stratford river cruise dinner

A unique experience awaits you....

Our boat & river avon cruise, about stratford upon avon.

The birthplace of William Shakespeare, steeped in culture and history. Set in the beautiful rural Warwickshire countryside, on the banks of the River Avon, it is one of the most important tourist destinations in the UK. With easy road, rail and airport access, Stratford upon Avon is the perfect place for a vacation or short break.

Corporate Events

Cream tea cruises, we have a fully stocked bar on board, including draft bitter, lager, cider, spirits, liqueurs, soft drinks and fruit juices..

Straw-yellow with light golden hue in colour. Sweet spices and jasmine jump from the glass with a defined and harmonious perfume. It has gracefully refined dry notes on the palate and a fresh finish.

A medium sweet wine, offering ripe honeydew melon, nectarine and pineapple fruit with an attractive sweetness.

Offers good concentration and depth of fruit, with a soft and plummy texture and hints of vanilla.

Fresh and crisp with very subtle strawberry fruit and a dash of sweet spice. This is a structured and vibrant wine.

With a subtle floral scent on the nose this white has flavours of melon, citrus fruits and a touch of fennel.

Raspberry and black cherry fruits on the hose that also emerge on the palate complemented by a touch of spice.

Bookings & Enquiries

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Boat Trips on the River

Experience Stratford from the River Avon, a cruise is a lovely trip to enhance your tour of Stratford.

Choose from 4 local providers:

Canal and River Tours

We all associate Stratford upon Avon with Shakespeare but not everyone is aware of the town's central role in the busy waterways of the Industrial revolution. Canal and River Tours ensures that your experience leaves you with a deeper understanding of this rich heritage. 

Enjoy the drama of travelling through the town’s historic working lock to Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and see the sights from a new perspective. Gain an insight into Shakespeare’s work, the river wildlife, the canal, and its heritage from the light-hearted and lively audio commentary. 

The cruise starts from the most beautiful part of town in the canal basin, next to the main shopping areas, Royal Shakespeare Theatre and refreshment boats. Jennifer May is a modern Dutch Barge, heated and fully covered with unique viewing angles through the glass roof panels, and the capacity to seat up to 60 people in comfort.

The vessel is also fully equipped to effortlessly board and carry wheelchairs, prams and has a fully accessible WC with baby changing facilities.

For more information: www.canalandrivertours.com

Avon Boating

Covid 19 (Coronavirus) - Limited Offering

From July 4th we will be able to offer a limited number of boats and experiences.

Motor Boats will be available on a first come first served basis with a queue system in place and there is no pre-booking at this time. Due to cleaning and distancing processes, there are currently fewer boats available for hire.

Electric Launches  “Elver” and “Flying Duck”  will be available to pre-book online up to 24 hours before and gaps in bookings can be taken on the day on a first come first served basis.

We have your safety and our staff’s safety in mind at all times, so please expect to be asked to wait in a designated place.

Throughout the hire process please be patient and listen to all instructions given by staff.

All of our hire boats and life jackets will be sanitised between uses which may mean that you have to wait a little longer than usual before being invited to a boat and we thank you for your patience.

Experience Stratford from the River Avon, a half hour cruise is a lovely trip to enhance your tour of Stratford. There are regular departures from the Bancroft Gardens next to the theatre. There is a fleet of different boats available, from rowing boats to punts available to hire by the hour. It is also possible to charter extended cruises on a 1898 coal fired steam including buffets, high teas and river picnics make a perfect venue for corporate events. Bar services are provided on board.

More information at   www.avon-boating.co.uk

Bancroft Cruisers

Bancroft Cruisers run 45 minute sightseeing river cruises and private or corporate charters on the beautiful River Avon in the heart of the Shakespeare Country. Based at Stratford upon Avon we are well equipped to provide you and your friends & family with a perfect walk-on sightseeing, or pre-booked bespoke exclusive river cruise for birthdays, anniversaries, pre-wedding parties or anything that floats your boat!

Bancroft Cruisers also run Ghost Cruises in association with Stratford Town Walks and regular Sundowners Champagne & Canapés evening cruises. Open all year round river conditions permitting on the licensed and fully accessible Rita Ellen or on the Princess Marina, our traditional sightseeing boat.

School parties and coach trips also welcomed. Reduced rates for pre-booking

Trips depart from the Holiday Inn landing stage.

• Adults: £6.00
• Concessions (over 65s): £5.00
• Children (under 16s): £4.00
• Family £18.00 (2 Adults and Upto 3 Children)

More information at  www.bancroftcruisers.co.uk

Countess of Evesham The Countess of Evesham, nicknamed Stratford's 'Orient Express', is a purpose built 70ft restaurant cruiser. Enjoy a romantic supper along the floodlit banks of the Avon. The Countess enjoys a growing reputation for fine cuisine with a well stocked wine list. Centrally heated the Countess is open throughout the year and offers all the amenities of a top quality restaurant. Cruising times may be flexible for group bookings

More information at   www.countessofevesham.co.uk

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Address River Avon, Stratford-upon-Avon

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The Countess Of Evesham Restaurant Cruiser

Ratings and reviews, location and contact.

My husband booked this as a birthday treat for me and it was great. He’s originally wanted to book for the evening meal but a couple of weeks beforehand it was already fully booked for the Friday evening and only one table left at lunch... so we took the lunch option. The boat was easy to find and boarding was quick and easy with a contactless temperature check and masks worn until we were seated at our table. Tables were spaced well apart. There was a good wine menu and plenty of choice of other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available. The food was absolutely delicious! We both had chicken with potatoes and roasted vegetables in a gorgeous white wine/cream sauce. For dessert I had a lovely lemon tart and my husband had the cheese and biscuits which was enough for 2 to share. Unfortunately due to the water levels today the boat couldn’t get through the first lock on the river so we couldn’t get very far along the planned route and had to just go up and down the same bit of river a couple of times. It didn’t spoil the experience though and we had a lovely 90 minutes on board and the service was great too. I’d highly recommend this if you’re in Stratford upon Avon. More

What a lovely way to enjoy a really nice dinner on board this lovely old barge whilst enjoying the beautiful scenery being served by friendly, efficient and charming staff (Becky). What impressed me also was despite being a ‘captive market’ whilst you are onboard, that... the drink prices were very reasonable. Very highly recommended and a ‘must do’ when visiting beautiful Stratford upon Avon More

Whilst the weather / storm meant we could not leave the moorings, nothing but praise for the staff and food. 80th birthday party celebration, our table sampled the sunday lunch offerings of salmon, roast chicken & vegetable curry, all of which were superb. Friendly staff... made it a very enjoyable experience. Highly recommended. More

The best birthday treat on the Countess of Evesham. I booked via the online booking form but also called as I was eager to ensure I could get a space on board as I booked the day before. Lisa was very accommodating and booked us... on. Our experience was truly amazing and one we will never forget. Staff on board so lovely, caring and attentive. The atmosphere was calm and relaxing with others celebrating birthdays and a family of adults and children enjoying their experience. The food was delicious and came at a good pace so we didn’t feel rushed. We had parsnip soup for starters, salmon and vegetables as our main and a apple crumble for dessert. All our courses were delicious. Drinks are reasonably priced and there is a big variety to choose from. There are clean toilets on board. I couldn’t find fault and we had the perfect time, relaxing and enjoying the beautiful scenery that Stratford has to offer and suitable for couples, families and friends. We will be booking again in the future. More

September 20 was a beautiful autumn evening for a cruise down the river aboard this lovely boat. The arrangements for this booking for a party of 18 were handled professionally and efficiently. The crew, chefs and waitresses made us very welcome and looked after us,... and the other guests, with friendly style. A fine dinner in a cosy floating dining room, a peaceful cruise down river alongside the floodlit riverbanks. Highly recommend for a special event with family and friends. More

Such a lovely trip aboard this boat. The young waitresses are very attentive and work wonders serving a three course meal in such a small space. The food was tasty and fresh and the timings perfect. Good selection of drinks. It's a different experience sailing... along the river, going through locks and viewing the wildlife. There's a nice little short stop by the weir to stretch your legs. The boat has a lovely interior. More

My husband and I did the dinner cruise on 17 Aug. It was brilliant from start to finish. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. The young lady, Becky, was really lovely and looked after us very efficiently. At £36 per person for the dinner... & cruise, we felt it was great value and the drink prices were very reasonable. Would highly recommend. More

Booked in advance with meal orders done (due to covid ) the staff were smiley, chatty, very friendly & made us all feel very welcome. The boat is clean and looks amazing... it has a feel of the orient express to it. Wine & drinks... are very reasonably priced considering it’s Stratford. Cruising along whilst dining looking out to see the Swans, the weirs & the excitement of going up & down the locks made it all the more. Different & special. We all had a wonderful time and can’t wait to return. So much so I have booked it for my husband’s birthday in September. Book early as it does get booked up because it is so good. Thankyou to all the staff for an amazing memorable day 💞🥂💞 More

We visited during Covid-19 restrictions. All passengers and staff were well protected. The food was excellent of a Supreme Style Chicken with veggies and baked new potatoes. The sauce was superb. The dessert of Lemon Tart and cream was very good. The wine selection was... good with draught Carlsberg on tap for beer lovers. The service was attentive. The boat was clean and well presented with soft background music. The views from the boat were excellent. Definitely a restaurant to visit for great ambience. Excellent for a romantic cruise! More

We booked on the 2 course lunch time cruise, it was so relaxing. Food was lovely, we opted for chicken with roast vegetables followed by a cheeseboard. There's a good selection of drinks at reasonable prices, a definite must if you're in Stratford ☺

We came to Stratford-Upon-Avon for a weekend birthday break I wanted to hook something a little different. After googling a few things this trip appeared and looked just the thing and price was really reasonable so I booked . We arrived to board at 7pm... and had a lovely reception the barge had a lovely ambiance lighting a nice music. We were shown to our table and shortly after our drink order was taken and arrived super fast . At 7.30 off we went our food order had been taken and our starters arrived I had mushrooms my husband soup and was lovely a nice break then our mains arrived we both had beef and was so tender and huge portion we ordered more drinks the our pudding arrived was lovely, how they do food to this standard when the kitchen must be so small is amazing. The staff are so friendly and obviously want everyone to have a fab time and we certainly did. If there was one downside was only about 15 mins in on journey music and lights went off there was some light but very dull apparently it’s the generator and is a known issue... please sort this out as we felt the atmosphere was lost and sorry felt ambiance lost . If this issue was sorted we would be absolutely whole heartily be recommending this as a fabulous evening great food and great values. More

Good points: Lovely cruise Friendly staff Bad points: 10% service charge which is mentioned nowhere but on your bill Sneakily worded question by the girl taking orders which gets each table to pay for extra bread Very salty soup Tough chicken The salty soup and... tough chicken may have been a one-off. The lack of mention of the service charge and the sneaky question are deliberate. We paid almost £110 yet only had one drink each. Do not expect to pay just the £40.50 per person plus a drink. More

Just had a lovely trip on the Countess of Evesham, staff were very attentive and nothing was too much trouble, I asked for my main course sauce to be served separately and came as I asked, food was very good and considering they had catered... for approx 36 people in what must be a tiny kitchen was amazing, unfortunately the boat overheated so we couldn’t go all the way but another boat came to take us back. Would highly recommend this trip was well worth the money. Thank you 😊 More

We had a wonderful lunch time cruise and meal on the Countess of Evesham. From the time we boarded to the time we left we had a fabulous time. As it was my husbands birthday the staff put birthday sprinkles on the table which i... thought was a really nice touch. The meal was excellent and served piping hot considering it must be a very tiny kitchen, i don't know how they managed it, the food was delicious and cooked to perfection. The staff were lovely, polite and very attentive and really listened to what you said, nothing was too much trouble for them. It was so relaxing eating a lovely meal whilst enjoying the passing scenery from the barge. It was a real treat and would definately go again. More

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our evening cruise last night. Despite the weather being somewhat damp, the setting within the barge was warm and welcoming with the crew well attentive & the food delicious. Unhurried and well worth the money.

THE COUNTESS OF EVESHAM RESTAURANT CRUISER, Stratford-upon-Avon - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor

• Service: 4.5
• Atmosphere: 4.5

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The Countess Of Evesham Restaurant Cruiser

Ratings and reviews, location and contact.

My husband booked this as a birthday treat for me and it was great. He’s originally wanted to book for the evening meal but a couple of weeks beforehand it was already fully booked for the Friday evening and only one table left at lunch... so we took the lunch option. The boat was easy to find and boarding was quick and easy with a contactless temperature check and masks worn until we were seated at our table. Tables were spaced well apart. There was a good wine menu and plenty of choice of other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available. The food was absolutely delicious! We both had chicken with potatoes and roasted vegetables in a gorgeous white wine/cream sauce. For dessert I had a lovely lemon tart and my husband had the cheese and biscuits which was enough for 2 to share. Unfortunately due to the water levels today the boat couldn’t get through the first lock on the river so we couldn’t get very far along the planned route and had to just go up and down the same bit of river a couple of times. It didn’t spoil the experience though and we had a lovely 90 minutes on board and the service was great too. I’d highly recommend this if you’re in Stratford upon Avon. More

What a lovely way to enjoy a really nice dinner on board this lovely old barge whilst enjoying the beautiful scenery being served by friendly, efficient and charming staff (Becky). What impressed me also was despite being a ‘captive market’ whilst you are onboard, that... the drink prices were very reasonable. Very highly recommended and a ‘must do’ when visiting beautiful Stratford upon Avon More

Whilst the weather / storm meant we could not leave the moorings, nothing but praise for the staff and food. 80th birthday party celebration, our table sampled the sunday lunch offerings of salmon, roast chicken & vegetable curry, all of which were superb. Friendly staff... made it a very enjoyable experience. Highly recommended. More

The best birthday treat on the Countess of Evesham. I booked via the online booking form but also called as I was eager to ensure I could get a space on board as I booked the day before. Lisa was very accommodating and booked us... on. Our experience was truly amazing and one we will never forget. Staff on board so lovely, caring and attentive. The atmosphere was calm and relaxing with others celebrating birthdays and a family of adults and children enjoying their experience. The food was delicious and came at a good pace so we didn’t feel rushed. We had parsnip soup for starters, salmon and vegetables as our main and a apple crumble for dessert. All our courses were delicious. Drinks are reasonably priced and there is a big variety to choose from. There are clean toilets on board. I couldn’t find fault and we had the perfect time, relaxing and enjoying the beautiful scenery that Stratford has to offer and suitable for couples, families and friends. We will be booking again in the future. More

September 20 was a beautiful autumn evening for a cruise down the river aboard this lovely boat. The arrangements for this booking for a party of 18 were handled professionally and efficiently. The crew, chefs and waitresses made us very welcome and looked after us,... and the other guests, with friendly style. A fine dinner in a cosy floating dining room, a peaceful cruise down river alongside the floodlit riverbanks. Highly recommend for a special event with family and friends. More

Such a lovely trip aboard this boat. The young waitresses are very attentive and work wonders serving a three course meal in such a small space. The food was tasty and fresh and the timings perfect. Good selection of drinks. It's a different experience sailing... along the river, going through locks and viewing the wildlife. There's a nice little short stop by the weir to stretch your legs. The boat has a lovely interior. More

My husband and I did the dinner cruise on 17 Aug. It was brilliant from start to finish. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. The young lady, Becky, was really lovely and looked after us very efficiently. At £36 per person for the dinner... & cruise, we felt it was great value and the drink prices were very reasonable. Would highly recommend. More

Booked in advance with meal orders done (due to covid ) the staff were smiley, chatty, very friendly & made us all feel very welcome. The boat is clean and looks amazing... it has a feel of the orient express to it. Wine & drinks... are very reasonably priced considering it’s Stratford. Cruising along whilst dining looking out to see the Swans, the weirs & the excitement of going up & down the locks made it all the more. Different & special. We all had a wonderful time and can’t wait to return. So much so I have booked it for my husband’s birthday in September. Book early as it does get booked up because it is so good. Thankyou to all the staff for an amazing memorable day 💞🥂💞 More

We visited during Covid-19 restrictions. All passengers and staff were well protected. The food was excellent of a Supreme Style Chicken with veggies and baked new potatoes. The sauce was superb. The dessert of Lemon Tart and cream was very good. The wine selection was... good with draught Carlsberg on tap for beer lovers. The service was attentive. The boat was clean and well presented with soft background music. The views from the boat were excellent. Definitely a restaurant to visit for great ambience. Excellent for a romantic cruise! More

We booked on the 2 course lunch time cruise, it was so relaxing. Food was lovely, we opted for chicken with roast vegetables followed by a cheeseboard. There's a good selection of drinks at reasonable prices, a definite must if you're in Stratford ☺

We came to Stratford-Upon-Avon for a weekend birthday break I wanted to hook something a little different. After googling a few things this trip appeared and looked just the thing and price was really reasonable so I booked . We arrived to board at 7pm... and had a lovely reception the barge had a lovely ambiance lighting a nice music. We were shown to our table and shortly after our drink order was taken and arrived super fast . At 7.30 off we went our food order had been taken and our starters arrived I had mushrooms my husband soup and was lovely a nice break then our mains arrived we both had beef and was so tender and huge portion we ordered more drinks the our pudding arrived was lovely, how they do food to this standard when the kitchen must be so small is amazing. The staff are so friendly and obviously want everyone to have a fab time and we certainly did. If there was one downside was only about 15 mins in on journey music and lights went off there was some light but very dull apparently it’s the generator and is a known issue... please sort this out as we felt the atmosphere was lost and sorry felt ambiance lost . If this issue was sorted we would be absolutely whole heartily be recommending this as a fabulous evening great food and great values. More

Good points: Lovely cruise Friendly staff Bad points: 10% service charge which is mentioned nowhere but on your bill Sneakily worded question by the girl taking orders which gets each table to pay for extra bread Very salty soup Tough chicken The salty soup and... tough chicken may have been a one-off. The lack of mention of the service charge and the sneaky question are deliberate. We paid almost £110 yet only had one drink each. Do not expect to pay just the £40.50 per person plus a drink. More

Just had a lovely trip on the Countess of Evesham, staff were very attentive and nothing was too much trouble, I asked for my main course sauce to be served separately and came as I asked, food was very good and considering they had catered... for approx 36 people in what must be a tiny kitchen was amazing, unfortunately the boat overheated so we couldn’t go all the way but another boat came to take us back. Would highly recommend this trip was well worth the money. Thank you 😊 More

We had a wonderful lunch time cruise and meal on the Countess of Evesham. From the time we boarded to the time we left we had a fabulous time. As it was my husbands birthday the staff put birthday sprinkles on the table which i... thought was a really nice touch. The meal was excellent and served piping hot considering it must be a very tiny kitchen, i don't know how they managed it, the food was delicious and cooked to perfection. The staff were lovely, polite and very attentive and really listened to what you said, nothing was too much trouble for them. It was so relaxing eating a lovely meal whilst enjoying the passing scenery from the barge. It was a real treat and would definately go again. More

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our evening cruise last night. Despite the weather being somewhat damp, the setting within the barge was warm and welcoming with the crew well attentive & the food delicious. Unhurried and well worth the money.

THE COUNTESS OF EVESHAM RESTAURANT CRUISER, Stratford-upon-Avon - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor

• Service: 4.5
• Atmosphere: 4.5

Office Open 10AM - 4:30PM | Mon - Thurs

BOATING OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 10AM - 4:30PM

Public River Cruises

Enjoy a 30 minute cruise aboard one of our traditional Edwardian passenger launches.

Cruise downstream past the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Holy Trinity Church (the site of Shakespeare’s tomb) and upstream passing under the 15th Century Clopton Bridge.

Tickets available from the crew on board, on the day.

• 30 minute cruise
• Concessions
• Children Age 4-15
• Family 2 Adults and up to 3 Children

Public River Cruise Details

• Our full 30 minute cruises operate daily with two/three boats running every 15-30 minutes from the Bancroft Gardens (Next to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre)
• During busy periods we offer additional departures from our Boathouse on Swan’s Nest Lane.
• Seats on the cruises are available on a first come first served basis with the tickets purchased onboard the boat (Cash and card payments taken)
• Our inclusive digital audio guides are available onboard to those that would like, providing you with an insight to some of the sites you will see on the trip.
• Due to the age of the vessels unfortunately we are unable to accommodate wheelchairs onboard, access is via a series of steps. Please feel free to give us a call to discuss accessibility. (We do have very limited storage for wheelchairs external to the vessels).
• We do have storage for wheelchairs and pushchairs external to the vessels, at the departure point. These are left at the owners own risk and no valuables should be left on them.

Dog Friendly

7 days a week from 10 AM - 4 PM

& Couples Activity

Where to find us

Swans Nest Boathouse,

Swans Nest, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 7LS.

(Booked Trips, Small Boat Hire, Head Office)

River Frontage next to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre,

Waterside, Stratford Upon Avon, CV37 6NA.

(Public River Cruises)

Opening Times

(Opening hours may be extended on busier days)

Office Hours

9am to 4pm, Monday to Thursday.

Get In Touch

• Swan’s Nest Boathouse,
• Swan's Nest Lane,
• Stratford-upon-Avon,

Useful Links

Registered in England & Wales No. 05149985 ~ VAT 844 6269 04

Web Design by TyMedia

Home » Restaurants » Afternoon Tea The Midlands » Afternoon Tea West Midlands » River Sightseeing Cruise and Afternoon Tea in Stratford Upon Avon

River Sightseeing Cruise and Afternoon Tea in Stratford Upon Avon

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Enjoy a relaxing river sightseeing cruise and delicious afternoon tea in the beautiful West Midlands town of Stratford Upon Avon in Warwickshire.

River Sightseeing Cruise

The historical town of Stratford Upon Avon is the perfect location to enjoy a day out in the West Midlands. What better way to explore its rich history than gently cruising along the River Avon past the renowned Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Holy Trinity Church (the site of Shakespeare’s tomb), before turning around and passing under the 15th century Clopton Bridge. Audio tours are available for you to learn more about the sights and sounds of the Avon as you go.

Afternoon Tea in Stratford Upon Avon

Your visit to Stratford Upon Avon continues with a traditional afternoon tea in the delightful setting of The Arden Hotel which sits directly opposite the world-renowned Royal Shakespeare Company Theatres. Blending historical charm with contemporary style, the comfortable surrounds provide a leisurely ambience to enjoy your afternoon tea.

Afternoon tea is served on a tiered cake stand enhanced by delicately, floral patterned china. Bite into fresh, seasonal sandwiches with a variety of favourite fillings. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a delicious selection of cakes, pastries and homemade fruit scones with strawberry jam and thick, clotted cream. Your afternoon tea is served with your choice of teas and infusions to provide the perfect pairing.

Enjoy a day out in Stratford Upon Avon

This combined river cruise and afternoon tea package is available to buy as a gift voucher from Virgin Experience Days at £79 for Two people. Get a further 15% off with our exclusive discount code. Simply select the Book  Now button, copy the code from the pop-up window and paste where prompted at check-out.

Whether you are looking to buy this experience as a gift for a special friend, or simply to treat yourself (select the e-voucher option), your voucher is valid for up to 12 months. Plenty of time to organise diaries.

To buy or for further information, simply select the Book Now button.

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Evening dinner cruise - Countess of Evesham Boat Tours

• Europe    
• United Kingdom (UK)    
• England    
• Warwickshire    
• Stratford-upon-Avon    
• Stratford-upon-Avon - Things to Do    
• Countess of Evesham Boat Tours

Friends from Ireland came with me …they thought Stratford was fabulous with beautiful views…lots of... read more

Your location  The Countess of Evesham Bancroft Garden, Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37... read more

Evening dinner cruise

Had Sunday dinner on a lovely river cruise in Stratford on Avon. First Class in every way!! Very clean. Friendly staff. Great views. Great for all ocations.

Every other year I bring a group of my students to Stratford-Upon-Avon to study Shakespeare and participate in Shakespeare's Birthday Celebrations. We always end our week there with a dinner cruise on the Countess of Evesham, and for most it is one of the top highlights of our trip! The interior of the boat is beautiful and of course there are great views from every table. The meal is good and afforable for our group (though I do wish they had served coffee or tea with the dessert.) The boat moves through several locks, and also docks shortly at the side of the river, giving time for a quick disembark and walk around the beautiful forests and fields surrounding Stratford. Watching the sunset from the boat is a real treat, and the wait staff was efficient and kind. I'd highly recommend this dinner cruise to couples as well as large groups like ours. Its a fantastic way to round out your trip to Stratford!

Trip bought us for Countess of Evesham cruise and meal for our ruby wedding anniversary from friends in the village where we live. Rang up to book and fixed date. Arrived at 11.15 am ready to board at 11.30 to be told they weren't cruising due to the weather. As we had travelled 30 miles to Stratford and had to leave the house at 10.00am to get there in plenty on time someone had tried to call at 10.20 om our phone. We were desperately disappointed and had been so looking forward to this outing from our friends. We decided to eat as we had come all that distance. The meal was ok, could have walked 50 yds from home and had better. As for the scenery all we could see were peoples feet as they walked by. Told the staff of our disappointment and was offered a round of free drinks as we had a voucher the trip already been paid for. Rang up to complain the next day to the owner and was told there was nothing she could do as it wasn't her fault the boat couln't cruise and if I had given her my mobile phone number, which I don't have, she could have contacted us. Very rude, very unprofessional and with no customer service at all. I work in the public sector and If I acted that way would have had "my marching orders" No offer of another outing, compensation of petrolmoney, just the £5 worth of drinks. It cost of at least £20 in fuel. So to all of you who are thinking of going check you are getting what you have paid for. Agree it wasn't her fault but her attitude was.

Bancroft Cruisers

Guided sightseeing cruises and private charters in stratford-upon-avon.

Click below to

Request a booking

Bespoke Event Charters on The River Avon

We offer Bespoke Private Event Charters

On your private charter we will ensure you enjoy the charm and beauty of historic Shakespeare’s hometown with Bancroft Cruisers, Stratford upon Avon’s only river trip with a live tour guide.  Sit back and relax as you enjoy the glorious Warwickshire countryside from the comfort of our heated cruiser. On our one hour to five hour cruises, we provide a fantastic river experience – complete with expert guides and delicious food.   [start first column]

• Private Funeral Ceremonies – bookings now being taken  

All our cruises depart from our mooring at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Stratford-upon-Avon.

Close to the Tourist Information Centre. Bridgefoot, Stratford upon Avon,  CV37 6YR

WHEELCHAIR LIFT FROM MOORING TO CABIN

Dogs welcome onboard

Here are a few things that may interest you  –

• Private charters
• Corporate charters
• Party Cruises
• Hen Parties
• Ashes Scattering Ceremonies

WHAT DO OUR CUSTOMERS THINK OF US?? CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT OUR TESTIMONIALS 

[end first column] [start second column]

The kettle is always on and pre-booked Traditional Cream  or Afternoon Teas, buffets & canapes offered on all cruises. We also offer BBQ cruises.

 We’re always pretty busy so please get in touch to discuss your cruise and our availability.    Private Charters  of up to 5 hours can be booked throughout the day or evening.  Get in touch for more information or a quote. [end second column]

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• Life & Culture

What’s it like to dine on Tampa’s new riverboat cruise Craft? We took a ride.

• Helen Freund Times staff

TAMPA — We almost didn’t make the boat.

Traffic snarled through downtown Tampa and stretched onto the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, delaying what would have been a 45-minute drive from St. Petersburg to nearly an hour and a half in stop-and-go congestion.

We had reservations for Craft, Tampa’s brand-new riverboat dinner cruise set to depart at 7:30 p.m. — and a friendly confirmation email reminding us that our purchase was nonrefundable. We’d been encouraged to arrive 45 minutes early, when we would have presumably been able to commence a leisurely boarding, river breeze in our hair, Champagne flute in hand.

Life had other plans. At 7:25 p.m., my dinner date and I swung our car into the Garrison Street parking lot, narrowly avoiding getting struck by an oncoming streetcar.

Following a quick security wand-down (the boat adheres to U.S. Coast Guard rules) and a $30 event-fueled parking fee (Tim McGraw was playing a show at nearby Amalie Arena), crew members greeted us with a quick photograph and a glass of bubbly before sending us on our way.

“Welcome to our maiden voyage!” they exclaimed as we rushed aboard.

Shortly after 7:30 p.m., we were off, out of the Ybor Turning Basin and into the sunset.

Described as a “culinary and cocktail river journey,” Craft debuted its inaugural dinner cruise on March 15. The multimillion-dollar project is the latest endeavor from Jill and Troy Manthey, who also run several other entertainment-on-the-water concepts, including Yacht StarShip, Pirate Water Taxi and the Bay Rocket.

Designed with European riverboats in mind, the 130-foot-long vessel boasts a sleek, white silhouette with less than 11 feet of vertical clearance — meaning it can comfortably drift beneath many of Tampa’s low-lying bridges. But this ship’s real appeal lies in the coupling of an elevated culinary program, contemporary aesthetic and craft cocktails.

A trip aboard Craft includes a two-hour cruise up and down the Hillsborough River and a three-course prix-fixe meal. To start, there are lunch, brunch and dinner trips on deck, but a happy hour option may soon be in the works.

Running any kind of marine operation comes with steep operating costs — including fuel, dock rental fees and staffing — and the experience here is priced accordingly. But it still comes with a good deal of sticker shock. For two people on a Friday evening, we paid $392.59 for the boat ride and the three-course dinner — not including gratuity or drinks.

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I love a fancy boat ride as much as the next person, but the pricing gave me pause.

Would the experience be worth it?

Things were a lot smoother once we got on board.

We entered through the front of the boat, or bow, and were shown to our seats inside a narrow dining room, flanked by windows overlooking the water. Wood paneling combined with slight nautical touches lent the space a warm, industrial-chic vibe.

Servers clad in white collared shirts and gray aprons whisked back and forth between the tables, balancing martini coupes and taking orders. In an attempt to let the crew develop their sea legs, the boat wasn’t fully booked that evening, but the dining room still felt abuzz with excitement and curiosity.

Clutching our Champagne, we glided through Sparkman Channel at dusk, glitzy Harbour Island homes glowing in the evening light as a Maggie Rogers track played softly in the background. We let out a collective exhale as the chaos of the day faded away.

Over the course of the roughly two-hour cruise, the boat steered up the Hillsborough River, passing Riverwalk landmarks including the Tampa Convention Center, Armature Works and Rick’s on the River, before turning around and heading back.

Guests were encouraged to explore the boat. The Bow and Stern bar, beautifully designed and fashioned out of a vintage 1914 cruiser, provided additional seating in the rear for those looking for more of an al fresco experience.

Throughout the evening, the crew moved back and forth between the dining room, the bar and the kitchen, sometimes stepping out on the deck to alert passengers when their meals had been delivered. Guests roamed the boat taking photographs, while patrons inside chatted up their neighbors, much of the voyage illuminated by the lights of downtown Tampa.

Craft’s strongest selling point is its culinary program, and the menu here is a far cry from the goblets of white wine and dry chicken associated with most dinner cruises.

Designed by chef Allison Beasman (formerly of Edison: Food + Drink Lab), the list of contemporary New American dishes runs the gamut from a black grouper served with Little Neck clams and Pernod cream to a Wagyu coulotte with kabocha caramel and a Korean barbecue octopus. As part of the prix-fixe deal, guests are able to pick an appetizer, entree and dessert from a menu of roughly 13 different dishes.

Part of what makes the vessel stand out is the addition of an open kitchen with gas stoves, and the concept’s design allows guests to get a peek of the action if they’re on their way to the bathroom or the bar.

When it came time to order dinner, our server patiently guided us through the menu, pointing out the additional dishes we could choose if we wished to add a little something extra onto our prepaid meal. We opted for the olive oil-marinated sheep and goat’s milk cheese ($18), which was just as tasty as our server touted. It arrived in a rich red pepper-packed pisto, drizzled with a healthy glug of olive oil and served with crusty bread for dipping.

Dishes are made to order and don’t necessarily arrive at the same time as other passengers’ meals. Our appetizers showed up roughly 45 minutes into the trip, a delightful baby kale salad lightly dressed in a white balsamic vinaigrette that was toothsome with chicory and shaved carrots and plumped up with fried baby potatoes and a healthy shaving of ricotta salata. Also good was the hearty tomato bisque with roasted bone marrow and blackened cipollini onions.

For our entrees, a seared duck breast arrived fanned out over silky whipped potatoes and a creamy goat cheese fondue, framed by Brussels sprouts and fat wedges of roasted golden beets. Though the duck was cooked a little past the requested temperature, it was still delicious. A plate of sweet and sour braised short ribs packed powerhouse flavors that paired beautifully together, all served over a sweet and sticky coconut rice sidling bok choy and juicy tangerine segments.

For dessert, we paired a perfect few scoops of pistachio ice cream with a chocolate espresso dacquoise, an intensely rich and sweet layer cake featuring a tart blackberry curd and creamy dark chocolate ganache.

The fine print

The water was calm that night and the entire service appeared well-rehearsed — absent of any major hiccups and even graceful at moments. As far as I could tell, there were no seasick passengers or man-overboard scenarios, which felt like some kind of success, though I did wonder what type of balance or physical dexterity would be required to maneuver trays of wobbling martini glasses over stormier seas.

Though tiered pricing exists for Craft — for different seats, times of day or days of the week — there’s no overlooking that a trip aboard the vessel isn’t cheap.

With neither drinks nor gratuity included in the booking price, if you’re looking to enjoy the evening with a couple of libations, it’s going to cost you. The add-ons can feel excessive, from a $50 king crab leg tray to the preboarding photograph crew members try to sell you at the end of the night. A suggested gratuity is presented on your bill, based on the total sales tallied for the table that evening, including the cost of the original reservation.

Some changes are bound to be expected as the company assesses guest interest and feedback. Even after the first week, it appears some prices have been slightly adjusted. Dinner for two people seated in the dining room with window seats now comes to $369.89 after taxes and marine fees, while weekend brunches for the same seats start at $89.95 per person.

It’s hard to imagine making dining here a regular occurrence, but for a special occasion, an evening aboard Craft can be a real delight.

Next time, though, I’ll remember to leave myself plenty of time to get there.

For Craft reservations and information, go to crafttampa.com/ . The riverboat departs from the dock at 603 Channelside Drive, Tampa.

Helen Freund is the food and dining critic, reporting on and reviewing restaurants throughout Tampa Bay. Reach her at [email protected].

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