Waterside Bar & Restaurant in Northampton

The place is nice and clean!! The staff friendly! Very good prices!! Perfect place for studying and or a meeting especially during the weekend!!!

Ah, the Waterside Bar at Northampton University – a dining experience that can only be described as a rite of passage, like exams, late assignments, and wondering what your life would be like if you’d chosen literally any other university with better food. Let’s start with the menu. You know how some places boast about “world cuisine” or “farm-to-table”? Well, Waterside Bar leans heavily into the “from-a-freezer-to-the-microwave” genre, which they’ve absolutely mastered. They’re consistent in serving meals that are as bland as that lecture you slept through last week. The Burger – Or as I like to call it, “The Sad Sandwich.” Picture a patty that’s so dry it could double as a coaster for your pint. The lettuce is limp, the bun is stale, and the cheese? Let’s just say if it melts, it’s probably because the laws of physics have given up. It’s not a burger – it’s an edible cry for help. The Curious Chilli – A favorite for students on a budget because it’s priced like a student loan-friendly meal. However, it tastes like a mistake. It’s unclear what kind of sauce they use, but I’d say it falls somewhere between watery regret and despair. Each bite feels like you’re negotiating a peace treaty between your stomach and your taste buds. Spoiler alert: nobody wins. Now, let’s talk about the one shining beacon of hope in this culinary wasteland: the fries. These golden, crispy sticks of salvation are the reason why this bar hasn’t been burnt to the ground in a fit of student outrage. They’re the perfect balance of salty, greasy goodness that pairs well with existential dread and looming deadlines. The fries are so good that you’ll find yourself ordering a plate of them just so you don’t have to face the grim reality of whatever the “special of the day” is. They’re basically the therapy you need after looking at your tuition statement. The tragedy, of course, is that students don’t have much of a choice. You’ve got a 30-minute gap between lectures, the nearest decent restaurant is a 20-minute walk away, and you’re hungry enough that the Waterside Bar starts looking like a reasonable option. It’s basically a hostage situation where the ransom is your taste buds.

Just had drinks as was meeting colleagues staying at the on site hotel.

This venue is not very inclusive it does not take cash so if that's the ONLY way you can pay or want to pay your not welcome here..

Amazing kind staff. Affordable drinks. Good atmosphere.

Great atmosphere, quick service and the food was tasty.

4.5 stars - wouldn't have minded if food was a couple £ more expensive if the quality and presentation had been just a little bit better. Burger and chips for £8 was basic but still good value and the place and service were great - will definitely go back.

Visited while attending a conference at Northampton Uni, and was impressed. Very reasonably priced, very good food and drink, friendly and helpful staff. Would definitely recommend.

Played there in the band I'm in, a nice place with nice food. Staff friendly and helpful

Great value bar with a nice atmosphere 👍

Terrible service, food was cold when I got it and it was even delivered to the wrong table. Would not recommend for anyone student or family. Customer service was absolutely terrible, even blaming me for the time delay saying how busy it was, completely unprofessional. The food was ordered before friends had arrived, when they had they ordered and received their food before I had mine, which was a side dish compared to their main dish. This was later exemplified by the fact that right after I had received my meal someone else who had arrived later also had ordered the same dish but got it a minute later than me despite ordering about 20 minutes later than me. I would love to say this establishment isn't discriminatory and that the staff are not specifically targeting students from an ethnic minority but after this bad experience I believe they are. The unprofessional nature of the service and the lack of apology and turning the blame on the customer shows how terrible this service is and I will not be eating or drinking here ever again. The price is also outrageous for this service.

It's OK, nice little quiet place, but not enough drinks options😬

Unfortunately most of the menu options were not available, but what we had was very good.

Lovely place for a stroll and a cheap pint... Nice bar staff too

Don't go to that uni but really good

Always good food for the price and friendly service too 😊

Went in coffee and then had a pint very reasonable

My daughter's graduation, we popped in for some food. The menu is simple. The food was well presented and very tasty

Good food at good prices. Also served very quickly.

It shut half an hour earlier than it was meant to so we were rushed to finish the drinks. It’s my first time going there and a staff member came over to me pointing saying “you’re the one who’s stolen the Mayo” pardon? Never been there in my life and would never dream of stealing mayonnaise. Rather random and rather rude. Avoid.

Right in the centre of campus easy to find with good signage. Food is good with good-sized portions that do not break the bank. Has a good atmosphere and feel to it.

Food was very delicious. Good atmosphere. Staff very friendly and helpful.

Brilliant.. Had a fantastic night in the company of friends and the fabulous Tray A Buns drag act. Superb performance and great atmosphere 😃👏👍🥂

Was a decent catch up with friends.

Good food, well priced, good beer

Nice and cosy place, has a pool table

Ambiance, food, service veryy veryyy nice

Student union influence so a tad noisy but v good food. Drinks menu a bit corporate and meh! But then that's my taste

Didn't eat went for Daughters Graduation great for drinks

A bit pricey for University bar.

The bar/restaurant is one of my favourite places for a meal at the university. I sometimes enjoy a meal alone as the prices are decent especially with the student discount. The food, while choice is limited, is really good and tastes great! Drinks are a little more pricey but still reasonable in my own opinion. Events are often held here, for example the anime and esports societies on alternating Fridays, this means it can get rather busy and loud however it is still a nice atmosphere with opportunities for students to meet like-minded people. The staff are always helpful and polite, the place is nearly always clean and tidy.

Best place to get student friendly drinks. The staff sometimes can be not so friendly and by this I don't mean anyone personally but apart from that everything is alright

Nice and clean. Staff were pleasant. Had a charr grill burger and fries which was very nice but the menu is quite limited.

Very nice experience. Food was tasty. Proper portion sizes. Not expensive. Suitable for all. Bar is available. Pool and Football tables are available to pass the time. Beautiful location. Vegan options available.

The burger that I ordered was supposed to be plain yet it came full of fillings and drenched in cheese. Despite this, the food was good, especially the chips and the prices were quite affordable, especially for students

Can't just close for 2 days for private event. Not very community driven considering your on a uni campus.

Friendly staff Good Mocktails But the food was really not tasty

Always a great time coming here. The staff are lovely, always great for a chat, and the food here is delicious. Service is always quick, and the events here are very entertaining. It's a shame this isn't open on the weekends, as I'd love to come here more often outside of University hours for a bit of relaxation, maybe on a slow Sunday afternoon. Great stuff here, no complaints.

Uni-bar. Open to all. Great location by the river

Amazing staff with great food and delicious varieites to choose from.

A wonderful place to go with your buddies, especially when you're in uni.

Great pub. Good deals on food & drink. Staff very helpful & friendly. Good night playing pool.

Ridiculously slow service. We placed an order for 2 bacon rolls and coffees. The coffees took 20 minutes to arrive, we were then told that they had run out of bacon after sitting there for 30 minutes and we would need to wait a further 15 minutes. We did wait and the food was lukewarm and missing ingredients. Not worth the wait for an overpriced bacon roll.

The staff are awesome, and the prices cheap. Had a fantastic pizza and a gin for just £5 at an event held there.

Absolutely brilliant service, amazing staff and the food was splendid!!!! Will definitely be back!! Lovely canalside pub and restaurant…..

Very basic, limited choice menu, no salad options, no GF options. Cheeseburger ok but at £5.95 not exceptional value. Pizza similarly so. I'd like to see much more variety in both Gluten Free and Vegan - or at least slightly more healthy! Basically it's burgers or pizzas...

Staff are ALWAYS friendly and helpful, prices are mad CHEAP and the food is DELICIOUS every time! Love coming here, 10/10 would and do recommend.

Had a few meals here and enjoyed it very much, every time the food was great and service was welcoming, warm and very friendly. Located right on campus so it’s a great place to eat if your studying late or need a quick bite between classes. Would highly recommend.

Graduation day lunch. The waterside is on campus and as such could be a student bar but in fact has a much more up to date feel. The menu is burgers and pizzas but they do have vegan options and the fries are vegan too. We had the vegan chick pea burger which was okay but inclined to disintegrate as you are it. The sweet potato fries were tasty. We also had a few drinks to celebrate our graduation. Perhaps it would be good to add a vegan dessert option too.

Lovely environment, affordable good quality fresh cooked food and £1.50 a shot, really can’t bash this place at all!

Superbly located at the edge of the canal and open to all, not just students. This is a big bar and restaurant. With large glass panes even from the inside offers superb serene views of the well laid out surroundings of the University. Quite a diverse menu including snacks, drinks and coffee. Only problem is its opening hours, which are more suited to Uni hours rather than general public.

Food is on point, slightly pricey for students but the chefs do a bang up job. Friendly staff, good menu, nice atmosphere- what more could you want?

Restaurant was very busy when we arrived, but this did not hinder the brilliant service that we received. Staff here are very friendly and helpful. Would definitely recommend 😀

Not sure. Gave my mum food poisoning. But then again i thought the food was fine for me.... However, the reason the restaurant is quiet is because everything is so expensive. Your not a Michelin-starred restaurant..

Food and staff are always amazing .. Loved the Christmas music playing great place to go on a date or a classy meal with friends.

Overall: Located in the Riverside Campus of Northampton University, this is a good place for hangout with friends and your beloved, or convenient for Northampton university students to grasp a quick snack during academic terms. Space: The restaurant has a lot of windows, light and sunshine and from inside you can have the view of beautiful Nene river, green grass and modern pathway outside of Riverside campus. The restaurant has modern decor with wood furniture for people to selfie. The space is clean, open and spacious. Toilets are clean and modern. Parking: There is a parking lot inside or outside the campus with great capacity. Menu: The menu has limited range of food, mostly snack and finger food dishes like pizza pieces and burgers. Price: one digit pound, cheap for students with limited budget. Food: The food is very good compared with the price, food decor is nice. They also provide additional different kinds of sauces such as BBQ, ketchup, mustard, vinegar...

This Restaurant is great and affordable for students studying at the University. A lovely relaxing atmosphere and great service.

Delicious food at a very respectable price. Staff are friendly and service was excellent - as it was not particularly busy when I was there I was seated immediately. The menu is decently sized (certainly a lot of alcohols/wines to choose from too, none of which I drink!) and the food is fantastic. Could do with some more chips, though.

A nice restaurant with reasonable pricing for students

Evening meal: Olives, Halloumi sticks, and cheese bacon burger with a pint of Budweiser Fantastic little place which I cannot quite believe is on a Uni campus, great food, great service in a clean, modern, vibrant bar all for student prices. Would recommend to students, parents and anyone who happens to be in the area.

Very clean restaurant with a great atmosphere. Good prices however a few items (alcohol) on the menus can be a little pricey for students, but the food tastes really good and is decent in size to the price. Enjoyed my experience here!

Spacious and light. The food was generous and tasty, service was cheerful and fast, and it was great value for money.

Nice restaurant with relatively cheap delicious meals. Not only for students.

Good food done really badly... I am not sure how anyone can make every course dry and salty, but perhaps the bar takings have skyrocketed as people try to rehydrate after suffering through stale buns and frozen chicken...

On Friday 7th December, my colleagues and I visited the Waterside Restaurant for our Christmas meal. As a local resident of Northampton, and as someone who really wants independent business in the town to flourish, I wanted to enjoy the experience. Firstly, when I first tried to book the meal, the telephone number on the website and email address was not working. I had to resort to contacting the restaurant via Instagram and the social media associate (Wendy) had to make the booking with Paul on my behalf. The following week, I went into the restaurant to get a booking form and confirm the booking in person. At this time, I asked the manager if a deposit was required. He informed me there was no deposit required and we could pay on the night. However, if we did want to pay in advance, we had the option to, and could receive a 15% discount. A week after being given this information, I returned to the restaurant with the details of our food order. However, despite having been told by the manager the week before that no deposit was needed, he then informed me we had to prepay for all the meals and would not be allowed to pay on the night. I was disappointed to be informed of this as it meant that I then had to go and ask everyone who wanted to come for money in advance. The manager was adamant we had to pre-pay. I think as a business structure, forcing new customers to prepay sends the wrong message. It might deter customers from booking especially as a lot of other restaurants in the town centre do not need prepayment or only request a small deposit of £5 per person. One of our group is gluten intolerant. She telephoned the restaurant to enquire about gluten free options. However, when she spoke to someone on the phone, they told her they were too busy to take her call. I telephoned again on her behalf and enquired about gluten free options. I was informed by Verity there was only one gluten free option: southern fried chicken. This seemed strange to me to have as a gluten free option; I questioned her about other options available and she then told me there were no gluten free options as the southern fried chicken might contain gluten contaminates. I stated I thought it was unusual that a brand new restaurant, opening in 2018, would not be able to provide a gluten free option for its customers when gluten intolerance is becoming increasingly common. She then backtracked and said they did have a gluten free option. When I asked what this was, she said the southern fried chicken, but then repeated that this might have gluten contaminates. I finished the phone call feeling very confused. Consequently, our gluten intolerant colleague was unable to attend, and I considered booking another restaurant but with only one week left before the meal, this proved difficult. The day before visiting the restaurant to prepay, I called to confirm final numbers. I was informed by Verity that we would be able to take advantage of the 10% discount for prepaying. However, the manager had told me it was 15% discount. Fortunately, Verity made the decision to honour the agreement which had been made the previous week. Visiting the next day, Verity dealt with the prepayment and was very clear about the discount and how it had been applied. Her customer service face to face was very good and I appreciated her clarity. Arriving at the restaurant on 7th December, there was only one other additional table to ours (with maybe around 10-12 people on it). We were seated and though we were a party of eight, the tables had been set out as two sixes. When I queried this, the waitress informed me they had done this so it was easier to serve food and for people to get out from behind the tables to go to the toilets. However, when going for a meal, naturally people all want to sit together and so we moved one single table across to accommodate the eight of us. This did not prove problematic at all and we were able to be served our food with ease. Despite one person being absent from our table, within ten minutes of arriving our starters were brought out. I informed the waitress we were not ready to receive them yet as we were still waiting for one person to arrive. Then some bread was brought out for us which was very pleasant and a nice touch. However, we were not offered the drinks which we had paid in advance for and had to ask for the bottles to be brought over. We were also not offered any water for the table and again I had to request some. The bread was nice but maybe an afterthought as none of us had any side plates for us to put the bread on. Three bottles of red wine were brought out, despite having made it clear on the booking form there were three of us who would drink red and two white. However, Verity did say as we had three people drinking half bottles of red wine she would allow us to have the rest for free which again was very kind and thoughtful. The white wine was brought out and placed on the table but not in an ice bucket and so to keep it cool we requested one. When our main meals arrived, we were only given two small bowls of vegetables. As people in our party were being polite, the vegetables didn’t all get eaten because people didn’t want to take too many leaving other people without them. But with other parties it might be worth the staff asking if more vegetables are needed. When desserts were served, the cutlery and serviettes were dumped on the table in front of me and I had to hand them out to everyone. The restaurant can cater up to 120 people and yet there were only two parties (including ours) present on what should be one of the busiest nights before Christmas. This may be due to poor advertising; I know there was an article in the Chronicle and Echo and Instagram and Twitter do post about events but maybe this needs to be pushed more. I do have a concern about how well the restaurant might run if it was at capacity. One of our party really liked the venue and asked the waiter if the restaurant was open for lunch on Saturdays as she wanted to bring her parents-in-law there. She was informed they were not open on Saturdays and yet on the website it says the restaurant is open. So, in conclusion, the Waterside Restaurant has a lot of potential but currently needs to address the concerns above. I hope you will take this feedback on board in the spirit it is meant. This is not a criticism but an opportunity to get feedback from a customer who wants to see this restaurant thrive. The restaurant is in a great location; the interior is done to a high specification; the staff seem friendly and accommodating; the house wine was delicious and tasted very high quality. Good luck with your venture and I hope to see you prosper in the future.

We went for the christmas menu, good choice and excellent quality food just a shame it was luke warm, the aircon was on so maybe there was a draft, the staff were very pleasant however service was a bit slow. The two men in suits (managers/owners??) could have helped the staff instead of parading around the place or sat looking at their laptops! They will have to up their game as the standard menu is expensive and off the beaten track.

Surprised by the previous reviews as my visit was very disappointing. The ambience is lovely (albeit empty) and the staff were excellent but the food - no. The menu is extremely limited. Then the food ... Small portions and overpriced. I had the half price fish and chips, had I paid full price (£12) I would have been ripped off. As it was £6 was too much for a meagre portion of tasteless fish with a handful of chips and barely more than an egg cup of mushy peas & another of tartar sauce. I’d heard on the grapevine that this place is expensive for what you get. I have to agree. Won’t return.

We went to this gorgeous restaurant last night for a family Christmas meal and what we had was simply amazing food and great service and we will all be back! Great value for money. Unfortunately we could not eat our dessert at the table as my mum took a turn for the worse and we had to get the ambulance in to take her to hospital. All I can say is that the staff were just superb at helping us all they could to make my mum comfortable until the ambulance arrived and they gave us our desserts in containers so we didn't miss out. All in all cannot rate this place highly enough!

Lovely, friendly place. Menu is small (this is a good thing!) and executed exceptionally well. The service is sincere but unhurried. I will definitely return and hope to see frequent menu updates. The only downside is that there was no obvious parking options nearby although it is only a short and well lit walk from St John's car park which is free for 2 hours at weekends. I highly recommend the mezze sharing platter. The homemade falafel was the best I've ever had and the hummus was beautifully balanced.

Love the place good food and good achole

Personable, super friendly staff. Great food and good selection for any time of day.

The Waterside Bar & Restaurant is located at the new University of Northampton overlooking the river. I went with my wife and son and had a lovely Friday evening. We were able to park on site (buzzed through barrier) and walk 3 mins to the restaurant. The restaurant is well designed/furnished and has a contemporary feel. The ambience, service and food were all great. We were really impressed by the portion sizes and the how the food was freshly prepared, well presented and hot. Overall, the prices are very reasonable with a main meal costing between £12-15. Having slowly worked through the range of restaurants in Northampton, this was a welcome newcomer for something different. Three main meals, three sides and drinks = £45.

Amazing find, came in on my own! Staff were great and so friendly, food outstanding! I didn’t feel on my own at all! Verity & Emma couldn’t have been more welcoming. And the chef happy to have a chat with me and cater too my needs. Amazing!

Good bits - great ambiance, good range of drinks & cocktails, 20% discount on our meal as my daughter is a student at Northampton Uni, nice food, lovely staff, free carafes of water,handy for students and visitors. Not as good bits - limited menu,more sort of pub food than restaurant, but did have a couple of options for me as a vegetarian. Would definitely go again, enjoyed our meals, tasty and plenty of food on the plates.

beautiful interior, really good service. Nothing too much. No draft beer or ale though. Food acceptable

Amazing service from outstanding staff and management with exceptional food for a great classy dining experience

Had a fabulous lunch at Waterside Restaurant (my second time) and it was just superb. All freshly cooked and the service was spot on - fire alarms went off in the Learning Hub and we were offered fresh food as we had to stay outside for a time - brilliant place and we will be back very soon

This place has a lot of potential. Very good foof, really friendly staff,and a nice setting and atmosphere. Deserves to be a success.

Great New Restaurant on the Uni Campus Food was tasty and pleased to see the house wine was locally sourced and a great taste for British Wine, well done

The Sausage and Mash was fantastic with loads of fresh vegetables.

A variety of good, great value, food. Friendly, helpful staff. Drinks expensive.

Took my mum here last night for her birthday and we both really enjoyed the setting and the food. The staff were incredibly helpful and attentive, the food was quick to arrive and tasted great with good portion sizes. We both chose the steak which was cooked to perfection and the chocolate brownie I had for desert was amazing. I can thoroughly recommend this place as somewhere to eat and it deserves to do well. I will definitely be returning.

Took my mum here last night for her birthday and we both really enjoyed the setting and the food. The staff were incredibly helpful and attentive, the food was quick to arrive and tasted great with good portion sizes. We both chose the steak which was cooked to perfection and the chocolate brownie I had for desert was amazing. I can thoroughly recommend this place as somewhere to eat and it deserves to do well. I will definitely be returning.

Recently opened in the new University Campus. Situated on the ground floor of one of the buildings next to the river. All very shiny and new. We visited on Saturday lunchtime having visited the university open day. Unfortunately the waitress on duty was really struggling. We ordered food and drink at the bar but unfortunately it took fifteen minutes and a reminder to the manager for the drinks to arrive. Food was another 20 mins on top. Once it arrive it was ok. I had bangers and mash and my son had mushroom tagliatelle. The service was a shame on an otherwise reasonable meal.