla and rhubarb cake and a coffee, my daughter had brownie and a hot chocolate. Both were incredibly tasty and my daughter had more cake to take away. We will certainly be returning to sample more of the vegan delights and enjoy the beautiful peaceful view of the river very soon.

We came here for lunch on a Saturday afternoon and had toastier, teas and coffees. The staff were really friendly, the surroundings are beautiful and the food was delicious - we’ll be recommending this place and coming back

We went as a family to the American Diner night.

I booked The Ark for my 40th birthday party, it was a fab night!

This is my 6th lunch visit, tried something different every time, no disappointments 😊... today’s chickpea curry is a must.... coffee is the best I’ve had.

We saw an advert in the Evening Telegraph. It mentioned The Ark and a comedy night. I Googled it. Four comedians and a compare for £6.

Fantastic venue and always friendly. Food is lovely and would definitely recommend giving the comedy nights a go. Love this boat 😊

Lovely friendly owners, great food, nice views. Was too cold to sit on the decking but will be lovely in the summer months. Indoor seating with a relaxed atmosphere. As it was mothers day we expected high prices but it was very reasonable.

Fuimos a la noche de comedia, gobernar fue fantástico mensuales, lugar excelente, la comida genial (menú limitado en la noche de comedia) 5 cómicos muy muy buena, todos diferentes pero todos muy divertidos. Más como un noche de alta comedia final en el centro de Londres que te esperan en Northamp woupdated, sin duda vamos a volver

Después de leer los comentarios estaba dispuesto a llevar a mi hija vegetariana aquí para el almuerzo. Llamé para reservar una mesa, por suerte no, pero sólo hacer funciones.

Fuimos con un grupo grande de comida de Navidad. 3 course £21,99 . Fue una muy mala comida, aunque el servicio es bueno. Uno de nuestro grupo lo describió como "cenas de escuela". porciones pequeñas. Apenas ninguna verduras en la cena con asado y tibia. sólo Los postres se describe diferente a lo que son. Las fotos en el menú muy engañoso.

Mi pareja y yo fuimos aquí para una comida de San Valentín anticipadas debido al tanto de nosotros trabajando y puedo decir que nunca volver! Pidió un pan de ajo con queso para empezar que salió quemada y ordenados carbonara para main y la salsa carbonara era muy aguados y sin sabor que lo dejé. Una cara por un vientre hambrientos nunca es una buena cosa para mí. También, la mitad las bebidas incluidas no estaban disponibles así que al final nos quedamos atrapados con un vaso de coca-cola sólo para estar seguro ...

Vinieron por mi como estaba en un extremo suelto, decidimos probar el barco ya que estaba cerca.

Cenamos aquí en mi cumpleaños . El miércoles era noche de curry, así que decidimos probarlo.

Went for the first time tonight for my sons birthday. Staff were brilliant. Attentive and helpful. Food was amazing. Tasty hot and well presented. Atmosphere relaxed. Will definitely be going back.

Wow! First visit and it was excellent. Well stocked attractive bar, good menu and the delicious food is all locally sourced. I know this as I chatted to the owner Toni who was extremely friendly and made us feel really welcome. The eating area inside the boat has linen napkins and well set tables, while upstairs is open airs,does snacks and also has a smoking area.The food was superb but the ambiance is what makes it a cut above! Personal service, attentive and friendly without being intrusive. Relaxed clientele and I can't gush anymore! If you haven't visited - you need to. A gem in the heart of Northampton.

I have been to this restaurant on four occasions and each time have had a great experience. I have eaten a full meal, snacked and even just indulged in a bottle of wine with my partner on the top deck terrace in the sunshine. The Ark is owned by a very friendly family who make you feel welcome from the moment you arrive. The restaurant has a popular selection of meals and I would highly recommend the home made onion bhajis they are delicious! The owners even bring us a bowl of water for our dog when we sit on the deck!The setting of the boat is picturesque, overlooking the river where you will see ducks and swans amongst the reeds, so sitting on the top deck is fun. It is also in a park so an ideal place to have coffee if you have teenagers who want to use the skate park or youngsters who like to play outdoors or maybe even just out taking the dog for a walk.I would really like to find the excuse to hire The Ark for a private venue it would be perfect.

I fantastic place to go in Northamptonshire. Highly recommended. A quaint boat setting with a fantastic view, romantic, delicious food great service.

Went to The Ark with three friends last night. We were shown to a window table overlooking the river. The staff were friendly and the service was excellent. The menu is not extensive but the food is obviously freshly cooked and prepared. Three of us had the home made fish pie which was very nice and the mushroom stroganoff looked lovely as well. The desserts we chose were all enjoyable and everything was nicely presented. It is not cheap but it is worth paying a bit more for nice surroundings and good service and a different place to eat.When the sun went down the geese and ducks came onto the river with their babies which was lovely to watch from our table.All in all a very pleasant evening. Thank you to the staff at The Ark.

Went here for lunch with my father and it was lovely. Very attentive staff, and reasonably priced. Fairly limited lunch menu, but the quality of what was there was excellent. Beautiful views from the restaurant over the river Nene.

The Ark is a lovely little dining boat on the Canal in Northampton. It is family run, the food is good and the atmosphere is so peaceful.Dogs are welcome on the top deck, and a bowl of water is even provided!We happened upon it during an evening cycle ride, and as the weather is getting nicer and the restaurant is open all day Saturday and Sunday, we'll definitely be back.

We called in here, by chance, on a sunny Bank Holiday as we were walking around Midsummer Meadow in Northampton. We weren't sure where it actually was as there is no obvious signposting from the Bedford Road, it is near the skate park. However, we decided to call in for lunch, the staff were very friendly and welcomed us into the Ark, which is actually a 'boat' which was winched into place in 2 pieces late last year. It overlooks the River Nene, and you can sit outside on the open 'deck'. It serves a reasonable range of food and drink. The food was average, with the sandwiches served in sliced supermarket type bread with thin layers of meat and a small salad. The coffee was from a proper machine but lacked taste. I would urge the owners to use more rustic bread and more home-cooked ingredients as the prices are reasonably high, so we were disappointed with the quality. I could not fault the friendliness of the staff and the unique environment of this venue.

Food was more cafe style than a real dining experience. It was very expensive for what it was. There was no atmosphere in the evening, we felt that maybe there could be more curiosities dotted around inside, fairy lights, candles on the tables etc. The staff were lovely and friendly. As other reviews stated, the business is very new, but they really need to improve their dishes in terms of taste and appearance in order to match the prices that they are charging.

Went there with a group of friends to celebrate a birthday. We were not disappointed. Food delicious and good value. Do agree with another reviewer that lighting outside could be improved in evenings. Other than that will definitely go again.

Lovely restaurant, great idea with the converted boat, definitely has character. Lovely family that owns the business, food and drink was very nice and good value for money. Open top will be nice for drinks in the summer. Highly recommended.

We went as a group of 12+ and were well catered for given the layout of the dining area... The staff there were all attentive and helpful, though perhaps they were a little short staffed especially given it was a Saturday evening...There were two main things that I found could be much improved upon as this restaurant moves forward, having not been open for too long... Firstly the menu needs a good overhaul (choices & prices) as I found it to be very much like a normal pub menu with no particular theme being present (very simple food that could be easily cooked by most eg burgers, fish pie, BBQ chicken, grilled salmon, spaghetti carbonara, fish & chips, gammon steak & a selection of beef steaks... ), however without the pub prices (eg mixed grill £19.95), or indeed the extensive choices... Secondly the presentation of the food could also do with some consideration with the sad side salad being a good example of this...That all said, the customer service was good and when I'd asked for something other that the green beans to go with my Salmon (which tasted pretty good I have to say) they were happy for me to choose another vegetable...As we approach summer, I'll probably go back there in a few months or so to try it out again... But for the moment, there are just too many other competing restaurants that serve a better choice/quality of food at a more competitive price eg the mixed grill served at The Lumbertubs (Flaming Grill) is superb and is less than 1/2 the price at £8.99

We have just got in from a meal at The Ark ,really enjoyed the evening ,great English food ,prawn cocktail ,garlic mushrooms,steak,gammon etcLovely setting with a unqiue style,I would imagine in the summer top deck will be amazing ,the staff really make this place ,very warm friendly family run ,they were all really welcoming and lovely,loved the background music too.we will be back ,looks a great place for a family party too .

I went with my partner for a meal here we had a lovely time and it was a unique experience which made it very romantic. Surprisingly spacious inside and there is a lovely lit up walkway to the boat and then the boat is all lit up on the evening which made it all look very pretty on the river. The food was very lovely and very filling and there is a great choice of wines. Really warm friendly atmosphere. Could do with some more vegetarian options but the mushroom stroganoff is amazing! Good portion sizes too!

Our experience from beginning to end was quite simply poor and not a 'dining' experience at all. The wine was served warm, the food was not served as described - not even close - the chips were so greasy they were inedible, side dishes were very overpriced and the ambience was non existent. Our experience cost us £100 (and that was with a reduction they gave us for the poor quality mains). We have had far better experiences in Northampton which have cost far less and been much better quality. POOR is the best we can give

Went here last Thursday night It was a bit quiet but I can honestly say the food and I had starter main and a dessert was the best food I have had out in a long time and the owners were very friendly and attentive really looking forward to summer to go there and sit on the roof top seating and enjoy the views good luck to you all in your new adventure.

Had a lovely evening x could not fault at all..lovely family who run it .. so friendly an helpful..will definately recommend an wish you all the luck on your new venture x

My girlfriends and I recently enjoyed a ladies night out at this restaurant.I had previously cancelled a booking, as there were no reviews on trip advisor at that time, and as it was for my birthday, I got cold feet and cancelled the booking.The reason for this, was that the restaurant only opened in September.Our girls night out was mid week. When we arrived we had a very warm greeting from the staff/owners.We were the only patrons on the boat restaurant that night but it didn't detract from our enjoyment. The reason for this I believe was that firstly, the restaurant was newly opened, secondly it was mid week and thirdly, people are saving up for all the Christmas parties that will be starting any time soon.For those of you looking for a slightly unusual dining experience, I can strongly recommend this establishment.The food was very tasty and inexpensive. (The garlic prawns in a cream sauce starter was absolutely delicious and an 'I want more dish'!Everyone of us enjoyed all three courses. I made a request for some pepper sauce to go with my order, as the main course was a dryer dish than I expected. The staff were only too happy to oblige. We also requested more chilly sauce to go with some of the starters and again our wish was immediately attended to.Nothing was too much trouble.The family owners offered to show us around the boat which we eagerly excepted. It's a shame the July opening was delayed due to mindless vandalism. A summer opening would've been ideal, because of the location on the river would make any summer dining a lovely experience.We made a few suggestions which the owners were very receptive of.Those were how, in our opinion, we thought the restaurant could be made cosier.I will definitely visit this restaurant again and believe that we are lucky to have a riverboat restaurant in Northampton.The owners have had a lot of bad luck getting this venture off the ground and I for one, would personally very much like to see it succeed. Use it or lose it is my motto. Good luck to the owners. See you again very soon.

My wife and two friends went to the Ark mainly to be curious really,what a little gem here on the Nene opposite the BMW garage,we ordered our drinks and then looked at the menu.the starters arrived in quick time then a short break for our mains,we had the salmon and fish pie and mushroom stroganoff,we all had clean plates afterwards we all found the food was well presented and piping hot. We found all the staff very pleasant to talk to.We wasn't going to but we all had puddings as wellTthe portions of everything we had was bigger than normal,The drink prices was also very reasonable.We no the Ark hasent been open for long but it will need some lighting outside in the car park,if you are thinking of going then take a torch with you.We all said this is well worth a visit

This is a newly opened Bar-Restaurant, a floating one in fact! Easy access, tasteful decor and thoughtful stairlifts for the less mobile. Very reasonably priced and the Paninis my husband and I had were excellent. Staff friendly and attentive. Maybe lacking in atmosphere, but this I am sure will be created in time.

This is a new place that has just opened on the river opposite the BMW garage. We just dropped in and they had a table free. the chips and the Diane sauce were amongst the best I have tasted. It's a family run place and they are really friendly and helpful. The portions are huge and the home made onion bhajis I had for a starter were fantastic.