The Boat Inn, Sprotbrough: The 'rather strange' Yorkshire pub serving river and canal traffic for centuries

The nearby nature reserve is a hugely popular destination, and the whole area is teeming with wildlife.

Indeed, the pub is so close to the river that it has, from time to time, suffered from the effects of flooding.

But the team here has always picked up and soldiered on, re-opening the doors as quickly as they could.

There has been a hostelry here for centuries, serving the river and canal traffic, and also the nearby village.

There are welcoming log fires on a winter night, and a huge outside terrace with innumerable tables for warmer weather.

The layout is rather strange, lots of rooms, of all shapes and sizes, opening off and away from each other, and there are several designated areas for diners.

The Boat is a little tucked away, and it’s a place that, from the land, can be easily overlooked – pass it, and its gone, and your vehicle is up and over the bridge.

That goes for the water traffic as well – that canal chap Robbie, he of TV fame and the interminable canal journeys, went straight past it the other week, too focused on his camera angles.

Well, his loss, that’s all. He missed a treat.

Service is super-friendly without being pushy, and there’s a good range of menu choices and sharing plates, plus some first-rate beers, including St. Austell Proper Job.

Other ales come from nearer to home, and our bartender was more than well informed. He also (it is said) a dab hand at mixing up a cocktail or three.

The Boat marches on and one of those places where you wish a time-travel machine was handy, so that you could eavesdrop on an evening of many decades gone.

You make your own memories at The Boat.

Welcome 5/5

Atmosphere 5/5

Drinks choice 5/5

Prices 4/5

The Boat Inn, Lower Sprotborough, Doncaster DN5 7NB.