Boathouse Restaurant
we are open every day from 9 am until 11pm
food service times
Monday to Friday
breakfast 9am to 11.30am
lunch 12pm to 3pm - between 3 & 6 our bar menu is available (serving pizza, paninis etc)
dinner 6pm to 9pm
on Friday & Saturday evenings the kitchen is open until 9.45.
Saturday & Sunday
breakfast 9am to 11.15am
food served all day from 12pm
- Disabled Access
- Free WiFi
- Outdoor Seating
- Families and Children Welcome
About Boathouse Restaurant
With panoramic views over Christchurch quay the boathouse has the most unique location in Christchurch
In the summer months relax and enjoy the most of the sunshine by dining alfresco in our extensive outside seating areas, while in the winter months stay warm inside by our log fire.
We serve breakfast, lunch and dinner every day throughout the year (sorry closed 25th dec) and always have a fantastic selection of homemade cakes and drinks available through the day.
In addition to this we have live acoustic music playing every weekend from Friday through to Sunday.
The largest booking we take online is for 6 guests - if you wish to make a larger booking please call us on 01202 480033 option 1
Please note we welcome dogs on our veranda (but unfortunately not inside) - this area is not bookable but available on a first come first served basis.
Availability
Eaten here on numerous occasions and this was it a good occasion. The food was overcooked and dry, and trying to get a waitresses attention was impossible, even when we wanted to pay! Need to up your game!
Brilliant service, great location. Just maybe could have done with slightly bigger lunch choice.,? But food we had was very good as always.
Went for a bit of lunch and then met friends afterwards and stayed drinking in the bar for around 5 hours. Nice atmosphere
UNPROFESSIONAL STAFF! Upon our arrival for our valentines day meal for 2. My partner and I entered the restaurant to wait to be seated and greeted, to find around 4-5 members of staff (all female) stood together talking. Not one lady approached us, so after making eye contact and being disregarded by one member of staff, I asked my partner whether he'd thought that they worked there due to the fact they were all in mix-match "uniforms" and we were being ignored by them. After me approaching one lady (blonde and blue top), I informed her we were 15 minutes early for our scheduled booked time. The lady told me that our meal time was changed to "now" and we had until 20:00 to leave. I explained to the lady that my email confirmation stated our meal time was 18.30. She had told me it had been changed without informing me first. Nevertheless the lady sped off with my partner and I having to follow quickly. The lady pointed in a generic direction and said take a seat there. As the restaurant was almost empty, I saw a lovely led table for two and we had taken a seat there (assuming this is where the lady was talking about). Regardless of the fact there were approximately 2 other seated customers in the whole restaurant) the lady had told us that this was not the table she had allocated for us, and then pointed to a round table for 6 people with knifes and forks set up next to each other, so out of pure shock my partner and I sat down. I then decided to approach the lady to ask why we could not sit at our desired table and explained that I would have felt extremely uncomfortable dining for a valentines meal at a round table meant for 6 people; sat side by side with my partner. The lady said "All the tables have been laid for two people and we are going to be very busy later, so you cannot take the table for two". I said "Well if all the tables have been led for two people, as current customers, if we take our desired table now, how will this affect the customers you at yet to have?" The lady said "let me just go and see if I can change your table". I looked around still to see only 2 other paying customers in the entire restaurant. My partner and I waited around 5 minutes, until the lady had come back with "yes you can sit there" (desired table). Once seated we were approached by another young lady (brown hair tied up, in a black cami top) to ask us whether we would like some water. After agreeing, she brought over a glass bottle, which on the bill came to £3.99, I had found this very misleading. Our bottle of pressco took around 10 minutes to be brought to our table, however by this time we had already been approached twice to place our orders for mains. The young lady providing the service acknowledged us as "Guys" for example, "Would you like some water for your table guys?" which I found extremely unprofessional, unnecessary and informal. During our time dining at the Boathouse we had staff stood next to us, watching us eat, I felt as though we were being rushed to finish our meal; and leave. I felt this experience had ruined my evening, the staff were extremely unprofessional and are in need of training to provide a higher standard of hospitality service. Our meal was not cheap, it came to £75, and I do not feel I had an acceptable level of service provided to us during our time here. Not to forget to mention, we had a bottle of , prosecco, water bottle, a main and desert, yet in addition- we were gone in just over one hour. This was not due to the fact we are fast eaters and drinkers - but were watched with a close eye and rushed out of the restaurant.
We had a great experience. Food was amazing and service was so friendly and quick.
Really friendly staff and as there was 29 off us did really well to serve us dinner all at the same time hats off to the chefs 5 stars
Lovely place, great food and a lively buzzy atmosphere
Even though I had prebooked we were abruptly told we had to be out by a certain time, weren’t even greeted before hand, the whole experience was very rushed because of it and it was for my friends 21st birthday which is a shame as the food was lovely.
Really disappointed with the way our party of 5 were spoken to. I checked in advance to see if I could bring table decorations ( 1 bag of sequins and 1 table height balloon) the first things the waitress said to us was “ you can’t have those, you will ruin the table” food was good but felt rushed as the waitresses time and time again hovered over us whilst we were choosing our food and drinks options.
Had a very good lunch on Friday thank you - extensive ‘local’ menu with some great fresh fish, excellent ambience & service. Will definitely be back soon! Thank ypu.
Lovely gluten free pizza.. thank you. Really enjoyed it.
Lovely atmosphere and great food. Staff friendly and efficient. Definitely will be back.
Our first time at the Boathouse and we were impressed with the food, service and ambience. We will definitely be back. Thank you
First visit and won't be the last. Excellent service, excellent food and a very funky cool place for breakfast before a nice walk to Hengistbury. We will be back!
Excellent service and food
Food was really good here and staff were very helpful and friendly
We had a really great night, service was attentive and pleasant. Food was lovely, ample size and tasted delicious no room for dessert! We will be back again. Thank you.
Good food. atmosphere and service. Would recommend.
Great evening with friends in a fabulous restaurant, wonderful food and service, can’t fault anything.
12345
Excellent Sunday lunch venue to visit with friends. Staff particularly friendly and service was superb !
Great location and atmosphere inside. Food isn’t anything to write home about, it’s average and they have the saltiest bacon! We went on a busy Sunday afternoon, but even so service was very slow and a little inattentive.
After an early start from London we arrived in Christchurch mid morning and I have to say the Boathouse is an excellent place to recharge batteries. Relaxed atmosphere and lovely outlook. Pleasant attentive staff and good food. We'll certainly eat there again.
All I can is that my husband is outraged with the service. He drove us to Christchurch from Southampton. He had a few drinks in a pub before going to your restaurant, and knew that he was near the level of alcohol to fail a breath test, and therefore ordered a Becks Blue zero alcohol beer with the meal. Your waitress told him that the Becks Blue was not available but she had an alternative. She served a Diarra. After a few sips my husband wondered if this was in fact zero alcohol. He did not recognise the label which only said it was gluten free beer. No mention of alcohol. He then Googled it and determined it WAS 5.4% ALCOHOL. This is totally irresponsible of your staff, and it was only my husband’s sixth sense that avoided a possible tragedy not only for himself and myself, but members of the public that might have been hit by his car afterward on the journey home.
Is always a great experience.