Alighting from the No 21 bus at Shoreditch Park we had a pleasant stroll along New North Road and joined the Regents Canal towpath, walking west towards Islington. Dodging bikes with jangling bells and Londoners out jogging in the sun, we came across the Narrow Boat Pub. Failing to gain entry through the door by the towpath we climbed up and onto St Peters Road. The pub was empty except for the young waitress leaning over the balcony taking an opportunity to enjoy the brief spell of warm weather. We chose the seating on the balcony, overlooking the water and ordered olives and a basket of bread with oil and balsamic vinegar. This was quickly served along with an excellent bottle of Chilean Sauvignon, chilled to perfection.
Service was friendly and efficient but sadly the weather also had a chilling effect as the sun disappeared. We moved inside and downstairs where the seating overlooked the canal and towpath again. Our main courses were ordered – a mixed meat platter with more olives and Cumberland sausages with mashed potato. The platter had a good variety of meat and was pronounced great by my companion. My sausages (3 of them – not the one coiled Cumberland I was expecting) were extremely tasty although they looked a bit pale and undercooked. I would recommend a bit more browning. The gravy was just right – not too thick – and flowed over the creamy mash. All washed down with a second bottle of wine as it was so good.
Downstairs, the décor is rather strange being a mix of pop art wall covering at each end of the room and wonderful art deco mirrors along the walls. Through the windows we viewed the tall buildings opposite resplendent with rectangles of white, grey and blue whose reflections gave the impression of paper bags floating in the canal. Narrow boats moored outside reminded us where we were. A pub we would certainly return to, sooner rather than later.

Last time I was at the Narrow Boat it had vastly improved. We had good value food and fast, friendly service. What's more, the wine list is now of a decent standard and there's a good selection of real ales (including Adnam's). My wife and I will definitely have to return to the Narrow Boat again shortly.