This is the boat you're looking for, parked between The Cheese Barge and Grand Duchess (but this one actually moves).
What can you tell us about The Prince Regent?
This is the canal-cruising barge run by the London Shell Co. They're also behind The Grand Duchess which is permanently moored alongside The Prince Regent and a fishmongers and restaurant which is on dry land over in Highgate. But The Prince Regent is the first restaurant they opened in London back in 2016. The company is run by sibling duo Harry and Leah Lobek, who teamed up with Chef Stuart Kilpatrick to create a floating, touring seafood restaurant.
The boat sets off twice a day, treating its passengers to a mini tour of London, as well as a set menu of seafood dishes.
Where can I find it (before it sets off)?
It's moored in the Paddington Basin. Leave the station by the Paddington underground exit (the one for the Hammersmith & City Line) and you'll come to the canal. Head left and you'll find it moored just next to The Grand Duchess.
Inside the Prince Regent, it's a lovely decked-out boat.
And where does it go?
Once it sets off, you'll get a two-and-a-half-hour tour of this part of London, heading past areas like Lord's Cricket Ground and the Snowdon Aviary at London Zoo. You'll also get a proper look at one of London's huge private gardens, Grove House; with lots of "guard dogs on patrol" signs, this is pretty much the closest you'll get to it. The journey ends up at Camden Lock, at which point you'll turn around and head back to the start.
It's an incredibly relaxing trip through this part of London, rain or shine. We took the trip on a pretty rainy day in London, but there's something rather comforting about heading down the canal while being served a great meal with rain gently pattering down the windows.
Some of the sights along the way, and because of the cover, even on a rainy day you can head outside at the front of the boat.
What exactly are they serving up?
As with London Shell Co's other restaurants, the set menu is centred around sustainably-caught seafood, served alongside British produce. It's paced incredibly well, delivered throughout the journey with the final course arriving just as the boat is moored once again on the Paddington basin. You get a five-course menu, with some supplements along the way and, driven by the catch and seasons, it changes regularly.
To give you a taster, here's what we had on our trip (and as we went for the wine pairing, we'll highlight some of those too).
Small snacks to start - mini taramasalata tarts and angel hair fries.
Dressed oysters (£25 for 6) - an extra that we'd say is well worth it for this occasion.
Fennel-cured trout, mizuna emulsion, radish, yoghurt - a sign of things to come, beautifully plated with some really innovative accompaniments to wonderfully cured fish.
Cornish crab and saffron risotto - paired with a 2022 Sancerre rosé from Domaine Vacheron
Red mullet, pepper sauce, heritage tomatoes - this was paired with an extraordinary Bressan Schioppettino 2017 with intense peppery notes that perfectly matched this dish
Pollock, Jersey royals, spring greens, smoked butter hollandaise - a great dish, although we would have liked some more of that wonderful hollandaise. Note that it's suddenly dark as we're travelling in one of the tunnels under north London.
British cheese selection with apple and ginger chutney (£12 extra) - paired with a 2014 caprettone from Villa Dora in Campania
Dark chocolate hazelnut mousse, rhubarb, hazelnut - a surprisingly (and welcomingly) light finish with a truly excellent pairing of an espresso martini to finish things off.
It's a fantastic meal, and we can't quite believe it was prepared from this tiny space:
The tiny galley, from which they're creating wonders with head chef Stephen Bunch hard at work.
So how much is all of this?
The meal (and the cruise) comes to £75 and we think that it's 100% worth it. If you're going for the wine pairing, that's an extra £65. If you're not, the wine list starts at an extremely reasonable £28 a bottle (a Portuguese vinho verde) and cocktails are around the 10-12 mark.
Overall thoughts
We have no hesitation in saying that a trip on The Prince Regent comes with our highest of recommendations. And because we went on a typically wet London spring day, we can also say with conviction that you'll enjoy this trip rain or shine. An excellent menu, prepared in a tiny galley, a great drinks list and a really calming trip down the canal all combine together into something really quite special. All that and you'll see London from a completely different angle. It's a great trip for any local to take and even better if you've got a visitor to impress.
More about The Prince Regent
Where is it? London Shell Co., Sheldon Square, Paddington Central, London W2 6EP
How to book: Book online
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @londonshellco.
Hot Dinners dined as guests of The Prince Regent. Prices correct at time of publication.
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