The Boat House

There’s something quietly special about a visit to The Boat House. On a hot summer’s day, there’s nothing better than finding your favourite table free under the shade of the trees, with the breeze coming off the river and views stretching across the Medway, over Rochester Bridge with the castle just beyond. It’s a simple experience, but one that always seems to put a smile on your face.

Tucked down Canal Road, The Boat House is only a short walk from Strood station. A large, relaxed casual dining spot and pub sitting right beside the river, it’s the bar that greets you as you walk in, with a separate dining area to the left and large windows and patio doors making the most of its waterside position.

The outside area is where the space really comes into its own. A substantial gravelled terrace overlooks the river, with plenty of tables, large leafy planting and much-welcomed pockets of shade. On warmer days, you wouldn’t believe you’re so close to a train station. It feels much further afield, though the view is unmistakably Medway. From the Strood bank, the river takes on a different character, with a more industrial landscape sitting beside the familiar sight of Rochester Castle rising just beyond Rochester Bridge. There’s even a Cold War-era Russian submarine moored in the river, an unlikely local landmark that now feels completely at home here.

We tend to stop by for impromptu drinks as the sun begins to drop, but it’s equally suited to lunchtime visits, catching up with friends or simply settling in for a couple of hours soaking in the views. The atmosphere is livelier in the summer months, while Sundays are particularly popular for the carvery and are worth booking ahead for. The staff have always been genuinely friendly on our visits, adding to the easy-going feel.

There’s also much more history to this place than first appears. This Victorian building was once the Railway Tavern, with roots stretching back to the mid-19th century, when this corner of Strood was shaped by the railway, wharves and nearby Thames and Medway Canal. Later renamed the Riverside Tavern, it became an important part of Medway’s LGBT nightlife, with its own nightclub and dance floor. That connection hasn’t disappeared entirely, with The Boat House continuing to host drag shows and other live entertainment alongside private events and functions.

Dogs are welcome in the bar and outside, although not in the restaurant itself, so eating with four-legged company is still easy to do in the warmer months. Parking is available on site, but like the riverside tables, it can fill up pretty quickly when the sun is out.

Come for the view, stay for a drink and watch as the light changes over the Medway, enjoying the familiar Rochester skyline from a rather different perspective.