The Boathouse Cafe in South Lakeland

Visited here where we regularly visit as we are locals. We asked for some hot food which was taken out of a heated cabinet and then left on the side while the server and 2 members of staff started chatting for several minutes before deciding to let us pay. We had not seen this gentlemen before. Very poor service. Took our plates back once eaten and said thankyou. Completely ignored Think he was on his phone.We were going to purchase drinks but decided to go home instead.

Whether it is because they have a captive audience so don't really care, but I find it such a shame that this place can only offer a very small uninspiring selection of way overpriced below average grub. My family and I caught the little ferry over the water so we could visit the Boathouse for lunch. I hadn't read any reviews prior but wished I had. First up, the place was very busy, which is to be expected as it is the only one there. My family was hungry and looking for some nice homecooked food but all that was on offer was some pasties, sausage rolls, jacket potatoes, soup, pre-packed sandwiches and cakes. There was nothing my two youngest fancied so I got them a kid's picnic which consisted of one half of a sandwich (not even a full one), and a choice of another four items (most of which were sweet options) raisins, frubes, chocolate etc. No drink was included so I chose to buy one can of apple juice separately. My husband wanted a bottle of water but alas, the only option was a fancy metal bottle costing a whopping £3.30! Tap water is available free of charge I must add. My eldest son chose a cornish pasty as just when he'd decided to have a jacket potato, they took the sign down. I got a pre-packed sandwich (at £6.80) and my husband a sandwich which you could have toasted. We stood in the queue trying to juggle everything in our arms as the trays were down at the other end by the till!!! Where's the sense in that? This small amount of food came to just shy of £30. Now, some of you may think that this is not too extortionate but there were no extras, we didn't even get coffee and shared the bottle of water and the kids the one can of juice. Again, such a shame that somewhere like this is raking it in off tourists just because they can but not offering the quality one would expect. Sorry guys but this place could be SO much better.

Awful!! It is not a cafe it's more of a tea room/snack place. Had a few choices of sandwhich, several pasties and a few cakes. Absolutely ridiculous prices too £4.50 for ONE sausage roll!! 🙄

Great spot to get something to snack on or hot drinks when visiting Fellfoot. Gets very busy in the summer months.

This once was a great little cafe with home made cakes, good atmosphere and friendly staff. We canoed in yesterday for a break to find a robotic production line akin to school diners, coffee in flimsy paper cups, limited cake selection on paper plates.... It's lost its atmosphere. Shame. PS. Blokes toilets now moved around the back in boat shed, i think they ran out of directional signs.

We were recommended this place. We were not disappointed. Lovely spot. Openair. Friendly staff. Excellent breakfsst. Lovely views across Esthwaite.

no seating inside (Covid is no longer an excuse) ,very little seating outside, little choice of food . unmotivated staff.

A lovely cosy restaurant, summer or winter. Great views of Windermere. Food and drinks of a good quality, run by the National Trust. Parking in the NT car park, free for members.