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A 4 minute Read by Alice West
If you’re planning self-drive or skippered boat trip from Hobbs of Henley this spring or summer, remember to arrive hungry! Our delectable stretch of the Thames between Marlow downstream and Sonning upstream offers a glut of charming pubs, pretty dining terraces and award-winning restaurants, all accessible from your boat. Simply moor up, step onto dry land and relax into a glorious afternoon of riverside lunching before motoring back to the boat yard. There are so many excellent pubs and restaurants on the river around Henley, and all of these are accessible by boat with free moorings close by.
We would strongly recommend booking ahead with all of these popular eateries and let them know that you are arriving by boat. Some establishments offer their own private moorings to customers and others have public moorings nearby.
Downstream Delicacies:
The Flower Pot, Aston
Image credit: @flowerpotaston
Nestled one hour downstream from Hobbs’ boat yard with its own private jetty, The Flower Pot – recently renovated – is found a short stroll from the riverbank. With a broad menu boasting a combination of traditional and modern dishes plus weekend BBQs in its large beer garden, this Victorian era inn is cosy and quirky, with open fires and Britain’s largest private collection of cased fish on its walls. A must visit. Please contact The Flower Pot in advance to reserve your mooring.
The Flower Pot Hotel
Aston
Henley-on-Thames
RG9 3DG
01491 574 721
book@flowerpothotel.com
@flowerpotaston
The Two Brewers, Marlow
Image credit: @thetwobrewersmarlow
A 2 to 2 ½ hour downstream cruise brings you to pretty Marlow, where you can moor up at Higginson Park or the public jetty at the bottom of St Peter’s Street which operates on a first come, first served basis. The Two Brewers is one of Marlow’s oldest pubs, where Jerome K. Jerome wrote part of his classic riverside novel, ‘Three Men in a Boat’ and hailed Marlow, ‘one of the pleasantest river centres I know of.’ This is a dog friendly pub, so feel free to bring your four legged friend along.
Ensconced in this cosy, traditional pub you can tuck into a hearty Sunday roast, a tasty sharing platter, or indulge in their popular bottomless brunch (just make sure you have a designated skipper in your party for the cruise home…)
The Two Brewers
St. Peter Street
Marlow
SL7 1NQ
01628 484140
thetwobrewers.marlow@stonegategroup.co.uk
@thetwobrewersmarlow
The Compleat Angler, Marlow
Image credit: @compleatanglerofficial
Adjacent to St Peter’s Street, The Compleat Angler sits majestically just over Marlow Bridge from the town centre. Here you can dine at a choice of two restaurants: its splendid Riverside Restaurant and the award-winning Indian restaurant, Sindu by Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar.
Image credit: @sindhumarlow
Its Riverside menu comprises contemporary British classics served in a sumptuous dining room overlooking the water, whilst Sindu serves traditional south Indian cuisine using the very best in British ingredients.
The Compleat Angler provides private moorings to their customers by prior arrangement – please enquire when you book your table.
Do make sure you depart Marlow by 3pm to return your boat to Hobbs by 5 pm.
The Compleat Angler
Marlow Bridge
Marlow
SL7 1RG
01628 484444
https://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/compleat-angler
@compleatanglerofficial
Image credit: @sindhumarlow
Upstream Escapes:
The St. George & Dragon, Wargrave
Image credit: @stgeorgeanddragon
Just an hour upstream from Henley lies The St. George & Dragon in the village of Wargrave. This stylish country pub serves a menu of traditional and Modern British food with Mediterranean influences – perfect fare for al fresco dining on its expansive outdoor dining deck overlooking the water. Moorings available for customers along the river frontage.
The St George & Dragon
High Street
Wargrave
RG10 8HY
0118 940 4474
/https://www.stgeorgeanddragon.co.uk/#/
@stgeorgeanddragon
Coppa Club (The Great House)
Image credit: @the_great_house
Motor two hours upstream to Sonning-on-Thames (‘the most fairy-like little nook on the whole river’ according to Jerome K Jerome) for a visit to hip riverside hangout Coppa Club. This former Elizabethan coaching inn is set on a quiet stretch of the Thames, with a glass-covered terrace and rolling lawns and deckchairs for lazing the afternoon away with a cocktail in hand. Their menu ranges from colourful Mediterranean antipasti plates to fresh fish, sourdough pizzas, steaks and salads.
Public and private moorings available at and close to The Great House – make sure to mention that you are arriving by boat when you book your table for advice on where best to moor up.
Image credit: @the_great_house
Running out of time? Coppa Club also do takeaways! Short term moorings are available near Sonning Bridge.
The Great House
Thames Street
Sonning on Thames
RG4 6UT
0118 2078971
reservations@variouseateries.co.uk
@the_great_house
French Horn
Image credit: @frenchhornsonning
For a truly sublime fine dining experience, motor over to The French Horn in Sonning. At this family-owned restaurant you can indulge in Michelin and 2 AA rosette recognised menus inspired by the seasons. Their signature dish has to be the duck, which you will find spit roasting over the open fire in their cosy bar on arrival – a true French Horn tradition.
The French Horn has 2-3 private moorings for their customers – please request a mooring when you book your table.
Serving times:
Lunch Wednesday – Saturday 12 noon – last orders 2pm.
Dinner Wednesday – Saturday 7pm – last orders 9.30pm.
Sunday Lunch 12 noon – last orders 4.30pm.
The French Horn
Sonning on Thames
RG4 6TN
0118 9692204
info@thefrenchhorn.co.uk
@frenchhornsonning
Whether you’re hungry for traditional pub fare or fine gourmet dining, these riverside eateries – all accessible by boat – are tried and tested, and our personal favourites. Ready to arrive in style? Browse our fleet of our self-drive boats for hire and skippered boats here.
Image credit: @the_great_house
