By Sue Lancaster
On Saturday April 11th, the 161st Boat Race between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge will take place on the River Thames. Hundreds of spectators will line the banks of the river in west London to watch the rowers race past. Barnes and Mortlake, in southwest London, are ideal parts of the route from which to enjoy the world-famous race. Barnes has a long stretch of unobstructed riverfront—I watched the action from there myself a couple of years ago—and neighbouring Mortlake is where the race finishes.
This year the men’s race starts at 5:50pm and the women’s race, which will use the same course for the first time ever, starts an hour earlier at 4:50pm. Unusually, the races take place on a Saturday this year, not a Sunday, so if you fancy making the most of the sporting occasion with some Saturday afternoon socialising and spring sunshine (hopefully), there are a few good pubs to head to in the area.
Here are my top three that are right on the riverside:
Fresh from a major refurb, this pub is slap-bang on the riverfront in Barnes and is therefore an ideal spot for soaking up the atmosphere of the annual Boat Race. It will inevitably get busy, with people spilling out onto the pavement, so get there nice and early if you want to bag a table, or expect to stand. The back part of the pub is a designated dining area, where you can enjoy some modern British pub grub, and at the front is a spacious bar area serving drinks and traditional bar snacks.
Also fresh from a major refurb, and also slap-bang on the Barnes riverfront, the White Hart is another great contender if you want to be in the thick of the event. There’ll be live music, food (usually a BBQ) and fun throughout the day and night, and there is a big terrace with fantastic river views, although again it’s highly likely to be bustling. There’s a sit-down restaurant on the first floor if you fancy booking ahead for a proper meal.
Further along the river in Mortlake, the Ship has all the offerings of a traditional English pub, with an open fire, wooden floor, hearty pub food and a big welcoming beer garden. It’s in a fantastic location—directly on the River Thames—and offers picturesque views along the water. The Ship is famous for being at the finishing line of the Boat Race, so it’s a great place to head to if you want to witness the climax of the race. Expect this small stretch of river to be overflowing with spectators, TV crews and cameras!
About the author:
An Essex girl, Sue came to London 12 years ago and never left. She moved to West Kensington with her now-husband, then spent a couple of years living in Stamford Brook, before finally settling down in Mortlake. Prior to becoming a mum, Sue worked in TV production. She now stays at home, looking after toddler Tabitha and writing whenever she can.
