Entertainments | Restaurant Reviews | Prince Regent
Excellence Afloat - that ís how the operators of The Prince Regent II restaurant bill this unique experience. And it is fully justified.
Being Valentine's Day, this was always going to be a pretty special occasion for myself and my fiancee, but nothing could prepare us for the extremely impressive culinary cruise that lay ahead.
Moored at Offchurch, The Prince Regent is a converted canal barge. Not the sort of cramped sleeps six type of narrowboat your parents once forced you to spend a miserable weekend on when you were a child, but a luxury cruising outfit with ample room to spread out in and enjoy the view.
Tastefully decorated in a far from overbearing naval theme, the whole boat oozes style and character. It is literally like nothing you have experienced before.
>From the inquisitive look on the faces of our fellow diners, it was clear to see they were also asking the same question: where the hell is the kitchen?! The answer is, cleverly concealed at one end of the barge. Little is pre-prepared before the three-hour voyage, and all the food was cooked to a surprisingly good level.
An intimate experience, it is also clear from the outset this is very much a family-run business, and the relaxed and entertaining atmosphere this generated was a welcome change to the often artificial settings of those venues preferred by landlubbers!
Service was impeccable - and always with a smile - and the presentation of the food had been given considerable thought. An ambitious range of starters and main courses are on offer, as well as a fairly impressive selection of both red and white wines, as well as a fully stocked bar for every other conceivable beverage.
The pace of the evening is nice and relaxed - no bumpy ride here with plates and cups flying off the table and people inadvertently ramming corks or cutlery up their nose! In fact, the odd gentle bump through a former lock all added to the excitement.
Halfway point gave diners the opportunity to stretch their legs and grab a drink at The Moorings, allowing the barge time to turn around ready for the journey home. Out came the sweets list for those brave enough after their hearty meals, followed by coffee and a chance to have an informal chat with fellow passengers.Before what seemed like the twinkle of a distant light through the windows, the culinary adventure was at an end with everyone departing extremely satisfied by the whole experience. Top class and well worth a visit! Richard Parker ****
