Top marks for location but The Yacht fails to live up to expectations.

The Venue
A short walk along the Thames and the centre of Greenwich, The Yacht sits hidden away on a side street close to the Maritime Museum and Greenwich Park. From a distance, it has the appearance of a cosy, traditional British pub, with hanging baskets decorating the front of the building and the warm glow of the lights inside tempting you in for a drink or two. Inside, you could be forgiven for not noticing anything other than the really beautiful views of the river and the bright lights of Canary Wharf opposite and, for a moment, it feels as though you have wandered into one of London’s hidden gems.

The bar area is reasonably large with tables by the window an inevitably popular choice, and there is a separate dining area where you can reserve tables. Sadly, the decor of the interior lets the place down, with a rather dated style that simply doesn’t fit in with its surroundings. As a result you could never really get that comfortable here, which is a real shame given the location.

The Atmosphere
Extremely quiet on many weekday evenings, this is a pub that is definitely busier at the weekends, where its close proximity to Greenwich and the river makes it a popular option with locals and tourists alike. Although visiting The Yacht on a quieter evening means the atmosphere is lacking, it does pretty much guarantee you a seat by the window and it’s worth popping in for a drink or two for that alone. The staff are friendly enough and inject a bit of life into the place at quieter times, although more attention should be paid to the music, which is rather nondescript and sometimes completely absent.

The Food
A good sized menu serving standard pub grub is available, so if you find yourself sucked in by the view and fancy sticking around then you should find something to suit. The snack menu in particular is quite appealing and reasonably priced for the area.

The Drink
There is a small selection of everything at The Yacht – no bad thing as what they do have is good quality. Ales and lagers on tap are well kept and the wine goes down a treat on a cold evening. Prices are fairly representative of the area but a round of drinks won’t cost you quite as much here as in many of the pubs nearby.

The Last Word
The Yacht is screaming out to be a great pub, with an excellent location and wonderful views, but as it stands it has to settle for being just a decent one. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area but not one you could get too comfortable in.

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