The Boathouse in Christchurch

Specifically booked this place as the website made it out to be a quaint and picturesque upmarket seafood restaurant which was what we were looking for. Booked in advance for a milestone birthday meal, with both elderly people and children in tow but when we arrived it was carnage. We queued for 10 minutes before getting served and could already see thet the place was completely overcrowded and that most people were overly drunk and becoming quite rowdy (we observed one man being sick on himself in the corner and my 70 year old mother was also pushed into a wall by a large young man trying to get past). By the time we met the host whose placement was creating a bottle neck right in the middle of the bar and who was also completely overwhelmed and unable to handle the situation in a respectable way. He told us they were running at least 15 minutes behind and told us to go to the bar. The queue for the bar was rows deep so we declined and just ended up standing in the middle of the place waiting. 20 minutes later they were still waiting for the previous customers at the table to finish and upon our second enquiry as to how much longer we’d be waiting we were told they still needed to provide the table with a birthday cake that they wound likely then be eating and then settle the bill and go. At this point we’re decided to leave. This place needs to decide what it wants to be, if it wants to be a rowdy bar be a rowdy bar but don’t market yourself as a upmarket restaurant. Thoroughly disappointed.

Been here twice in the last couple of weeks and food both times has been amazing and service professional and friendly. I can highly recommend the fish curry and the harissa chicken kebabs (don't be put off by Harrisa as they aren't spicy)

Very well looked after and great food!

Birthday with friends in fantastic venue. I booked a table inside for lunch at the weekend, our waitress Honey was amazing, attentive, friendly, cheerful and ensured we had everything we needed at all times, starters, drinks, water on the table etc. It was my Birthday and I had such a fabulous time. After lunch Honey reserved a table outside to enjoy the music and sunshine. We had cocktails and the atmosphere was brilliant. The live singer towards the end of the evening was amazing and we all had a dance. Cannot wait to return! A huge thank you to the chef, staff, bar staff etc especially Honey. Excellent way to celebrate!

Delicious breakfast in the sun. Staff friendly and efficient

Table booked in verandah for 5pm - it was very chilly & had to ask twice to close all the shutters as we were cold. There were people sitting there with blankets around them! My husband had Moules Marinière à La Crème & had to ask for bread for the sauce, which he was charged an extra £1 for! At other restaurants we go to the bread always comes with the Moules so he thought it was a bit cheeky charging for a tiny piece of bread!

Great food in a very welcoming atmosphere, enhanced with some terrific live music. Definitely going again.

I visited with family over the bank holiday. This was our 2nd visit. Having found it lacking the first time, we decided to give it another try. The restaurant is in a lovely setting with good views. However the food is average and prices too high in comparison. The service is slow and staff less than attentive. It’s such a shame as it could really be a lovely restaurant. I have no plans to visit again.

We recently visited The Boathouse in Christchurch for a family meal over the bank holiday weekend. While the location is undoubtedly beautiful—with lovely views over the river and marshland in the Quomps, and great facilities nearby for children including excellent playparks—the experience inside the restaurant left much to be desired. The food was mediocre at best, which was particularly disappointing given the high-end pricing. For what we paid, we expected a much higher standard of quality and presentation. Had the food been priced at a third of the cost, it might have felt more reasonable. Service was equally underwhelming. Despite the restaurant being well-staffed, drinks took a long time to arrive, and simple requests like condiments were delayed significantly. Understandably it was busy due to the holiday, but the level of service didn’t reflect that the staff were prepared or responsive. It feels as though The Boathouse is relying heavily on its prime location to attract customers, rather than offering a dining experience that matches the setting. It’s a real shame, as the place has so much potential. I hope they reassess their pricing and service quality, as at the moment, it’s not somewhere I’d be eager to return to.

Lovely place to eat good service and to sit outside by the river on a sunny evening or lunchtime perfect

Nice location and good staff. We sat outside but the music was so intrusive; why not let us listen to the wind in the trees, birds singing and the bells of the church instead of incessant droning of poor music? At £16.50 for a beer and a Pimms it was steep.

Beautiful Restaurant with Beautiful views and amazing Staff

It’s a fun and lively place near the water, and the food is excellent - nice originality and variety in the menu. Service was a bit MIA on the night we visited - would be 5 if that was better. The whole waterfront area is lovely in the evening - Christchurch such a pleasant discovery.

Really enjoyable evening, food superb with the staff making the night.

My favourite place to eat in Christchurch

Turned up on a busy day without a reservation and we were accommodated without a fuss. Food was great, it was a busy day so service was a bit slow, however expected. Great for families or drinks with friends. Nice outdoor area for sunny days.

Food was good, service felt like we were ignored.

Great food and service. Comfortably busy.

Doorman are extremely rude, wouldn't let us in as didn't have a booking but not very busy. Then said no trainers? Guessing don't go if you haven't booked or wearing trainers.

Very busy when we went there so service wasn't that quick also quite niosy but food was great 👍

Always difficult to find fault when the restaurant was so busy. It has a nice vibe, great location, and in our case accommodating 24 people, really enjoyed it

Most expensive aspen chips in northern hemisphere

First visit today for breakfast which was excellent along with the service,lovely setting by the Quay…will definitely come back and recommend.

Really lovely lunch at the Boathouse! Had a selection and cocktails and everything was fantastic. My Cesaer Salad was really delicious. Looks like a quaint pub from the front, and then you are taken through to the back of the pub into a conservatory area and has a lovely view over to mudeford! Really friendly helpful server, was a busy lunch service and the whole team coped well! And dogs welcome so makes it even better!!!!!!

Very disappointed with management treated disrespectfully and accused by management of total lack of respect would be ashamed of the way they handled situation if you have CCTV footage checking would be advised before accusation against clientele are made in future

A nice experience. The food was good and service friendly. Recommended.

Very good service and pleasant and warm atmosphere ,the coffee and carrot cup cake was delicious , will be visiting again soon

Coeliac friendly. Food was stunning. Great set menu. Service good but server didn’t know much about what the menu consisted of when asked. The only thing that put me off in here was the air con unit (may have been on heat) was soo loud. We asked for it to be turned off and the server was so used to it she couldn’t hear it! We convinced her it was the unit which she then had turned off. Other customers around us were thankful we had asked 🤣 we then had a very lovely time

Absolutely amazing, food, atmosphere, service, the view.

We ate on the terrace as I had my dog with me, it was super cosy, and the food was fab! I had a 'light and breezy' mocktail which was really nice.

Great location, good atmosphere, good coffee, great staff and service. Food ok ish but still worth a visit.

Lunch at the Boathouse, whilst in Christchurch on business the boathouse was recommended so obviously that's where we headed. When seated it only seemed to take minutes until Honey introduced herself and took our drink order and passed the menu over. Moments later she appeared with our drinks and talked us through the specials Honey was very polite and more than happy to make recommendations to aid in my choice. She made the experience very enjoyable, but the amazing food reinforced the enjoyment. Super lunch and great staff.

Fantastic lunch and more! Got there at 12.30 as I had booked a table for 2 to celebrate my best friend’s birthday. The service was excellent, very welcoming and attentive. Cocktails and bubbly were reasonably priced. We shared some Calamari, arrancini and a Thai platter, all delicious and generously proportioned. We spent an excellent moment and we will definitely be back more often.

good food, great service, great views over the quay

Bit of an off day, I think. Very busy . I was a bit disappointed with the food. Eaten here before and had excellent service. Service was quite slow on this occasion and the order got mixed up.

Valentines Day evening. We had such a lovely meal at The Boathouse from the Valentine’s set menu. Food superb along with the service. Also red roses on every table was such a lovely gesture. Will definitely be back.

Only popped in for a snack. The ciabatta menu was good and food was fresh and hot. Service was prompt and friendly.

Lovely, well thought out place. Female servers appear chosen for their em . . . Appearance (excellent), very good food, cheerful, professional atmosphere. Love the place!

Nice place overlooking the river. Managed a seat inside the main restaurant. Nice and warm. The extension terrace can be a lot colder. Nice service...lovely food. Warming atmosphere.

Just had my Birthday party at the Boathouse. Fantastic private room upstairs. All the staff working last night were really courteous and charming. Bar staff lovely. The little nibbles just what we needed and then Pizzas at 9 oc You can use your own music from Spotify Anyway had a great time thanks to the staff

We really enjoyed our evening in The Boathouse, the staff were a delight, the atmosphere with the live music was buzzing. The drinks were great and the food was spot on, we had the Gambas to start which was fantastic as were the mains which consisted of Ribeye Steak and Pork schnitzel.

We have a lovely meal here ,it was very busy with a lively atmosphere, food was good as was our service .i would go back ,top evening

Excellent service, food was cooked beautifully.

We went for breakfast which was lovely. All the staff were friendly. The food was amazing. I would definitely recommend a visit here.

A little better than pub food, but very good service and nice view

Lovely breakfast, my steak, eggs and Chimichurri was excellent. Need to swap Chimi recipes.

The Boathouse is another great place to have a drink inside or out. Enjoy the Quay while having lunch or dinner. It is an extremely busy place in school holidays and can take a while to get in. So I would recommend booking if possible. The food and drinks are pricey but you are paying for location, view and the ambience this place has. Highly, recommend.

Family brunch. Had the NYC pancakes with bacon, scrambled egg and maple syrup. Pancakes were fresh, scambled egg tasty and bacon well cooked. A really lovely meal as always! Staff friendly and efficient. Thank you

They don't even call you back to make a booking 👎 They direct you to a WhatsApp no. To make you're booking and don't even reply to that 👎 Overpriced for serving "student food". Better places to eat locally that have the common decency to return your call or messages.

A perfect venue for a boxing day lunch. Great service, good cooking and a lovely setting. Reasonably priced. My second time here and will not hesitate to come back each time I head down to Bournemouth. So many different parts to the restaurant each with their own atmosphere.

We have been visiting the Boathouse for years for breakfast and the service and food has always been exceptional.Our visit today for a Boxing Day family meal was excellent.We were a party of eleven ,six adults.four children under ten and a baby.The service was perfect and very relaxed.The food was beautifully prepared,piping hot and all came out together.Nothing was too much trouble.A big thank you to all the staff,we will be back soon.This review might seem over the top,but you do not have to believe me,just try it yourself.

Beware of age prejudice placing. We have visited the boathouse many times as a family without issue, our daughter now 21 decided to revisit with her boyfriend on a special occasion. Booking several weeks in advance, they were seated outside the toilet, near the kitchen. Do not send your younger family members here expecting fair play!

5 Stars Popped into The Boathouse on a Saturday afternoon with my mother and father for a spontaneous meal. We received a warm welcome and were seated straight away, which was a lovely start to our visit. We opted for the set menu, which included French onion soup, Christmas turkey, and dessert. Every dish was delicious, and the flavors really stood out. The staff were friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was cozy and inviting. A wonderful experience overall—we’ll definitely be back. Thank you!

Typical Caucasian food, expensive and tasteless

The food was not the greatest for the price. We had Xmas roast turkey (meat wasn't that tasty), and 2 had the cod which was very good. Vegetables were sprouts, carrots and parsnips. Sprouts weren't good but plenty of them. The others vegetables were tasty (roasted). The afters: pear Melba looked poor (one meringue nest - bought in rather than made?) with a couple of pear slices and caramel ice-cream which enhanced it. Still, we ate everything (the dog enjoyed part of the meat) so can't complain too much. The view over the quay would have been better if the sun had been out but it's winter so what do you expect?!

Trendy restaurant great views food just ok. Fantastic in summer. Helpful friendly staff.

It was very welcoming. The atmosphere was great. The food was excellent as were the staff. We don't live in the area but will go again when next there.

Wonderful setting by the riverside with great food and friendly staff and good food selection

Food was a huge disappointment. Bland and flavourless. Gochujang lamb tasted of very little, the chicken skewers were massively overcooked and the flatbreads they came with were cold, dry and tasteless. At least a little salt in the cooking would have helped, but overall some kind of flavour was needed. Not sure what all the crowds there are drawn to. We mentioned it to the waiter who seemed to want to know the details to take back to the kitchen, but then just came with the full bill with no apology or feedback. We decided to skip pudding in case it was just as bad and overpriced.

Lovely lunch, sharing platters were great

I have visited Boathouse 4 times in last month, but was disappointed yesterday when eating my Beijing pizza I found a bone and pointed out to waitress and expected the Manager or Chef to have come to table to apologise. The bone had caught in my teeth luckily and not swallowed. Also a large dog , Poodle was allowed to clamber over the bench seat and table, the owner too busy on her phone,. I was surprised this large dog was allowed in restaurant. This has not deter me from further visits as the Boathouse is far to superior to other Chrischurch restaurants.

Food was great, live music great and atmosphere and service amazing. My Red Thai curry ws great and the homemade signature dessert, white chocolate and orange bread and butter pudding amazing. Well done chef.

Love the vibe, great staff and service🙌❤️

We went in for a coffee today and sat out the front of the boathouse ,there is a beautiful view , the music was very loud for a Sunday morning but we could just about shout above it ,an older gentleman maybe owner manager ? came behind us and turned the volume up and we immediately asked him to please turn it back down, he shouted back at us very rudely” I was thinking about all the other customers that might like it” and went back to the volume and I kid you not turned it louder It would have been impossible bar shouting at each other to talk and hear at 11am on a beautiful Sunday morning We asked another member of staff to turn it down she apologized and sorted it What is it today with the fascination of businesses to crank up the volume to near nightclub level to make the business feel busier or trendier? Believe me we want to be able to talk to each other and enjoy the peace of a Sunday morning by the river

Excellent venue, superb view of the harbour. Good food and very good service.

What a great restaurant, accommodating staff, we arrived very early and as it was a Monday night not too busy we were seated without a fuss. The server was pleasant, and nothing was any bother. We were informed of the specials given time time to read the menu with no pressure. The food was presented lovely, and the steak was cooked exactly how we wanted. Yes, it was a touch o the expensive side but good well presented food comes at a cost.

A really nice and welcoming atmosphere. Heaters on, rain outside - a very cosy vibe. They offer good portion sizes, and were accommodating with swapping a few items out for others, good quality food in general . I would definitely recommend a breakfast here.

Atmosphere & service was good But unfortunately we had raw chicken served, we told our Waitress and didn’t seem too bothered by it, she to the chef but nothing was said or done after that. When the bill came we expected the raw chicken to be taken off the bill, but they didn’t offer any kind of discount or anything. Would go again for drinks but food definitely not!!

Need to book as very busy/popular.... lovely food!

Chandelier bar upstairs has a great atmosphere. The jazz night was great!

Absolutely fabulous private event which we hosted in the Chandelier Bar - the room was fantastic, the food was amazing and the bar service was wonderful! Definitely recommend this venue for any occasion. Thanks to Abi, Meg and Jake for making the evening so special :-)

1st time in Christchurch so thought I'd try it for lunch and was pleasantly surprised, staff were really friendly, good choices of drinks and wine, had a really tasty ciabatta with chicken, chorizo and mozzarella with really good chips. Will definitely come back again.

To echo previous comment, waiting staff full of self importance, unfriendly and curt. Starter scallops and pee purée was lovely however 4 small scallops £14.00 rather over priced. Pizza’s average with very dry edges/crusts. Hamish was lovely and polite.

Over priced awful food , pre made fried platters. You paying the space the food is poor quality.

The food was delicious and the service very good and friendly.

Came for a couple of drinks with my partner because the outside decking area looked inviting in the lovely hot weather. The staff were miserable. When we sat down and asked for menus, we were practically grunted at by the male waiter. When we eventually had our order taken, the same server acted like we had taken a dump on his shoe. We only ordered 2 cocktails, which in fairness were lovely albeit over-priced. But the whole ordeal was ruined by the rude staff who made us feel like a burden.

Very fishy menu (it is called the Boathouse!!). The food was delicious, the service was excellent and the vibes were very welcoming. A lovely experience.

Went for lunch time snack. The staff were very welcoming and the food was good.

We had a beautiful sunny day, but the outdoor seating was uncomfortable due to the lack of cushions. After waiting 20 minutes for some to be added, we gave up. The staff only put cushions on half of the seats and seemed indifferent to our request. Despite the lovely weather, the seating was neglected and we felt uncomfortable and ignored. They hadn't even taken our order by the time we left.

Absolutely awful experience. Rude unprofessional staff. Such a shame as the restaurant located in very nice area. Need more staff training!

Lovely people service is brilliant good.. not waiting long while food is served. Food is very delicious with it's beautiful view to the Quay.

Lovely restaurant in beautiful Christchurch. We had brunch here, and it was lovely. The staff were all accommodating and friendly. We had avocado on toast, eggs benedict, and breakfast bap and it was gorgeous. Prices were also very good and reasonable. Highly recommended and would go again.

Visited for lunch , great and diverse choice . Sat in a covered terrace over looking the green and water . Appetisers and main courses were great . Our server Hannah was friendly and attentive . We will be back for sure .

Attended a function upstairs in the Boathouse. This is a superb venue. All the staff were beyond brilliant. The buffet was the best I've ever had. Overall ,perfect.

The pleasure of eating while watching the boats. A really nice place and atmosphere. The food is also very delicious. The service is fast. The staff is polite.

Our third visit whilst on different holidays. Beautiful outside space and plenty of seating. Food was delicious. The wine was well chilled and very good. Efficient and friendly staff.

Really nice place to spend some time

Busy quite noisy but good food & good selection of drinks excellent location as lovely views over Christchurch Quay parking cancelled be difficult if car park is full so choose your times well.would recommend.

Great venue and friendly staff and super food and great Menu.....brilliant venue and well chilled VISTA 💯🎉💯

Had an unexpected lunch @theBoathouse today. Great service, a nice vibe and the burger I had was cooked to perfection. Would highly recommend and would go again.

A right rip off. Paid £24 for a poke bowl in a takeaway tub and a juice..£6 something...not fresh, just a bottle. Sat outside.

Nice food, tad overpriced for the overall quality. We sat in the covered eating area, which was quite drafty on a poor weather day. Staff polite and punctual

Been here before lovley place great food and brilliant service 👌

The perfect place to take your partner and they accept dogs😉

Fantastic location. A limited but good menu. Thoroughly enjoyed our meal / evening. Only two negative points were; The glasses weren’t clean, they need to sort out their dishwasher. The wine is a bit pricey (for what it is).

Absolutely gorgeous place. Beautiful location if you sit out on their patio type bit you get a lovely view of the quay. Was a sunny and hot day when we visited! Had the chicken Caesar salad with fries which was tasty and had a generous amount of dressing. Partner had the ribs and said they were amazing.

One of the nicest restaurants in christchurch.

Love this place. Our 'go to' for coffee in the morning as there's nice background music, relaxed atmosphere, lovely staff who are always friendly and great food. And all with the Quay on its doorstep. They welcome dogs in some areas and as a Coeliac they serve delicious Gluten free food & also vegetarian / vegan if needed. .

The food was drastically over priced and not very good value for money. Very very expensive. The qualify of the food did not qualify for the price. I have been to restaurants that are half the price and much better quality. Would not come again. Very cramped inside the restaurant too. Came with 4 of us and only had a main meal and the bill was over £120 for fish and chips, 2 curry’s and a burger. The price did not reflect on the quality of food. Sorry but not happy customers here.

Lovely pizzas. The largartia drink was unusual and delicious.