Dining Out – The Boat Inn, Pinxton
The Boat Inn at Pinxton demonstrates the importance of legacy, why rebirth doesn’t have to mean revolution, and how the perfect setting is best served water-side.
The quaint village of Pinxton, running alongside the two Derbyshire mammoths, the M1 and A38, is used to its fair share of travellers and passersby.
Housing its own Pinxton United Football Club and Parish Council Offices, it’s in the margins, down by the River Erewash and at the head of the Pinxton Wharf where The Boat Inn lies, snug and quietly buzzing with revellers and families looking for the affable equality of taproom ambience and rustic eatery.
The Boat Inn is a reflection of their past, and they make no bones about flaunting it, as proudly boasted by the staircase mural. Reading through it uncovers a starting date in the 1790s and how it was created to coincide with the development of the Pinxton Arm Mill on the newly built Cromford Canal.
Designed to give collieries access to the River Trent, the methods of transport were updated again in 1819 with the Mansfield & Pinxton Railway, allowing goods to be efficiently convoyed across the region. Interestingly, this permitted the evolution of The Boat Inn to become the first railway waiting room and ticket office, allegedly.
But the start of the 21st Century looked bleak for The Boat Inn. 2008 called for the closure of the building due to repeated flooding, making it in dire need of restoration. Then, the folks at Lowe Leisure Ltd stepped up with a last-ditch purchase and thus began an unprecedented transformation over 10 years.
Re-opening in 2018, The Boat Inn has been dressed up with a fresh bar, lounge area and dining room. Ensuring the classic canalside pub vibe was maintained, The Boat Inn today continues to present an attractive and hospitable spot for every type of customer and, considering the pub’s history spans over 200 years and they’ve almost definitely served multiple generations of Pinxton families, it’s safe to assume the local’s tastebuds have been won.
When we arrived on a wet and dark Wednesday evening, The Boat Inn emerged out of dense forestry and gravelly roads like a home-from-home. Spacious parking, an expansive outdoor seating area that covers a patio and a beer garden, we assumed that these elements would likely be well-populated in the warmer months, and the weary parent would welcome the high-quality children’s play area opposite.
Situated within the Pinxton element of the sprawling Cromford Canal, nature rules the day and, especially due to Springtime blooming, it adds an element of persistently shifting, kaleidoscopic tranquillity to the area.
The Boat Inn is keen to offer an overall experience, opposing the usual sit-down-eat-and-leave routine most restaurants employ. The staff were warm and attentive from start to finish, allowing the courses to run seamlessly.
Being afforded both Al Fresco dining on the patio or the option to sit in the tasteful, countrified restaurant is a luxury not many places can attest to. The Boat Inn has meticulously ensured to play to its strengths, resulting in a structured environment that distinguishes the socialites from the foodies, and the lively carousers from the introverted romantics.
The Snug, as they have rightfully named it, yields a warming log burner, and the dining room opts for a stripped-back design with wooden beams against exposed brickwork. The restaurant area is perfectly set up, meaning you don’t feel adrift from other restauranteurs, nor are you getting overly intimate with the locals.
Open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM and Sunday from noon to 9:00 PM, its selection of seating arrangements will not disappoint. Be aware that the kitchen closes at 5 PM on Sunday, so get down quickly for an end-of-week meal. Whether you have a dog or have to organise a large group booking, The Boat Inn can accommodate each demand.
They aren’t stuck in the past. Just check out their Facebook page to see a demonstration of how active these guys are! Hosting Bingo Night on Saturdays and their exceptionally generous children eat for £1 menu over the winter period, be assured that The Boat Inn have its fingers on the community pulse.
The Bar Lounge is a refined, modern addition that does not disrupt its rustic surroundings. It is a place to lounge and indulge in the pub’s inspired drinks and cocktail lineup. Is anyone up for a Pinxton Passion Martini or Canal Collins? These will be coming in the Summer!
The Boat Inn broke down its locally sourced food options into several easily discernable menus, covering the kids’, lunchtime deals, their traditional Sunday courses, and the main menu that my partner and I worked through.
A brief chat with Chef Julie confirmed the level of pride and thought that goes into the options. She excels in producing a cohesive menu that spans most people’s appetites, including her very own “Julies Homemade Cheesecake” that even the waiter attested to being sublime!
So, we chose Baked Gnocchi and Sticky Hoisin & Sesame Pork Belly Bites, Salmon and King Prawn Oriental Noodles and an 8oz Rump Steak, and to clinch the perfect evening, we indulged in, would you believe it, Julies Homemade Cheesecake, made with lemon and ginger for that electric zing.
We expect great things from the Boat Inn and imagine it will continue to lead as Pinxton’s cherished culinary heartthrob. Shall we see you there?
To book a table or learn about upcoming events, visit https://theboatinnpinxton.co.uk/ or call 01773 861600.
The Boat Inn, Pinxton Wharf, Pinxton, Derbyshire, NG16 6PN
Tom Bell
