The Boat Inn

The Boat Inn is an independent freehouse pub and restaurant situated in the centre of Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire, England, beside the Grand Union Canal and close to a working lock system, the canal museum and the Blisworth Tunnel. It has been owned and operated by the Woodward family since 1877, when it formed part of the Duke of Grafton's 'Wakefield' estate. In its early days the inn was run alongside the family's other businesses, including a local butchery, bakery, smallholding and working narrowboats. In 1921 the inn was offered for sale at auction and was purchased from the estate for £1000. It is now continued by the fourth generation of Woodwards, and the family is proud to run a popular freehouse that is totally independent of any brewery. The Boat Inn is believed to be the longest running family pub that has maintained the same family name throughout, and is therefore claimed to have the longest lineage of licensee in the country. The inn has appeared in national press and television advertisements, films, documentaries and books; the most widely recognised film featuring Stoke Bruerne was 'Painted Boats' (1945), in which Jack Woodward appeared as a young boy crossing the locks. The previous landlord Jack, father to the current directors and grandfather to the next generation, lies at rest under a flagstone in the top bar. The pub offers a Bar & Bistro menu, a breakfast menu served until midday, the Woodward's Restaurant menu, a wine list and a groceries list. Groceries can be collected or delivered locally for a small fee, and special or out-of-stock items can often be ordered in. Opening hours vary seasonally, with winter and summer schedules and extended hours during school holidays and bank holidays; booking is recommended. Woodward's Restaurant is open on Saturday evenings and for Sunday lunch, and the venue also takes bookings for weddings and functions for groups larger than twelve, subject to availability. The Boat Inn can be contacted by telephone on 01604 862428 or by email at enquiries@boatinn.co.uk, and maintains a presence on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Trip Advisor.

The Boat Inn has been owned and operated by the Woodward family since 1877, when it formed part of the Duke of Grafton's 'Wakefield' estate. In those early days, the inn was run in conjunction with the family's other businesses — the local butchery, bakery, smallholding and working narrowboats. In 1921, the inn was offered for sale at auction and was purchased from the estate for the grand sum of £1000. The Boat Inn is now continued by the fourth generation of Woodwards, with a good possibility of the 'dynasty' continuing well into the 21st century. The family is proud to be running a popular freehouse in a beautiful situation, totally independent of any brewery. The Boat Inn is believed to be the longest running family pub that has maintained the same family name throughout (130+ years) and is therefore claimed to be the longest lineage of licensee in the country. The inn has appeared in many national press and television advertisements, films and documentaries as well as in books. The most widely recognised film that featured Stoke Bruerne was appropriately titled 'Painted Boats' (1945). Jack Woodward (top bar memorial plaque) actually ended up featuring in the film as a young boy crossing the locks. The previous landlord Jack, father to the current directors and grandfather to the next generation, lays to rest under a flagstone in the top bar. Many have stood here and had a drink on Jack since his passing. A relatively extensive historical account of the landlords and ownership of the pub can be found in the top bar above the mantle piece.

• 1945

  The film 'Painted Boats' features Stoke Bruerne; Jack Woodward appears as a young boy crossing the locks.

• 1921

  The inn is offered for sale at auction and purchased from the estate for £1000.

• 1877

  The Boat Inn becomes part of the Duke of Grafton's 'Wakefield' estate and is owned and operated by the Woodward family.

An independent family-run freehouse pub and restaurant, independent of any brewery, in a canalside location at Stoke Bruerne.

• Bar & Bistro menu

• Breakfast menu (served until midday)

• Woodward's Restaurant menu

• Wine list

• Groceries list

1. 1The Boat Inn, Stoke Bruerneboatinn.co.uk
2. 2Info - The Boat Inn (SB)boatinn.co.uk
3. 3History - The Boat Inn (SB)boatinn.co.uk
4. 4The Boat Innwikidata.org