The Boathouse Cafe and Bar in Barking and Dagenham

I came in for a late night drink and was one of the last customers of the evening. Owner was the best. Gave some samples of local brews before I put in an order. Super accommodating and personable. Highly recommend.

The coffee was amazing with breakfast. Recommend to go and have drinks and food at any time of the day.

we found this lovely place as we had walked along the river. They were having a party for volunteers but still made us feel welcome and even though they didn't know us. It was a lovely spot by the river and I felt chilled and will be going back there again when we stop at the travel lodge. the owners were really nice

Stayed locally and found this little gem for a quick drink.. as we entered the owner greeting us with a smile and friendly chat.. offering sample of local ales and snacks.. I can definitely see how this place could become a dangerous place to stop for a quick drink!! A great place and clearly a meeting place for the locals. Thanks for the welcome.. The three northern amigos!

It's just been more than a pleasant night for us! The place has a lot of character, it's on the River Roding. The owner is amazingly friendly and it's there to make you feel like at home! Fantastic place!

Great atmosphere, enjoyed music quiz night, DJ vety good with wide selection of music. I highly recommend the Boathouse.

Fantastisk god mad og god service. Venlig, høflig og imødekommende betjening. Fantastisk velsmagende mad og deres hummus er i verdensklasse

Went to the music quiz at the Boathouse, Sat 15th October. Great night, good choice of beer the Hammerton 'TINT' Nitro stout is worth the visit alone. Good Quiz, thanks to DJ Mike Starr, be nice to go back again when he is spinning some tunes. Great staff, friendly and good service, Keep up the good work Derrick and all the guys and girls! Hope to be back soon!

I was at a music quiz at The Boathouse last night. DJ Mike ran the quiz. We had a great time with nice drinks and helpful staff.

Went to the Boathouse for a music quiz night with the resident DJ MIKE. It was a really fun night and very good atmosphere. The DJ was very good and the service staff were friendly.

Attended a 60th Birthday celebration here, staff and owner absolutely wonderful. Great food and staff could not be more helpful and polite. Especially Derek the owner. Well worth a visit

We went to try it out and was surprised, great vibes on the music, food and drink were good, standard prices for nowadays…Service was good as well , the owner came over to our table and had a chat to welcome us and took us through the menu. Really quite pleasant sitting next to Barking Reach, it’s about time for Barking to get some decent restaurants, bars and pubs back and this is one of them - keep up the great work we will be back!

The owner Derek is the rudest person I have ever had the misfortune of coming across. He does not know how to treat his customers. Food and drinks are overpriced for the location, I WILL NEVER GO BACK NOR WOULD I RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE !!

Had a lovely lunch here today with my daughter.very friendly & welcoming food was fantastic. A little calm oasis in the centre of town.very relaxing .

I came to the Boathouse Café in search of somewhere for a quiet evening to catch up on work and have a bite to eat. Atmosphere is fantastic, welcoming and with a good selection of beers and cocktails. Beautifully decorated without being pretentious and a good mix of trusty locals. I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the post 7pm food- the mixed mezze platter was fantastic and well worth the price. Bar staff are very friendly, attentive and everything you would want in a bar. Keep doing what you do guys- what a fantastic place you have!

We where down in Barking staying as had a wedding in London and found this amazing place on the river front. Found everyone very welcoming and great service. My dad said if he lived locally he would be in everyday and the ale was amazing...

Will never come back here the owner derek is very rude and doesnt go the extra mile for his customers and very overpriced on drinks.

Went to the boathouse for the first time on Sunday 18th , and was very impressed by everything about the place. The staff were very friendly espicially the owner whe went out of his way to make sure we were happy and our drinks were...

I come to the Boathouse quite a bit. I love it here and I am always happy and relaxed. There is nothing like sitting outside on warm summer evening and having an Aperol Spritz. Good food too, lots of choice for veggies like me. Table...

The Boathouse is really kool. A great bar/cafe on the River Roding in Barking. Been there lots of times now and am never disappointed . Absolutely excellent hospitality! The food is very good too and the cakes are excellent, as is Derrick's selection of wines....

Thought this would be a nice place to grab a bite and enjoy a drink in the sun. My wife wasn't allowed in due to her face mask exemption, which is discrimatory. Also, you can't wear a face covering; it has to be a face...

Went here for a few drinks on a friends recommendations and really wish we hadn't bothered! 2 of us had a lanyard that stated we were exempt from wearing a face mask but it didn't stop the owner from stating it again less that 30seconds...

Found this place on tripadvisor and so glad we came. The food is gorgeous and a homemade if I was going to be picky I'd say have the option of spicy chicken for the panini. The chips are to die for tasted like dripping fat...

I’ve lived in the area for four years but never had visited the boathouse cafe lots of people highly recommended and it is a lovely little place however I won’t be going back there and spending my money where not welcome my advice to you...

. Ideal to park walk the river and town and come back for meal Senior prices for two course lunch or for an extra quid 3 course . Great food friendly staff Crystal served us alongside Jessica both genuine and friendly .Outside eating only at...

I've lived in Barking for six months now, and while I've nothing against Wetherspoons, it should never be the second best bar in an area. Thankfully the best bar, the Boathouse, is an absolute gem - friendly staff, good food, and good beer. And a...

Husband was on a coutse in barking stayed at the ibis went to the boat house if you like cocktails pay a visit to this place right on the canal and the cocktails are to die for

I just love this place! Lovely atmosphere, wonderful decor with photos of local people on the walls. Really friendly, helpful staff. Food and drink are spot on. Lovely outdoor seating area to enjoy when the weather is good. Have only visited during the day, would...

This is a real gem. It is a calm, friendly and peaceful place, doing great lunches - make sure you have the salad with the panino, and also great beer. The Lithuanian beer was wonderful.

Well if friendly service and and fantastic location is what you’re after - the Boat House is the place.

I am so glad that I found this place. The atmosphere is always friendly and chilled. Whether you come on your own or with friends, you are always made to feel welcome. The staff are friendly and helpful. I just love the fact that I can forget I am in Barking when I come here. Highly, highly recommended. It's my 'happy place'.

Found this place as recommended on trip adviser and it did not disappoint. Looking forward to returning in the summer when its warmer so can sit outside!

Great venue for a drink and catch up with friends but also to be introduced to different kinds of music. Derek is a great host and offers a relaxed atmosphere.

This place is simply the best on so many many levels. Derrick,who greeted us, seems to have to ability to keep all his customers happy at the same time, making you feel very special. He made us the most tasty baguette ever,when we went there last Sunday to listen to some 'folk singing' friends perform. My partner had a good discussion about the wine to help with his choice whilst I had cups of tea made for me, all with such a smile, brilliant. There is always a great feeling in this venue/bar/cafe and I just wish it was much closer to where we live so we could go more often. But always well worth the trip. Thanks Norma & Mac

Solo pudimos tomar una copa porque llevábamos algo de prisa , pero rápido nos dimos cuenta que el camarero que nos atendió era magnífico!! Sonrisa constante y una forma de atender que ya me gustaría a mi para el resto de Londres . Volvería sin dudarlo .

We found it via tripadvisors and the reviews were helpful and correct. We loved the music, relaxed atmosphere and the generous servings on your plate! It is a casual restaurant but the food and atmosphere were great, we did not want to leave but we had to because we had to go and pick someone!

Possibly THE best soup ever...full of chunks of lamb with potatoes and dumplings. This plus the great salads, great tea, paninis plus a table overlooking the river. They even arranged for the sun to shine.The cheerful greetings from Catilin and Derrek made us welcome and I would have ordered the soup without the sample Derrek proudly offered us...but the taste clinched the deal.We were recommended to checking out the website for details about the folk evenings and it is a great find in a rapidly developing area.Check it out while you can still get in

Imagine this....You’re due to fly home, but your flight is cancelled. So the airline rebooks you. But doesn’t think about the hotel... so you’re on your own. In a strange town. In the dark. And the rain. Then, a friendly Uber driver picks you up and makes you feel appreciated. And then you find a pub on Trip Advisor, and change your route ... only when the driver can’t find the place, even tho the address is right (it’s a bit around the back) and you decide to strike it out in your own. (Did I mention the rain?) And you spend so long looking for it that you get soaked, and arrive bedraggled at the foot of the wooden stairs leading up to the balcony...Where you see strings of warm lights dangling in the wind (and the rain), and hear mellow reggae music cascading downstairs... you trapse, bedraggled, upstairs, to be greeted by a great friendly man in an apron (that’d be Derrick) who welcomes you with his warmth. And fulfilled you’re every wish: warm delicious soup, a cold delicious beer, and friendly company! It’s like entering a different world! A world that’s still in order despite the chaos raging around you... >sigh<And, not only is the atmosphere great, but so is the food. (Derrick’s Mom Made lamb soup. Real down home soul food... awesome.) And the company - a few locals invite me to sit down with them (on what looks like a romantic date... I politely decline, with gracious thanks) even tho we’ve never met before... >sigh<Life is good. And so is The Boathouse. Be it for the fresh craft beers on tap, the home-cooked food, the hospitable welcome, or the convivial company... I have one regret... not being able to come back more often!

We have been going to Boathouse since last year, once every few months. Every time we visit the staff are friendly, the cocktails are great and the other drink selection is good as well. The venue is beautiful and next to riverside, the atmosphere is nice and chilling - it can get very busy especially on Fridays and Saturdays.

Lovely place highly recommend , nice staff, fantastic homemade food and cocktails . Drinks are one of a kind and really hard to find anywhere else.

Great food, beer and very friendly helpful service. This place is a hidden gem in Barking by the river.

Despite only living just across the "border" in East Ham and intending to visit The Boathouse Cafe and Bar since it had first opened, we eventually got around to visiting it yesterday afternoon. To put it simply, we found (as others have already said) that it's the proverbial "hidden gem". A fine outside terrace overlooking the River Roding/Barking Creek, plus a comfortable looking "artistically decorated" small bar serving a full range of drinks (with or without alcohol!) including four decent craft beers (£5 per pint) which was an added bonus - we were expecting bottled beers only. On our next visit, we'll have to try the food which certainly looked very tempting (though I was amused to read the one negative review of The Boathouse Cafe and Bar which expressed disappointment that it wasn't a restaurant - lets be honest - the name is a bit of a give-away) Very highly recommended!

I was visiting a show at the excel and fancied a walk. Hard to find but well worth it. The owner was a true gent and I'll be back next time im down from liverpool. Seek it out that man Derrick knows his liquor. Congrats on such a place

We came along for a quick bite to eat and we're warmly greeted by the owners who immediately recommended delicious jerk chicken and fish macaroni meals that they were willing to make for us not on their usual lunch menu of paninis. We enjoyed a gorgeous view of the river and we're disappointed we couldn't have stayed longer for the BBQ party they were planning that day. Would definitely return!

Had a lovely lunch with lovely views along the river. Staff were friendly and helpful. Good choice of both food and drink. There was also a bbq on the day that we went which was brilliant.

Always great recommendations from people working there, friendly, atmospheric, and a range of new drinks. Great local feel, best views and lovely decor!

I visit the boathouse quite regularly it is my local pub/bar. The bar is always fully stocked with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks! Great value for money at happyhour and 'Fiver Friday'. Both my boyfriend and I enjoy their Quiz nights and music entertainment. My boyfriend would definitely recommend 'liley's' cider, however i can never resist a classic espresso martini or Pornstar!

Live locally, gone several times, this is a really great independent bar. Great location and has a lovely atmosphere. Nice selection of drinks. The owner obviously cares about the place and knows his stuff. Barking is lucky to have the place.

Thank you for a very warm welcome to the boat house... we will definitely be back!! Staff, music and customers all made for a lovely Friday evening Xx

A hidden gem behind riverside apartments overlooking the canal side - great array of local beers and ciders and we partook in the patio barbecue street food burgers the day we visited - great value intimate venue

Went there for a coffee and a chat. Not exactly the best weather to experience it in but the inside is warm and cozy and the man serving the drinks was very nice and friendly.

A great place to grab a pint or a coffee and chill. Set on the bank of the River Roding, and often playing tunes that you’d hear in Cafe Mambo in Ibiza, the bar is perfect to relax and watch the sun go down.Del (Derek) the owner is always happy to chat and is clearly passionate about the area and his vision.Prices are as you’d expect for London but there’s a happy hour to take advantage of!This bar wouldn’t go amiss in Hackney or Southbank, so to have something like this in Barking is brilliant.

Have been a couple of times now and really happy with this bar/cafe. Derek is a brilliant host, wish they were all like him. Cocktails for a fiver on a Friday with Caribbean food as well, what's not to love. Probably got the best views in Barking too. Wish it was a bit nearer to me as it would definitely be my favourite pub

So happy to see find this qwerky little cafe in Barking. Great to chill in the sun by the Roding river with a cup of coffee or a fancy cocktails. They also have live music some evening and will def check ut out!

The Boathouse Cafe and Bar is a hidden gem in Barking, perfectly situated next to the River Roding. I have been coming to the venue for a number of years and it never fails to disappoint. The atmosphere and ambiance of the venue is fantastic, which is complimented by the friendly staff and amazing decor. Offering a wide range of drinks, both alcohol and soft, and a nice selection of snacks, it is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of London without having to leave the city.

Went there with another couple. Was skeptical at first considering it is hidden place with not a lot of space, but trust me, with whatever space they have, it is worht a visit. Host is really friendly and make you feel welcomed. Beer is just amazing there. A more than decent place to spend your lazy evenings.

Panini. Was just delightful full of flavour it's the first time we have been here but won't be the last

Found myself in Barking, which is a little edgy in places, and went here having found it on TripAdvisor. Really friendly staff / owners (?), great drinks but the only food going on was a panini. Probably because it was a Tuesday night. Still stayed for two drinks and loved the place. Nice water front, relaxed place.Go now!

This is what barking needed for a long time Somewhere to relax by the river with a nice drink Friendly and helpful staff Chillaxing atmosphere Live music occasionally Great place

Visited this place to eat whilst staying at the Premier Inn at BarkingSeen previous reviews recommending the jerk chicken and Goat Curry and we were not disappointed as the food was reasonably priced and cooked to perfection The owner of the establishment made us very welcome and we enjoyed the local craft ale that was on tapHaving a meal overlooking the river on a balmy evening in London enjoying Caribbean food what could be betterThis was a perfect end to our day and if you are in Barking looking for a place to eat then this is a mustNote it is approx a 10 minutes walk from the Premier Inn

We recently discovered the Boathouse in Barking and it has straight away become our favourite drinking and eating spot in the areaIt serves a small but excellent choice of London brewed beers and well made cocktails. The BBQ serves great food, both meat and veggie options (check out the chefs special mushroom burger)Board games, friendly staff, a community atmosphere and beautiful setting on the riverside make this the perfect spot to chill

This is a really nice evening out the cocktails are great the food is amazing what can I say it's just the best.

Visited Barking for short break. Had read about this place on here. It did not disappoint. Derek, Stewart, Mr Nice and family were all fantastic. We got relaxed chat, lovely laid back atmosphere.Mr Nice pop up at the back of the cafe is lovely. My husband had a fabulous goat curry with rice and beans and I had Southern fried burger with chips and salad. No complaints, plates emptied in no time. Our on regret is our timetable didn't allow us more opportunity to try the rest of the menu. So many people raved about his jerk chicken. I really mean many! Next time Mr Nice.It took us a bit to find the Boathouse but we were so glad we did. We felt and were treated like locals instantly. Couldn't have asked for more. Cheers folks you were great company!

This is definitely a one of a kind place. Good atmosphere, some good local beer, nice outdoor area and good music. Great place to chill on the sunny summer day!

Lovely bar on riverside. Hard to find in these unlikely surroundings of modern flats but worthwhile. Perhaps telephone ahead for directions and parking?

I was looking for a restaurant in the Barking area and this came up with great reviews, however, to my disappointment this turned out to be a cafe and more of a bar than an actual restaurant which is what i was looking for.Although the bar and setting was pleasant, this was just a cafe which converts to a bar and definitely not a restaurant as shown when searched.If you are looking for a night out at a bar this seems to be a fabulous place but if you are looking for a proper restaurant then this is not the place for you.

Great place, always makes you feel welcomed. Calming view of the river, nice people. About the menu - my absolute favourites - delicious panini and strawberry daikiri :)

I’m a regular here. I come for the chats with Del, the owner, the incredible espresso martinis, the best sunsets in London and the good vibes. It’s a great place with a fantastic atmosphere. I can’t recommend it enough. Come and join us!

Set near the water. Lush cocktails. Great for family. Any occasion to go there. Friendly staff. Nice evening entertainment

This fantastic little bar and cafe is one of the few decent places to go in Barking. Del, who runs it, is hospitable and welcoming. Lovely cocktails and some organic wine. Local beers would you believe. Great atmosphere, good music. Can’t ask for mire. You won’t be disappointed

This place is fantastic it may be small but Derrick and his staff run this unique little place with efficiency and friendly expertise. We had lunch and an afternoon of music there yesterday and enjoyed every minute from 2pm to 6pm. Great food and drink from real Ale to Organic wine with a wonderful pot of tea and coffee as well. Wonderful service even when busy. Just wish it was closer to us we'd be there every week!

Headed to the boathouse for the first time on Paddy’s day and was very pleasantly surprised.Venue was excellent and staff were very friendly.There was live music which was great and selection of beers and cocktails was very good.They even come round with some complementary sausage rolls and rocky road bites which were very tasty.Highly recommended!

By mistake we ended up in this small but very cosy restaurant. The owner approached us extremely friendly and wanted to make us whatever we wanted. The exotic dinner was delicious and very surprising. I would definitely advise this place, but don’t expect a star rated restaurant that has a business environment.

Having found this lovely place on a previous visit we popped in for a coffee and then as 5.30pm arrived we took advantage of the £5 Friday cocktails. Very nice too! We'll be back.

Staying at the soul-less Ibis hotel just across the bridge. Found this place via a quick google search. Immediately greeted by the friendly owner who provided me with a tasty pint of a local(ish) craft beer. No menu available, but he was happy to custom make a veggie panini with some excellent mixed bean salad. The cafe was a bit quiet with a few locals at the bar, but it had a community feel as well as interesting decor. I'd highly recommend it and will visit again if I'm ever in the area.

My new local! great atmosphere, & although on the dearer side, it keeps all the local idiots out! The owner tries to mix the beers up, serving localy produced beer & ales

Popped in for a hot drink after a pleasant walk. As it is a bit out of the way we were very pleased to find it open latish on a cold Friday afternoon. We were made welcome by the very friendly staff who were preparing for a 'do' that evening.Good coffee and cake at reasonable prices.Happy hour cocktails looked inviting but we were too early and in charge of a little one. Thought we were going to use precarious steps but were alerted to the presence of a lift before we set out. We now know how to get in more safely too!

Called in on a cold December afternoon. Very welcoming and cosy café / bar. An interesting combination that works well.

Firstly what a hidden gem, all this time and i never knew. The great ambiance and lethal cocktails what a way to start the evening. A definite must do for anyone.

Good food, Good company, Good drink, good times. Dont just sit there, introduce yourself to the locals, find out about the local Bargees who live on the river and frequent the bar, discover plans for the largest film studios in the country to be built in the local area, find out about the interesting artists and politicians who have visited. There is a lot to discover at the Boathouse, its an exciting place in an area that is strongly regenerating and changing.

Love this place. Friendly owners and inexpensive prices. Fantastic cocktails and amazing freshly cooked hamburgers!

Great place by the river, owner is extremely welcoming, I’m looking forward to it becoming my local 😊

Found out about this by word of mouth to be honest otherwise would not have known it was there. Two pints of very nice lager £9 be warned but left there feeling very relaxed partly due to the lager but also the environment and landlord/owner!! It is well worth a visit!!

Went there as we have eaten at that chef's establishments before and his good is amazing. Holloumi fries are to die for. There was live music, on the river, great atmosphere and Derek and Alison made us feel extremely welcome. Even the dogs are catered for with beer and pawsecho! We will certainly be visiting again very soon.

Excellent pub/ bar , the food is good & priced fairly, the staff are friendly, & it has a fantastic spot in old Leigh high street , well worth a vist 👏🏻👏🏻

I love The Boathouse! It's a fantastic little community cafe and bar! Everyone here is nice and friendly, that includes customers as well as staff. The food is very nice and I cannot get enough of the cocktails! When you're at the Boathouse you don't feel like you're in Barking or London at all!

Excellent steak,fries and salad. Service with a smile Immaculate washroom Really very pleasant venue with a happy atmosphere and very content clients

My son read an article about Barking being regenerated and it reminded him that he wanted to visit here as some friends of his had been a few times and really enjoyed it so today we went to see it for ourselves!!! We went for coffee this morning and we were very impressed with the quirky decor and well made coffees ... what really added to it was the lovely open friendliness of Alison who runs it with her partner Derek .. Her attitude and friendly chat was very positive and so many times a good cafe is let down by staff who don't really seem to want to be friendly to their customers but this was definitely not the case here . Talking to Alison about their ethos and reasons for taking on the running of this cafe really added to the occasion of coming here to try it out and I definitely hope to make a return visit and am sure I will be as impressed as my 1st visit here !!!

What an afternoon. We spent a couple of hours sitting out on the deck drinking stunning gin cocktails and playing board games with our 12 yr old. I must add he was drinking juice!. The sevice was genuine and friendly. The guy that owns deserves to do really well. The B B Q, well gosh the best chicken I've ever eaten. All I can say is try it for yourself you won't be disappointed.

Fantastic place. Staff are lovely, the decor is perfect and it's very reasonably priced. Lots going on in this lovely little place, including regular live music in the evening. Sit outside when it's warm to look out onto the houseboats, and let the world flow by.A real breath of fresh air and a unique special place.

I arrived confused and lost I was hungry and cold. I walked in to an amazingly trendy bar and was greated by the owners, such warmth and hospitality they advised me to talk to the chef who makes amazing burgers.Well that's what I did and dam I'm glad I did. Never have i had such a good burger the sauce was amazing and the salad was fresh the bun was soft the gurkins had a good crunch and together it was A class. I can't stress with words alone how good it was you have to try it.You would never believe that you are in barking when you are there what an amazing wonderful place.

Stayed at a local hotel and, rather than eat what they dish up, I searched on TripAdvisor and found this place. A quite unique bar with a view of Canary Wharf in the distance and overlooking the River Roding. The owner/host/manager (the guy who didn't look a day past 45) was really welcoming and friendly and let me sample a beer he'd recommended before pouring me a pint.Food was provided by the Dona Sao Kitchen and was delicious - jerk chicken, coleslaw, fries and rice. Good food, great value.It was early evening when I visited but the atmosphere was great...really good music and generally...well, just bloody good!Thanks to all, I will return.

My friend and I sought out this bar as an alternative to the pubs by the station - she visits me from Southend. However, the only wine available was £22 a bottle, which I hadn't expected from Barking.

I love this place! This will be our 4th visit and the first time enjoying the BBQ. My hubby had the jerk chicken burger and I had sea bass. So good. Thanks again Derek and team Lindsey and Max

This place is a gem - it's a family-run cafe/bar with a great vibe, excellent service and really good coffee and food. It's well signed from the residential street, tucked away looking over the River Roding. It's an industrial spot, but a change of view from the norm, and catches the sun on a nice day. Inside there are sofas and cafe tables. The owners are about, and have effortlessly cool taste in music. Its relaxing and friendly. Coffee, toasted sandwiches and cakes are great and reasonably priced. Sometimes there's a barbecue outside, which smells amazing, though I haven't tasted the jerk chicken myself. Great variety of locals frequent the place, and you can see why - it's one of the friendliest places around.

Visited the Boathouse café for a quick coffee, what a impressive place! Spoke to the owner whilst I was there and I couldn't be anything else but impressed. Although my visit was brief, the time and enthusiasm shown by the owner would suggest that this would be worth another visit. Difficult to find , if you don't know its there but certainly worth going out of your way, well stocked bar with a range of craft beers and cocktails.

We visited here in May for the first time and I was really impressed. Lovely atmosphere, great craft beer and cocktails. The hosts were really friendly. Lovely quirky , relaxing place. Hats off to the owners who have made it to feel so comfortable.

Popped into boathouse bar to meet couple of friends. Perfect Sunday afternoon drinking custom made cocktails sitting in the sunshine by the river. Pop up Caribbean food stall. Probably the best jerk chicken and rice and peas ever had. And cheap. On top of that perfect old soul and funk music in the bar. Don't want to go home....

Excellent atmosphere with interesting decor, featuring lots of reclaimed wood.Nice, fairly large, decked area outside, with huge umbrellas to guard against the summer sun or more likely the English rain. And there's now even a gazebo, where they serve the smoking hot, jerk chicken BBQ on Saturday and Sunday afternoon / early evening.Great views at sunset over the Roding where you can spot the wrecks, or the old barges and try and work out how to cross the river using those two little bridges you can see in the distance.Frequently changing range of bottled and now also draft beers, wines and lovely ciders to maintain our interest.Veggie-friendly paninis, overflowing onto the plate and fabulous moist German cheesecake with mandarin orange and other fruit, or maybe feast on some Dutch apple tart - or one of their other terrific cakes.On Friday, Saturday Nights & perhaps on Bank Holiday Mondays you can listen to some effortlessly cool DJs on the decks.Entry is free and the bar has a strict vinyl only DJ policy with the DJs playing at just the right volume, so you can enjoy the music and still chat without shouting.At other times owner & music lover Derrick, plays a tasteful choice of classic soul, funk, rare groove, ratpack & jazz thru a top of the range in-house Bose Sound System. "What was that last track, Derrick?", I enquired ..."James Brown, mate ... Don't you know that one!"And lastly there's the cocktails. Oh, those cocktails! Will we risk a Pornstar Martini, or stick with another Whisky Sour tonight ?Derrick learned his trade mixing drinks for 12 years in some of Copenhagen's koolest joints. "Nu er det også meget hyggeligt her i Barking!"

The Boathouse is really kool. A great bar/cafe on the River Roding in Barking. Been there a few times now. Absolutely excellent hospitalty! The food is very good too and the cakes are excellent, as is Derrick's selection of wines.Fantastic, ecclectic choice of music served up via a top of the range Bose sound system ... The best thing that's happened to Barking in years.