The Boathouse Restaurant in Shropshire

Stopped here after a walk along the canal and part way round the lake with our dog. The weather was kind to us and we sat outside for our lunch. Service was prompt and with a smile. We sat on a bench seat beside the lake which was perfect.

Popped in after a stroll round the mere. It was raining so had to sit inside. Coffee and cakes were good. Bara brith delicious, dulce de leche cronut wasn't so good. Staff were friendly and helpful.

Great spot and service is excellent. Nice to be able to go somewhere and have a joke with the staff, made us feel welcome and will definitely come again. Food also great, we came back after lunch for tea and cake

Really tasty coffee with excellent flavour. We had flat whites. We're regular customers and always enjoy not just the coffee but the general atmosphere. The staff are superb too. Well done to the Boathouse 👏👏

The best breakfast I ever had!! Fresh ingredients and cooked to perfection. The staff are very friendly and attentive. My children like it here too, the best views in ellesmere, what more could you ask for?

After a long walk along the canals stopped here for refreshments. Delicious lentil soup and bread, pot of tea, cream scones and cake in the sunny outside seating area. Lovely, helpful staff, attractive building, full marks to you!

We went for a big breakfast after an early walk around the mere. I had the boathouse breakfast which came quickly and tasted great, especially the eggs which were cooked to perfection. The staff were all very nice and checked up on us after our food arrived and once we had finished. This is a great spot in a lovely location so we will definitely be back soon!

Not been through Ellesmere and here for 3 years, it was at that time just about OK, but it has slipped downhill somewhat. With not that much alternatives in Ellesmere we tried it once more. Well, all in all, best thing about this place is the view, situated on the shore of the beautiful Ellesmere Lake just outside the town centre. Called in for a quick brunch whilst enroute through Ellesmere town, ordered a cheese and pickle sandwich, side order of chunky fries and an espresso. Espresso was tepid, why oh why can’t the average barista in the UK know how to make a decent and hot espresso, it’s not very difficult ! The cheese sandwich at a few pence under £8.00 was not what one would expect for such a high priced but basic sandwich. The menu described the cheese as ‘Mature Cheddar’ it was in fact just about the cheapest ‘plastically’ cheese they could find, no ‘mature’ texture or flavour at all ! (Why do some restaurants get away with fictional menu descriptions??) The bowl of fries was indeed a good size portion but arrived at the table well off the desired temperature, they had obviously been out of the fryer, probably left on the pass for a good while before being taken to the table, (such bad kitchen management). The location is superb, but I feel they need to get a good chef on board, better train their baristas and front of house staff and it could be a fabulous place to visit. Right now, with the present set up I would now be sure avoid it in future. One of my previous comments was about high prices, quality and tiny portions, I have no problem with top end pricing if you get top end quality and service but prices here are simply not value for money. It wouldn't take too much to make this into a suburb destination café/bar/restaurant. Location perfect ............... everything else really does need a good 'upgrade'

We booked a table for 20 to celebrate our mum’s surprise 80th birthday lunch. We were welcomed warmly and drinks orders taken. The service, food and customer service were all outstanding Rosie HJ and Nathan looked after us really well and really helped made our special occasion even more special. Thank you all, highly recommend

Some staff rude and abrupt. When you order the boathouse breakfast for 6 people you don't expect 2 small bowls of baked beans for 6 people! I know you're only charging £10.50 for this but please serve what is stated on the menu per person

We had a lovely lunch at The Boathouse. As soon as we entered we were greeted with a friendly welcome and seated at a great table with a view over the lake, we didn't even have a reservation so we were impressed. We ordered drinks which came quickly then we ordered food. I had an amazing Buddha bowl which had everything I love, the portion was substantial which is not always the case for vegan dishes and the tastes were great. My partner had a burger which he said was delicious as did my Mum. All in all it was a lovely experience and we will definitely be back.

I recently visited for breakfast with a friend. Having ordered our drinks and food it quickly became clear our choice to sit outside was an unwise one due to the number of wasps. We therefore picked up our order and asked a young waitress if we could sit inside due to the issue. She smiled and said of course, please sit where you would like. As the centre room was quite full with only larger tables left we walked into the room on the right to find a smaller table. We sat down and started our much awaited breakfast. Unfortunately, just after settling an older waitress walked in and very abruptly asked where we had come from and why we were sitting there. I explained that we had been outside, but due to the wasps we had come in, we had spoken to a member of staff and been told to sit wherever. The older waitress quickly snapped back at me that we had not been told that and that there was a function in that room later so we needed to move. I explained that it was fine for us to move, but there wasn’t any need to speak to us in such a rude tone. The waitress again snapped back, stating she was not being rude and we shouldn’t have been there and we needed to move. At this point I advised that actually I would rather leave if we were going to be spoken to in such a way, to which the lady just turned and walked away from us. As we were leaving I did speak to the lady behind the bar and said that we were sorry we had left our food and were leaving but unfortunately we weren’t prepared to be spoken to in such a rude way. The same waitress then stepped in again and said she hadn’t been rude to us to which my friend said ‘I’m sorry but you really were’. Clearly this waitress thinks this is a suitable way to speak to customers. Our visit was completely spoilt and not wishing to be insulted any further we left. I have never before been left so astounded and disappointed to the point of leaving a venue before I had barely started the meal I had paid for. We won't be returning or recommending them. I subsequently sent two emails to the manager advising of our awful experience, both emails have gone unanswered. Its clear customer satisfaction is not high on their list of priorities.

My husband and I came to Ellesmere for a walk last week and came across the Boathouse. We thought we'd give it a try, and wow, so glad we did. It was late morning, and breakfast was still being served. We tried the full English breakfast, and it was superb. Very popular place, it was certainly getting very busy. It's definitely worth visiting for food, coffee and cake

Booked a table for our family. Started off well. Airy, nice view, pretty decor. Drinks & food orders taken - staff were friendly. Some of our drinks didn’t turn up. We chased them up - still no drinks. Mentioned to another member of staff - still no drinks. After 30 mins missing drinks arrive. Hurrah! Food starts to arrive. 2 dishes were missing - these things happen, we understood. We told a member of staff, they ran off to find out, but never came back with an update on the order. We asked someone else… one dish turned up - by then everyone else on our table was finishing. One dish never turned up. We got given a discount but there was a definite note of hostility from the manager. I’d have been so much happier if someone would just have said ‘sorry, we missed off part of the order will 5 minutes be ok…’ But to just say nothing with no updates… it was a missed opportunity by The Boathouse to show some decent customer service. They were busy. But it all fell apart.

Called this morning for a breakfast and to be honest it was not the best, it started with us being given the lunch menu instead of the breakfast one at 10:00am it could have been a easy mistake! my wife had the eggs Benedict with one of the poached eggs being well over cooked, I had the full breakfast which the bacon was well over done and the eggs were both a bit snotty, and who ever buttered the toast put me on rations with the butter, we was not asked if everything was okay, so value for our money it was not great, attention to detail would be good.

I walked in here alone after a long walk. The staff didn’t know how tired I was but they made me feel like they new. The guy behind the bar was very polite and attentive as was the blonde lady think her name was Alison, She couldn’t do enough for you I felt she had her eyes everywhere as it was very busy but I didn’t feel excluded for being on my own. Really enjoyable and relaxing couple of hrs. Would recommend this place to pretty much everyone I know if they were wanting a good place to go. Thank you staff.. All place should be like this .. Thank you…,

Went for brunch on Sunday morning and were welcomed and seated quickly. Food was great in the main but the avocado on toast looked a bit small and the poached egg forgotten. BUT I would visit again as the setting is lovely.

Nice spot and dog friendly but we found it overpriced for the area. Probably because there aren't many places to eat in Ellesmere so the prices are reflecting this. Food was fine, so was the service, they were polite enough just felt like they didn't want to be there, the place looks a bit run down, hopefully they will sort it out over the winter months when the business is slow. It was fine for a quick lunch but I wouldn't rave about it, bit underwhelming, we went once and it was enough, although we could've gone more as it was the closest eatery to our accommodation but we didn't feel like we wanted to return. On the positive note ice cream at the kiosk bit further down are excellent, the kiosk is run by The Boathouse.

Had a number of meals at this dog friendly establishment. It is located right by the Mere with views of the water and almost feels like being at the coast (but no bandit seagulls) We had breakfast on two occasions during a week's stay in the area. The first time I had a Eggs Royale ( good except poached egg not quite runny enough) and the second time decided to pig myself with the full "Boathouse Breakfast" which certainly set me up for the day. Food was good and service was friendly and efficient.

Great staff , lovely scones , coffee & tea ,reasonably priced :) The girls there don’t stop moving as it’s always busy They are polite and seem to take rudeness from customers in their stride Bravo 👏 Highly recommended ❤️

Great service great meal and Guten Free menu to will be back again 100% recommend the great place ty

From the minute I walked in I was really well taken care of. Genuine, friendly and yet not over the top service, great coffee and great food. I'll be back!

The boathouse was a lovely place for me to take my friends, that came up from London. We came in and was served by 3 lovely ladies and the Breakfast was delicious i had the pancakes which were accompanied by some cream and berries. My friends had the boathouse breakfast and they loved it. The next day we came in for lunch again, this time and again the staff were lovely and so was the food! Me and my friends had such a nice time at the boathouse, i will definitely be coming back!

Not good! Visited with friends, i booked in advance and requested a table with easy wheelchair access and was assured they would keep the table for us. However when we arrived on time they told us that other customers were sitting there! They found us another table which was not easy to get too. The food varied from mediocre to inedible (beef bap), and there was no communication between the waiting staff and no manager evident. No apologies when we complained! Paid the extortionate bill and left. Will not return

I’m always waiting and hoping to be impressed by The Boathouse but in the 2 years that I have kept trying it, I always leave disappointed. The food is mediocre, the staff whilst lovely, are young and inexperienced. Training/customer service do not seem to be a priority here. No one seems to teach them about the basics or even how to speak on the phone. Waiting times can be long and information between staff varies. Opening hours and menus change with no notifications on their social media platforms , which is highly frustrating when you pop down on a Friday evening , after being advised by staff that I can get a pizza every night. Perhaps update your online info as you make changes. There is little consistency here.. The latest venture into pizzas is poor and what is advertised on their instagram is not available (prawn and garlic pizza which is what I wanted after seeing a photograph) or does it look like what is pictured. They are expensive for the quality. (£26 for two pizzas). The location is stunning and if the owners manage to get it right, it could be a wonderful local , especially with all the new houses being built . I would recommend it for a coffee / glass of wine/cakes but everything else, sadly not at all.

Was in the area to feed the ducks with little one and my friend and I decided to pop in and see if they had any tables for lunch. They did and what a welcome we did receive. The staff were amazing, all of them....

Visited the Boathouse on a recent week spent in Ellesmere North Shropshire. Loverly setting atvthe head of the mere. Arrived Sunday early afternoon and had drinks and coffee. We had two dogs with us and were accommodated without fuss. Sat outside in a nice decked...

Called as a group of 8 for Sunday lunch. The food was excellent and the service amazing ! The location is fabulous overlooking the mere and overall this is a great place to go for a drink or for food. Generous portions, great value what’s...

Absolutely excellent!! The Boathouse has it all. Lovely, cheerful, helpful staff. A fantastic menu, really top quality, delicious, well-presented and good value food. We had quite high expectations which were exceeded.

We had a flat white (and probably the best we’ve had), sausage roll (amazing) and some delicious almond and orange cake. Staff were lovely and helpful. Only missed 5 stars as wasps prevented us eating overlooking the mere. We definitely recommend here

My family booked a table for 5 (3 adults and 2 children). The adults ordered Sunday roasts and the kids had burger and chips. Drinks came really quick and food was ordered. Around 15 minutes later the roasts came out without any veg or gravy...

Lovely friendly staff. Everything is expensive and is so often the case the chef has skimped to save a few pennies. The food was actually really nice but when a meal for two arrives costing £25+ it should look good. Its didn't. I felt cheated....

Fabulous place to get together with family for breakfast. Lovely food, fabulous service, beautiful surroundings, relaxed atmosphere.

Lovely setting. Food was well cooked, beautifully presented and delivered by really friendly, helpful staff who were always on the move ensuring that all diners queries/needs were dealt with expeditiously. Although very busy nothing was too much trouble. We had starters plus extras. The portions...

Nine pounds for two HALVES of shandy and one HALF of larger total RIP OFF will never return.Even when i picked myself up off the floor i was that mortified i never asked for a breakdown and still kicking myself now writing this review.

Whilst walking around Ellesmere we came across The Boathouse at lunch time on a Sunday. All we were looking for was just a sandwich so we popped in. Excellent greeting from the manager/staff. Turned out they do not do sandwiches on a Sunday but they...

Recently went for a meal here and would definitely go again, the food was great and the hospitality was amazing, big thumbs up to the two waitresses on today, despite how busy they were they always made sure that our table was well looked after...

Went for lunch with my partner and it was lovely. We were served by a waitress called Alison who was friendly and very helpful. All staff seemed very efficient and attentive. Will definitely be returning. A lovely spot for a meal or just coffee.

Excellent Sunday lunch - we all had traditional Sunday Lunch and all throughly enjoyed. The staff are very hardworking, very busy and very attentive. Well done The Boathouse - we will definitely recommend 👍

Went for lunch, had a chicken Caesar salad, it came without dressing, but huge lumps of croutons, too large and hard to eat. Ages later plates were cleared, desert menus left on the table and that was the end of lunch, no desert no coffee,...

Second time to visit this lovely place. On both occasions we found the service to be excellent, lovely friendly staff who greeted you on arrival and suggested a table. We ate outside overlooking the Mere and the wildlife. Service was quite quick and the waitress...

Food was nice, but the owner just walked around with a phone in his hand just bumping into people, ignoring customers, staff and was ignorant. His family were at a table and his children were running around, the mess at their table and the floor...

The boathouse staff were amazingly accommodating with our charity ride. We enjoyed the delicious and generous sandwiches, on the outside terrace. The views of the lake were great and we were very well looked after by very attentive staff. They coped very well with our...

Lovely lakeside pub. Shame about the booking system We left hungry even though we booked on line first thing and had an e mail confirmation, when we arrived at 4.45 we were told they decided to close early as they’d been busy with Father’s Day...

What a lovely place to stop for lunch definitely be on our list to come here again staff very friendly lovely and clean and didn't find it to expensive either

Amazing location, staff are always brilliant. I try to come to the boathouse at least once a week, often more! I always get looked after brilliantly and feeling satisfied. Would definitely recommend to anyone who loves great food and a really nice atmosphere!

for breakfast solo and very impressed, greeted by a young girl and had my drink and breakfast order taken straight away, can't fault the service, food and what a view 👌

I returned to the boathouse this time with my family and foody friends. The staff were very welcoming, yet again can't fault the place. Look forward to our next return.

As a pretty regular visitor to The Boathouse over the years, I do love going there , however each time I go recently I feel a bit more disappointed. We took friends for breakfast last week & on entering, the room seemed dark & chilly,...

Another lovely experience at the boathouse Ellesmere today went with friends was greeted warmly upon entering where we were seated didn't really wait long for food to come out the brisket pie was to die for, can't beat a decent homemade pie I always love...

First off, you cannot deny the location is very pretty, especially on a sunny day. Stunning views, ducks, geese & swans abound, some gliding gracefully on the mere, some waddling around on the shore. Sadly, I think the management realise this and have taken advantage...

Lovely setting and friendly staff. We booked afternoon tea and it was nicely presented two coffees and one tea ,my tea was lovely but I was told the coffee was overpowering for an afternoon tea. Plenty of sandwiches, slightly disappointing thin pacer ham . The...

We were walking around the Mere with our dog and wanted a drink and a light lunch. We sat outside on the decking next to the Mere. Lovely location, you ordered inside and then the staff brought the food out. Staff friendly, food came promptly...

Amazing afternoon tea, cakes are made fresh and sandwiches are delicious.. Luke the barista made us a really nice flat white.. We can’t wait to go back when the weather is nice and sit outside..

Very nice location and nice atmosphere. Drinks very expensive £39 for 6 mainly due to wine at £8.50 a large glass but other drinks also expensive. Opening hours also confusing. Weekend previously advertised as closing at 21:00 but already closing up at 18:00. On Saturday....

Lovely warm welcome, comfortable and quirky decor and a great choice of light bites, meals, cakes and snacks. Great service will definitely be back!

Went there lunch time , amazing service with delicious food the waitress who served us was very lovely and mentioned they have a dog friendly section , definitely coming back again specially with our dog Molly.

Very disappointed. Service polite: coffee was good. But omg the fish and chips were terrible I know its bank holiday Monday but the oil definitely needed changing for a bank holiday. The fish and chips looked gray. The crushed peas were stone cold maybe this...

We just popped in to have a look at the menu but the owners brother came over and told us all about the menu with great enthusiasm. We sat looking out over the Mere which was lovely on a fairly glum day. The food was...

confused by locked doors,no food counter. 2x poor capuccino,1x burnt cake 1x inedible sausage roll £18 bill! definitely will not return,what a shame to see such a deterioration.

Visited on Easter Saturday with young children and family. Service was painfully slow despite the restaurant not being hugely busy. We we weren't told about items not available which was frustrating when we came to order. The food itself was ok but feels as though...

We stopped here for breakfast prior to a dog walk around the Mere. The restaurant is split in half, one half for dogs and one half dog free. The staff are very welcoming and the service is excellent. The food and coffee was very good,...

We were pleasantly surprised on arrival at how busy the restaurant was with a lovely atmosphere. We were warmly greeted and found a table tucked away at the back of the large light room. Whilst ordering the host discovered it was my Mothers birthday and...

Waited a long time for (non-alcoholic) drinks, whilst other tables received their alcoholic drinks, despite the guests at these tables arriving after us. The soup marketed as a starter/snack was an extremely small portion, and had very little flavour. It was served with bread, but...

Love it here!!! Lovely staff, great environment and wonderful food. We had walked 5 miles and stopped here for luck. Sat outside with amazing Buddha Bowls and a glass of wi e overlooking the mere. Perfect

We’ve been to the Boat House for the First time in the evening, it’s been amazing. The food and the atmosphere We just love it here. It’s been great in March, can’t wait to come back in the spring and summer and sit on the...

Called in at The Boat House today well had a lovely light lunch we have Been before under the old owners it’s just as good as before we had great service and all staff are a credit to the industry we also had a nice...

Perfect surroundings by the side of the mere, staff were very friendly, food and drinks were tasty and excellent. Recommended

A lovely spacious tastefully decorated restaurant with great views over the mere. A nice warm welcome by Jahan, all staff friendly and attentive. We chose soup and sandwiches, all delicious especially the curried parsnip soup. Looking forward to returning in the near future.

Went to boathouse with my 2 sisters for lunch and all I can say is the service and the food was superb, been to many places over the last few months and not come up to standard at all, the staff here are super friendly...

Today I visited the Boathouse for Lunch with my two sister's. We hadn't booked, but were warmly welcomed by the very friendly staff, and shown to a table. We had a three course meal, and each dish was well presented and beautifully done. The staff...

Not the first time I have been, the changes made to the restaurant are fantastic. The service was even better. Very well run restaurant for a busy/large place. The staff are welcoming and genuine. The food was great - try the Persian curry. Really inspired...

I bought a baguette to take out for £5.95 and it was the driest thing ever. It was ham and a few rocket leaves, no mayo or coleslaw or anything. I was disappointed and felt I'd wasted a lot of money. The ham was nice...

We went for a Sunday dinner with friends. We are vegetarian and we're very disappointed. Firstly they had no ice so all our drinks were warm - not a great start. On the online menu there was a vegetable tart or a vegetable burger for...

Have been here a few times and never been disappointed, today I went with some of my girlfriends and we all had amazing meals and drinks, the food was hot and very tasty and really big portions.. The staff were busy but very polite.. reza...

Breakfast was amazing today. Choices of a full English, vegetarian, and vegan options also the pancakes with bacon are delicious. Staff where spot on today drinks and food served with a smile. Would recommend

Visited for a Sunday morning coffee with a very good friend. This was my first visit to the Boathouse, although my friend is a regular customer. Really good first impression with a lovely welcome from the owner himself. Nice spacious restaurant with stunning views across...

Arriving at the restaurant after booking a table for 4 adults for 1pm we expected to be shown to our table with a reserved sign on it. But we were told to choose any table. It was very busy with lots of coffee drinkers and...

Four of us decided to have breakfast at the Boathouse Ellesmere - NEVER AGAIN! The food was ok - ish but the service was a total disgrace. Clearly some staff didn’t want to be there and boy did it show. I had booked a specific...

I went for breakfast with a friend. I ordered avocado on toast. When it arrived the AVOCADO ON TOAST WITH LIME, OLIVE OIL & CHILLI was very tasty, but was completely let down due to the bread it was presented on, white sliced processed bread....

We visited the Boathouse for lunch, The waitress told us "Oh just sit anywhere in this room". We ordered food and drinks which came in good time and the food was lovely (Pork Bellies and s Seafood Chowder). However, after we had finished out mains...

Having been to the Boathouse several times for breakfast, coffees and cake we thought we would take our daughter & partner for Sunday lunch. It was a lovely day which meant the Boathouse was busy. We were seated and given menus, and our order taken...

Unbelievably disappointed and disgusted with the service we received yesterday. This is my second visit and had enjoyed the first, so though I would treat visiting friends to a lovely meal. There were 7 of us, 4 adults and 3 children. How contrasting this visit...

We’ve been many times to The Boathouse, super staff, lovely brunch & lunch menus. Dogs welcome. Definitely visit here.

Popped in for lunch on New Year’s Day. First time of visiting. Very impressed by staff. We were instantly welcomed and served drinks and food by several polite and professional young waiters/waitresses. Food was good too. We had two starters and a bowl of fries...

Boathouse has left the best impressions! Hospitable staff , delicious chowder and huge fish and chips , beautiful presentation and lovely wine list and wonderful dessert!! I recommend to everyone! Dog friendly as well . we would like to come back here again and again....

Booked Boxing Day lunch expecting something a bit special, as on previous occasions, but hadn't realised it had changed ownership. The once very nice restaurant/cafe with pleasant, effective management and staff has now morphed into an expensive cafe at best, more designed for walkers, cyclists...

Went today beautiful food excellent service nice view .. Didn't book so we're told to just find a table in the far room with the wooden boat hanging from ceiling... as soon as transitioned from main room to other .. the cold was apparent... kept...

The best place in Ellesmere for breakfast/brunch! I have been to the boathouse a good few times now and every time I have been the staff are extremely friendly and helpful and the food has always been phenomenal. Their breakfast and lunch menu (from 11:30)...

Very high expectations with coming here for breakfast unfortunately they were NOT met! The place was freezing cold had to wear my jacket the whole time I was there. When breakfast came out the order firstly was wrong then when I began to eat my...

Myself and my friend visited the boathouse for breakfast this morning along with my toddler. We were seated and ordered our food and drinks with no problem, but both of our meals came out wrong. We discussed this with a member of staff who rectified...

Lovely family lunch - excellent value for the Sunday roast - the beef and turkey roasts were superb. Great location, great service… personally don’t love the abundance of dogs and our table was close to the door so arctic winds when anyone left or arrived....

John and his lovely team recently hosted our church Christmas meal. I can’t speak highly enough about their efficient service, friendly atmosphere and the food was delicious. Highly recommended and a beautiful way to start our Christmas celebrations!

Today we visited the boathouse for a lunch trip for our baby boys 4th doggy birthday! The food as ever was absolutely amazing, David and Alison were so polite attentive and welcoming to the restaurant. You could see how their interaction with customers sent smiles...

Called in for lunchtime drink following dog walk. Guy who served us was so welcoming and charming and even bought our dogs some dog treats. We only had a drink and yet the food coming out if the kitchen looked very tempting. We will definitely...

caravanning in the area came to Elsmere which was quiet so popped in to find the place buzzing, shown to our table ordered drinks then we both ordered the beef bourgeon which was fantastic, the quality was excellent well presented and an excellent portion, as...

Excellent quality meal and service. Started at 11 with coffee and some games of bridge then enjoyed lunch. Highly recommended.

Had lunch today with family which we thoroughly enjoyed. Very attentive staff and such a lovely dining room with great atmosphere. Food was great too .

Had a lovely meal with my family. Very friendly staff; special thanks to John Sertetkh. We will be back soon.

Called in by chance & what a delight. New management has changed this place into a firm favourite. Cosy chairs and warm atmosphere as well as excellent service. The veggie breakfast was delicious and very hot. Will be calling in again soon.