Boat

Efficiently run dining pub, handy break for imaginative meal off M6

The huge floor-to-ceiling food blackboards and views straight into the kitchen, as you enter this neatly kept place, are indicative of the emphasis on the carefully prepared food here. Well lit from above by a big skylight this first section has a cheery café atmosphere with bright plastic flooring, striking photoprints, leather club chairs and sofas around coffee tables and potted palms. The comfortable dining areas are more conventional and calmly relaxing, with sturdy modern pale pine furniture on russet pink carpets and prints on white walls. Windows to the left have views on to the canal (currently undergoing restoration). The solid light wood bar counter has three thoughtfully sourced changing real ales from brewers such as Backyard Brewhouse, Salopian and Tom Woods on handpump, and around ten wines by the glass. Service is friendly and obliging; faint piped music. A landscaped area outside is paved with a central raised decking area; good wheelchair access throughout.

As well as lunchtime sandwiches, attractively presented good bar food from a fairly extensive menu might include king prawns in garlic and white wine, fried pigeon breast with bubble & squeak potato cake, seared scallops with crispy parma ham, grilled sardines with provençal sauce, fried duck breast with five spice vegetables, wild mushroom risotto, baked bream with lemon and black pepper, crispy pork belly with sage mash and calvados sauce, fish and chips and puddings such as chocolate mousse with shortbread biscuits, plum and almond tart and toffee and banana crumble.