Warwickshire &amp; West Midlands


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-lowdown">THE LOWDOWN</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/03/Untitled-design-1655.jpg" alt="The Boat pub" class="wp-image-53351" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/03/Untitled-design-1655.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/03/Untitled-design-1655-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/03/Untitled-design-1655-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/03/Untitled-design-1655-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Just a stone’s throw from Solihull you’ll find gorgeous canal side country pub&nbsp;<a href="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-boat-catherine-de-barnes/">The Boat</a>&nbsp;serving up breakfast through to dinner. It’s been given a new lease of life following recent renovations and is one of my favourite pubs whether its date night or dinner with the girls. Each time I&#8217;ve been it&#8217;s been packed, and with summer (allegedly) here the pub garden was full too with a great, fun vibe (and loads of dogs, even better). With the NEC just five minutes away it’s a great stop before a show, or after shopping in Solihull or Knowle. But to be honest, The Boat is worth a trip in its own right.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE VIBE</h2>



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<p>The outdoor garden has a buzzy atmosphere and tables are nearly always full, especially during summer. There’s a bar along with three covered areas with real log fires, patio heaters, fluffy blankets and twinkly fairy lights which make it really come to life at night. If you&#8217;re in a larger party then try to book into the cabin, it&#8217;s tucked away in the corner of the garden and a lovely private area. </p>



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<p>At the front of the pub there&#8217;s a patio area with tables and parasols. If you&#8217;re a fan of riverside dining then the perfect place to kick back with a bottle of fizz, some sharing plates and while away a few hours. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/08/Untitled-design-475.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-54703" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/08/Untitled-design-475.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/08/Untitled-design-475-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/08/Untitled-design-475-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/08/Untitled-design-475-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/04/Untitled-design-1685.jpg" alt="Booths snuggly pub" class="wp-image-53485" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/04/Untitled-design-1685.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/04/Untitled-design-1685-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/04/Untitled-design-1685-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/04/Untitled-design-1685-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>The pub is vast inside but tables and booths are spaced out and there’s real fires throughout. Every table was booked and there was a mix of couples, friends and families – some with their dogs who are welcome in any part of the pub. The bar is the main feature and this one is super well stocked serving up delicious cocktails, artisan coffees, a great wine list and local cask ales – even one named after the pub.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SCOFF &amp; QUAFF</h2>



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<p>In the interests of an all-encompassing review I sampled the wine <em>and</em> the cocktail menu, I know, what a trooper. And if you&#8217;re wanting to know which to go for then I&#8217;m sorry but I can&#8217;t help because both were bloody great. The wine list is extensive with something to suit everyone&#8217;s tastes &#8211; I went for a glass of English Fitz pink fizz to start which was dry and well-balanced, followed by one of the pub&#8217;s signature cocktails, a rhubarb martini. It was among one of the best martini&#8217;s I&#8217;ve ever had and while Mr Muddy had a passionfruit one which was very delicious, the rhubarb really stole the show. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/08/Untitled-design-414.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-54698" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/08/Untitled-design-414.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/08/Untitled-design-414-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/08/Untitled-design-414-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/08/Untitled-design-414-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>We&#8217;re one of those couples who are always stealing nibbles from each others&#8217; plates so the menu here was perfect for us. The Boat does small plates and ‘stix’ plates – basically small plates of food so you can have a pick of everything.&nbsp;We went with the stix of charred halloumi, pickled pear, hot honey &amp; thyme which was lovely and light, along with pork &amp; fennel sausage, apple caramel &amp; crispy shallots and the padron peppers, spicy gochujang &amp; lime dressing. It was a great way to sample lots of little flavours and a bit of what we fancied. </p>



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<p>We accompanied it with the king scallops, marinated Isle of Wight heritage tomatoes &amp; romesco sauce with huge, plump scallops cooked to absolute perfection. We also shared the yoghurt, crumbled feta &amp; sumac dip, hot honey, mint, pink grapefruit &amp; rosemary focaccia which I can&#8217;t recommend highly enough &#8211; maybe ask for a bit more bread though if you like your carbs (who doesn&#8217;t?)! You could easily enjoy a few drinks here with some picky plates to share, and there&#8217;s some great sharing board options too. </p>



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<p>But, if you have enough room for a main (I made room with a wonderfully dry, crisp glass of organic Pinot Grigio ) then you&#8217;ll be spoilt for choice with the mains menu. There&#8217;s a host of seasonal dishes from rainbow salad to pea and broad bean risotto and even dressed Cromer crab. </p>



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<p>I went with the Clam vongole, which was absolutely brimming with clams &#8211; 400g of them to be exact! We&#8217;ve just got back from a break in Italy and I can even say this dish was stiff competition to some of the restaurants we visited on the Amalfi coast &#8211; order it! Mr Muddy went with the seasonal fish and chips which was a hearty affair with heaps of those really chunky chips you can only find in a good pub. </p>



<p>I&#8217;d like to say we had pud, but I was well and truly beat. However, having been here once or twice before I can highly recommend the maple roasted late summer fruit, coconut yoghurt, toasted nuts &amp; seeds or the affogato, which you can’t really go wrong with, especially when you throw in a shot of Kahlua.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">DOG FRIENDLY?</h2>



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<p>Super dog friendly, there were plenty who had taken their owners for dinner and a drink when I visited. There&#8217;s water bowls throughout, treats on tap and dogs are allowed inside and out. There’s loads of lovely walks around here so make The Boat where you end up. Crufts is held annually at the nearby NEC and apparently this is the hotspot for award-winning pampered pooches – discerning dogs approve!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">OUT &amp; ABOUT</h2>



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<p>You’re just a stones throw from Solihull which is perfect for shopping with lots of lovely independents (check out homeware store&nbsp;<a href="https://www.livs.co.uk/">Liv’s</a>) and bigger names like John Lewis and L’Occitane in Touchwood. Knowle is also not far and has a great choice of independents.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.resortsworldbirmingham.co.uk/entertainment">Resorts World</a>&nbsp;has seen a few big names leave in recent months but there’s still the likes of The North Face outlet and Religion to check out. There’s also the cinema, escape rooms and bowling. Just over the road is the&nbsp;<a href="https://thenec.co.uk/">NEC</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.resortsworldarena.co.uk/">Resorts World Arena</a>&nbsp;if you’re going to a show afterwards.</p>



<p>If you’re heading out on a walk to you can use The Boat as a starting or finishing point (or both?). Ask staff for their recommendations but I love the stroll down the canal path and the circular from the pub.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<p><strong>Good for:&nbsp;</strong>Date night, cocktails with friends, family meals and if you can’t bear to leave Fido at home. Chill outside by the canal on hot days and snuggle up next to the fire in winter. It’s a good all-rounder and a step up from your normal pub offering.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Not for:&nbsp;</strong>The Boat is super popular so if you like the vibe a bit quieter then speak to staff about the best time to visit.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>The damage:&nbsp;</strong>Very reasonable. Stix plates start from £4.50, get a couple for a good starter size. Small plates come in at around £8 with sharing boards between £8 and £16. Mains you can expect to pay from around £11 to £19 and steaks come in at about £20.</p>



<p><strong><em><a href="https://www.theboat-catherinedebarnes.co.uk/">The Boat</a>, 222 Hampton Lane, Catherine-De-Barnes, Solihull, B91 2TJ</em></strong>. <strong><em>Telephone: 01217 050474</em></strong></p>


Review: The Boat, Catherine-de-Barnes

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