Star Rating

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The Ferry Boat Inn 

Ferry Lane

London, N17 9NG   map

Tel 020 8493 9341

www.vintageinn.co.uk/theferryboattottenham/

There have been a couple of requests that we should include the Ferry Boat Inn on this site and although this pub is in Tottenham we see no reason why not - it is after all very close and is regularly frequented by denizens of Walthamstow. So here goes...

The Ferry Boat is owned by national conglomerate M&B and is part of Vintage Inns, a chain of pub-restaurants. In fact I would struggle to describe the Ferry Boat as a pub - or a restaurant.
Here lies the problem. The Ferry Boat is a good place to eat if you expect pub food but not a good place to eat if you expect restaurant standards, and it's not a good place to go for a drink! The menu is traditional pub fare but I never feel as if I'm in a pub. The good thing about it is that it's very child-friendly - there is a children's menu - and pensioner-friendly which makes it a good place to go for a cheap family occasion.
The building itself is surprisingly grand for Tottenham (and Walthamstow for that matter). It dates back a couple of hundred years and still has a few of its original features - the fireplace is particularly impressive. There is a large garden at the rear which runs alongside the river Lea and this is very pleasant during summer months (on the rare occasions that we have them) but watch out for those pesky mosquitoes.
Staff are very helpful but the atmosphere is stale - very 'hotel'. This is not helped by the inane music piped at barely audible levels.
The ale seems to be very bland for some reason so I find it best to stick to wine. The wine list is extensive with quite a few very palatable choices.
The food, as I said, is OK with a reasonable choice on a menu that changes (slightly) every season, and there is usually a specials board. 'Veggies' should give the Ferry Boat a wide berth (no pun intended) as there are very few options for them.
I once ordered a salmon dish with a hollandaise sauce and when it arrived it was without sauce. I obviously questioned the appearance of my dish and the waitress explained that they had run out!...mmm?...

Use the links above if you need corporate information about the Ferry Boat Inn.

January 2009

Posted 17th February 2009

I agree with the above review. This place is disappointing - no views  
of the reservoirs even though they are next door, and mediocre beer  
and food. Not worth the bus journey.
 
(On the other hand, just round the corner is the *outstanding* Lock  
restaurant, but I think reviewing that here would be stretching the  
definition of E17 a little too far.)
 
Dan, E17

Posted 3rd August 2009

Steve Foster

Posted 30th August 2010

Read all the reviews before going which were both good and bad and decided to take a chance anyway.

Glad we did. We both had a lovely steak cooked to perfection. Even the plate had been warmed. 

Service was a bit slow as only one person serving on the bar (on a bank holiday!)

but other than that, no complaints whatsoever. We will definitely be going back.

Ellen