The Countess Of Evesham Restaurant Cruiser in Stratford-on-Avon

This river cruise used to be very special but alas it no longer is. Table presentation is basic no nice white linen table cloth,no nice table napkins. Food no where near as good as it was a couple of years ago. The desert was especially poor and the wine was served barely chilled In fact the interior of the barge could do with a really good deep clean. The owners of the Countess of Evesham need to up their game as they are letting themselves and customers down.

We recently went on a dinner cruise that was sold as a "unique experience", but honestly, it didn’t feel like one. It felt more drab and lacking in life and fun. The food was... Ok. Not brilliant, not outstanding, just ok. I enjoyed the chicken, which was nicely cooked and the mash, veggies were a nice combination. The pudding could have been better. It was just chocolate with Biscoff and whipped cream, which wasn’t exactly the best dessert I've had, but it wasn’t terrible either. The bigger issue was the overall experience. When you're booking something like this, you expect a host to welcome you onboard and create a sense of occasion. You want to feel like, "This is your cruise, we're here to make this special." Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. There was no warm welcome, no introduction to what we’d be seeing or doing. The staff, while friendly enough, didn’t exactly enhance the experience. Most of the waitresses seemed more interested in their phones than making the cruise feel special. There was a lack of attention to detail that just didn’t match what I expect from something advertised as "a unique experience". To top it off, the boat felt a bit outdated. For example, the windows next to our table were smeared with what looked like dirt, and there were cobwebs and dust around our seating area. It gave the impression that the boat wasn’t being maintained as well as it should be. Now I don't know about you but one thing I am always hot on is cleanliness! If you want people to dine, please make sure your dining area is clean and clear or dirt. Overall, if you’re looking for a true "unique experience" that wows you, this might not be the best choice.

Fab time on Countess of Evesham for my 60th birthday. Lovely food, lovely staff. Had a great time. We were lucky with the weather so we had a mooch round the shops.

Lovely day had aboard the Countess of Evesham, perfect from start to finish, friendly attentive staff, excellent food, good variety of refreshments, would highly recommend this beautiful day out

A great time had by 16 of us. The cruise was lovely and very peaceful. The crew was excellent and very friendly. Alex our host, made us all feel welcomed. The food was great and just the right amount for dinner. I would highly recommend doing the cruise if you are in Stratford Upon Avon

This was organised by friends to celebrate a significant birthday. We were very impressed by the overall quality of the experience, the service, and the excellent food. Dining whilst cruising up the Avon was wonderful and we can fully recommend this.

We celebrated my Dad’s 90th birthday on this boat yesterday. There were 26 of us of family of all ages and friends. I have to say the food and service was excellent. This experience exceeded our expectations. The food was great and the staff were lovely. I thought it was really good value for money. My dad loved it. Thank you.

Tranquil meal along the Avon. Lovely attentive staff looked after us on evening out on the river. The food was nice, avoid the house white and bring a coat.

This is an excellent location for a different and special dining experience. The staff were super helpful informing us of when there would be a sailing which coincided with our holiday. We were welcomed on board by a charming waitress who was most helpful throughout the evening. The food was promptly served without being pushy and was of a very good quality. We dined comfortably while we watched the countryside pass by. It was the most memorable experience of the week’s holiday.

Another fantastic evening this time with friends, we booked back in January as we know from last year it gets very busy. However the day before we found out we were the only booking. Communication has been very good with quick responses, as we were coming from a distance and also having a hotel booked for that evening, our booking was honoured and last night we had a lovely meal with with our friends the crew were fantastic and service a1. Would definitely recommend and we will be back again.

Had a wonderful experience on the Countess of Evesham on Saturday. The food was delicious and the crew were fantastic and we had a lovely cruise along the Avon. Really made my mother's 70th birthday special and memorable.

Amazing experience! There were 17 of us! Second trip and fully lived up to expectations. Highly recommended. Drove from Sheffield to Stratford for a family members 80th birthday… ages from 17/21/28/30/35 and a few 70 and 80s. The boat is welcoming and warm: the staff are friendly and professional with lovely service but not in your face. The food is super. Considering the limitations of a kitchen like this, it is hot, the tables come out at the same time and tastes wonderful. This is the second time I have been on this excursion. The first was just with husband, we loved it so much so was a natural selection to bring the whole family down. Great value for money and we look forward to another visit in future. Thanks also for allowing us to bring our birthday cake! Thanks to all staff and crew for a super day. Please look at my couple of food pictures.

It was a winter evening trip to celebrate my wife's retirement from nursing, having happily dined there before. It was a disaster. 2 servers. The first dropped our first drinks order all over the table and my wife's belongings (we were only given a spare napkin to clear the mess on our own), the second almost dropped my wife's soup in her lap. Spent the trip trying to dry everything. Subsequent orders were overlooked as the servers prioritised their teammates private Xmas party at the back of the barge. There was nobody in authority to complain to. Paid well over £100 for this claustrophobic experience. Needless to say, won't go again.

We had a really lovely evening, no criticism at all. Staff were friendly and efficient, the atmosphere on board was lovely and the food was decent. The cost was very reasonable.

The boat is a bit shabby and tired , needs a good kick of paint . The chairs are very comfortable but too squashed , needs a table less then there would be more room . The lunch was disappointing, horrid veg and not very hot . The staff were delightful and very smiley and helpful . The cruise was two hours , taken up in two locks , it didn’t feel long enough ! 3 hrs would be perfect . Parking not great , some walk . A fun thing to do once , but wouldn’t do it again unless a bit longer . Not enough time to enjoy lunch and the surroundings

Good food and a nice relaxed atmosphere with friendly and attentive staff. Unable to fault. Simply a memorable evening

Meal was lovely. There is no air conditioning on board or even a fan. Was too hot to enjoy the experience. So disappointed.

A really lovely experience, sailing down the canal on a summer evening. The boat itself is cosy and romantic. Dinner was delicious, and we weren’t rushed at all. Given the experience and quality of the food, this is excellent value for money,

A lovely relaxing way to spend a Sunday lunchtime! Staff were very helpful and attentive, service was not rushed and food was tasty. Definitely worth a visit if you are in Stratford upon Avon.....book in advance.

The boat is very comfortable , the trip was very nice and the food was excellent It was a hot day but it didn't feel hot inside. It is a nice experience

Took my girlfriend to propose to her. Boat stopped at a private location and I popped the question at the waterfall. Excellent experience with friendly staff. That made it a magical experience for her. 10/10 and would definitely go again.

Had this trip bought as a gift, Great food, friendly staff, nothing too much trouble, good value for the money

Superb, a great night out, dinner on a luxury narrow boat with good organisation and friendly staff - it's almost worth a 300 miles round trip just to do this on its own. Looking forward to returning soon

Very nice. Friendly staff, well organised, good efficient table service and the food was fantastic. We even had chance to stretch our legs half way through the 2 .5 hour boat trip which was nice and it also let us photograph it from the outside...

Had our wedding reception here for 50 people , adults and children. The food was great and was adapted to our specific needs. We had a lovely tour along the river with a stop off on the river bank. Would definitely recommend for an intimate...

OMG - we had a corporate event last night - what an amazing experience.. the food was great and so was the atmosphere. Staff were lovely and very attentative without being over pushy. Would definately recommend this as a team evening activity.

Good points: Lovely cruise Friendly staff Bad points: 10% service charge which is mentioned nowhere but on your bill Sneakily worded question by the girl taking orders which gets each table to pay for extra bread Very salty soup Tough chicken The salty soup and...

We have often said we'd like to take this river trip and have a meal on the boat as it went along. We did so on our last visit to Stratford on Avon and it did not disappoint. The meal of chicken and Eton Mess...

It was very easy to book. All staff were very friendly and welcoming, food was fantastic. We had a great cruise. Highly recommend

What a wonderful experience. We felt very privileged as we floated off down the river taking in the views of the theatre, Holy Trinity church and the river banks of the Avon. The staff were excellent, friendly, completely organised and very attentive. The food was...

We went on this cruise for my daughters hen night and it was a very good decision. The weather was lovely so that was a bonus. The staff were pleasant and the service is very organised. The food is very well presented and of good...

A really charming way to spend an evening in Stratford. We were blessed with excellent weather and it was so relaxing to dine while gliding down the river. The short stop to see the waterfall was a nice photo opportunity. The service was great and...

I really enjoyed my birthday meal cruise. It was a beautiful evening and was lovely gently cruising down the river enjoying delicious food and drink. The menu is small, but I expected that as it is prepared on board, but everything was tasty. The staff...

Quite an experience! Food was excellent and hosts were superb. The only hitch was being stuck in a faulty lock for 90 minutes. However we were kept updated and received a discount at the end off the bill. It's just a shame that we were...

Me and my husband came for a weekend trip away and stumbled upon this trip and it was nothing like we had experienced before so we thought why not? Food was delicious, drinks ranch was great, May I recommend then Chemin Des white wine, absolutely...

It was a lovely evening. The food was excellent and the staff attentive. Good value for money. A unique, quality experience. Unfortunately we couldn't go too far as the river was too high so we had to go down the same stretch of water, as...

We were a group of 8 and we all enjoyed the lunch time cruise and meal. From the time we boarded the staff were so attentive. The meal was really good considering it must be a very small kitchen & the wine & drinks on...

Saturday 25th February my babe and I finally got to try this Luxury Evening Meal & Cruise. A welcome complimentary bottle of wine was waiting for us due to not being able to dine back in December when originally booked. We both enjoyed very much...

We had a wonderful lunch time cruise and meal on the Countess of Evesham. From the time we boarded to the time we left we had a fabulous time. As it was my husbands birthday the staff put birthday sprinkles on the table which i...

We were spending a weekend in Stratford to see The Tempest at the RSC. I saw this recommended in a Time Out article and it was fantastic. It was like dining in a Pullman car but on the water, which was really relaxing and romantic....

Lovely boat , very good food . Unfortunately the weather was horrendous and we were unable to leave the mooring so we had our meal at the morning . We were given a £10 discount each and the option to cancel . However the real...

Really enjoyed it. Relaxing and great service. There were four of us and two had chicken and two had cod. Sadly the chicken was quite tough but we didn't allow it to spoil our evening. Will definitely do it again but maybe avoid the chicken!

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our evening cruise last night. Despite the weather being somewhat damp, the setting within the barge was warm and welcoming with the crew well attentive & the food delicious. Unhurried and well worth the money.

Had the most AMAZING time on the Countess of Evesham Sunday 16th October 12noon cruise. Food was delicious, Service from Alex and Becky was very friendly, fun and professional and a shout out to the 2 staff who opened all the locks, myself and my...

Given the restricted space for cooking, serving, etc. it's a magical venue to dine in. Thank you Lisa.

We had a lovely afternoon. The food and service was lovely. I’d highly recommend a visit if you have an opportunity. Such a relaxing afternoon spent travelling down the river whilst enjoying a superb three course lunch. Thank you….we’ll definitely be back.

Had a lovely romantic evening cruise. The staff were good, the food was excellent & so was the decor. Lovely presented food & tables. Smooth cruise & first time experience doing something like this. Floodlight on the boat enabled you to see the lovely banks....

Today ( Sept 24th) my wife and I took her parents for an after lunch on the river. We had a fantastic time and enjoyed every minute. The staff were great and the food was good. Well worth a trip.

We're so pleased to be back on the Countess after the Covid break. Limited menu but really enjoyable; Starters mushroom pate or soup; Mains chicken in a sauce or salmon or a vegetarian curry. Eton mess or cheeseboard for dessert. Good range of drinks. Set...

From the moment we stepped on board the staff were friendly and helpful. The food was well cooked and presented but because of the small galley it is limited on choice. Service was attentive and the serving staff were constantly on the move. The trip...

We went for lunch and found the whole experience both relaxing and really enjoyable. If you want to spend some time away from the hubbub of life and enjoying some nice food then definitely give this a try.

Together with another couple of friends, having been lucky enough to be bought vouchers for our special birthdays, it was a lovely way to spend an evening. Food was delicious and beautifully presented by the lovely friendly staff (nothing was too much trouble). Lots of...

Have just spent a wonderful afternoon with the crew of the Countess of Evesham Sabrina and Alex and we had a fantastic time.

Great evening wasn't dampened by the heavy rain, lovely food, great service, fantastic ambiance. The staff worked very hard last night in the adverse weather to make the evening great. Thank you all.

Fabulous evening with friends. Champagne, great service, excellent food. The staff couldn't do enough, a great vibe for our evening. We were repeating a celebration that we did nearly 30 years ago. The experience was as wonderful now as it was then. I hope we...

Could not fault the whole experience. Professional and friendly staff, superb food. So nice not to be rushed over a meal out. The stop was an added bonus. Beautiful scenery. Would highly recommend

This place is such a little gem!, absolutely fantastic. 3 course meal along the peaceful river Avon. The service was impeccable, my hat goes off to all the staff members, professional but welcoming. The 3 course meal was fantastically flavoursome and beautiful to look at...

Had a lovely trip and a meal on the river Excellent service Lovely food Overall a nice night out on the river Special mention for Becky who clearly runs a tight ship Found her to be warm friendly and very efficient

We had a fantastic night out. Excellent hosts who couldn't do enough for us. The food was equally excellent and great value for money. We wholeheartedly recommend this experience to anyone.

Just had a lovely trip on the Countess of Evesham, staff were very attentive and nothing was too much trouble, I asked for my main course sauce to be served separately and came as I asked, food was very good and considering they had catered...

We booked our wedding reception on the Countess of Evesham and it was a great decision. Lisa was fantastic with arrangements and very helpful. We could decorate the barge and drop the cake off and the staff were helpful. The reception was amazing, couldn’t have...

We were walking around the canal area, just before the shops and wondering what we wanted to do about dinner so we saw this little canal boat and thought, ooh that looks good so called the number and we were lucky enough to take the...

A BIRTHDAY MEAL IN THE BEAUTIFUL ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE We boarded The Countess of Evesham in the very centre of Stratford-upon-Avon, and enjoyed a gourmet meal in a relaxing, pleasant atmosphere, as we glided along the Avon past the beautiful English countryside. Three course evening meal...

We had great fun with family and friends on the Countess of Evesham. The staff worked hard. Nothing was too much trouble for them. The menu was tasty and well prepared. Those with allergies were accommodated. There are no nuts on this boat. Luckily the...

Boat was lovely, staff were super friendly, service was good. Food was nice but not amazing. Not much choice. But worth the money. Boat ride but too long. Started at 7.15 and got back at 10.45 and lots of river flies.

Spent a lot of money on this, 7 of us and the food wasn’t good. Wine expensive but not nice. Lovely staff and views but went for the food so was a let down.

A really relaxing and atmospheric cruise along the Avon. Great service, hot plates, very tasty food, good wine and great value. The garlic mushroom starter was incredibly tasty - best I've had anywhere for a while and just as good as the posh county house...

A nice ride in a lovely barge, the staff were excellent, very polite and hard working, it’s a nice scenic tri along the Avon, turning round in a lovely little hamlet, complete with picturesque church and thatched cottages, the only down side was the food,...

The trip in its self is quit nice, the boat although not new is ok, the staff where really good quick and polite, the problem is the food it was bloody AWFUL starters where ok mushrooms or soup, the main however 😢 we where sat...

We came to Stratford-Upon-Avon for a weekend birthday break I wanted to hook something a little different. After googling a few things this trip appeared and looked just the thing and price was really reasonable so I booked . We arrived to board at 7pm...

Not to be missed! If you ever have the opportunity to have a meal and experience on this boat do it! Such a lovely atmosphere, incredible service and a relaxing trip up and down the river. We were very well looked after from the start…...

Came for my granddaughters birthday. Lovely relaxing atmosphere, exceptional food and amazing staff was well looked after, highly recommend will be visiting again in the near future.

We were staying in Warwick for my partner's birthday and planned to go for a romantic meal. They couldn't fit us in on his actual birthday, so we arranged the night before. Daff were in constant contact to ensure all was OK. We booked for...

a friend told me about this trip so decided to go what a waste of 125 pounds the mushroom starter was ok the main meal beef bourguignon was awful full of fat dry and bland tasteless we git asked if anyone would like a port...

Booked in advance, date we originally wanted was full , but correspondance was prompt and helpful. On arrival on evening of cruise staff were polite and attentive, food was really nice and the atmosphere relaxing, would thoroughly recommend.

The best birthday treat on the Countess of Evesham. I booked via the online booking form but also called as I was eager to ensure I could get a space on board as I booked the day before. Lisa was very accommodating and booked us...

From the moment we stepped on board, we were welcomed by attentive staff where nothing was too much trouble. Service was lovely, food was delicious and we had a wonderful time. Highly recommend this trip for something different to do.

Absolutely supherb really relaxed food good staff lovely felt festive didn’t get to do cruise as weather was bad but didn’t spoil anything Thankyou for making our lunch special

Lisa is a lovely host. Views fascinating and food superb with good drink selection for a boat trip. Highly recommend. Tks very much.

I booked a surprise for my wife for our wedding anniversary, and was very impressed with the service from start to finish . We were seated right by the bar and was served by Richard who made us feel so welcomb, Rebecca was fantastic in...

We had such a wonderful Sunday evening experience. The food was absolutely amazing with lovely staff who were so polite. It was - 1 outside but so cosy on board. I highly recommend this experience for any couple that needs cheering up. It does so...

We were a group of “60” year old school friends on a catch up. Despite us being a bit rowdy, the staff were brill, coping with us very well. Food and atmosphere excellent. It was a really different experience…recommended.

Staff and food were superb. The boat is very well kept and very relaxing. Highly recommended If you are looking for a romantic couples dinner then look no further!

A lunch to remember. A lovely experience we would recommend for a special occasion that will be remembered for ever. No more needs said than an excellent afternoon & the weather played its part as well. Thanks to all the team.

On Thursday 30th my husband and I together with my brother and his wife had a wonderful evening on this cruise. The staff were really friendly and helpful. The ambiance on board was really nice and friendly , everybody was having a good time. The...

What a great evening we had. The food was excellent. Obviously a very limited menu because of the size of galley, but really tasty and excellent food. A superb cruise and a great experience.

Wow what a fabulous evening food and staff 5* excellent service wonderful experience special treat for my 60th birthday highly recommend

Fantastic Cruise! Lovely staff and great food - would highly recommend to anyone! Considering you were on a boat the food could have been served in a top class restaurant! Would definitely do it again if in Stratford on Avon. Thank you so much.

We were a party of 2, unfortunately sat adjacent to a birthday party of 16 who were very rowdy (25/8/21). Staff did nothing to “control” the group! Party’s are fine but surely why not take exclusive use rather than spoil the enjoyment of other people?...

Booked here for my mum's 80th Birthday meal. Really nice experience - food was excellent. Would have preferred a small welcome on board drink as we had to wait a while to get a drink. Only one "choice" of afters is a bit strange!

Such a lovely trip aboard this boat. The young waitresses are very attentive and work wonders serving a three course meal in such a small space. The food was tasty and fresh and the timings perfect. Good selection of drinks. It's a different experience sailing...

My husband and I did the dinner cruise on 17 Aug. It was brilliant from start to finish. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. The young lady, Becky, was really lovely and looked after us very efficiently. At £36 per person for the dinner...

We had a lovely evening this week on the dinner cruise. The staff were friendly and the food was brilliant. First time on a barge and would definitely recommend.

I’ve been to this restaurant a few times over the years but I cannot stress enough how much it has improved recently. My wife booked us on as a surprise for our anniversary and all I can say is that It was amazing. Customer service...

Excellent evening cruise with beautiful food and superb staff who made the whole experience enjoyable, well worth the cost

Absolutely fantastic night birthday treat, food excellent staff attentive would recommend great way to spend an evening. Would do it again

Food was lovely. Drink was plentiful Hosting was attentive and smilies Great evening cruise We would definitely recommend to others Great way to spend the evening. Thank you

Had a pleasant cruise at the weekend. Staff are friendly and welcoming. Lovely cruising down the river and locks. Lunch was tasty and served piping hot. After a crazy year of lockdown, it's great to see catering getting back to normal.

Music was dreary, food was ok nothing special. We stopped half way for what? Im not sure. Nothing to look at. Then on way back it was long and we were 30mins late, sat on the river for a while before parking. Wouldnt recommend. Bit...

More than 5 out of 5 so lovely ,boat trip and meal was so lovely , booked this as surprise for boyfriend he absolutely loved it would go again lovely staff on board would definitely book again when go again