Where to watch the Boat Race
Beat the crowds and find the best spot to watch the Boat Race 2017
The organisers claim that up to 300,000 spectators in London will line the four-and-a-quarter-mile Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race course from Putney to Mortlake on the afternoon of Sunday April 2 2017, with The Cancer Research UK Women’s Boat Race starting at 4.35pm, and The Cancer Research UK Boat Race starting at 5.35pm. So where will you be? We've put together a list of prime location pubs along the route, all perfect for a pint while you spectate.
Boat Race pubs north of the river
The Blue Boat
MIDWAY POINT
A Hammersmith pub from Fuller’s, set right on the riverbank, The Blue Boat will have a reduced menu for race day but promises to lay on the usual roast dinners as well as a barbecue (weather permitting).
Blue Anchor
MIDWAY POINT
The ever-popular Blue Anchor pub will be hosting an outside bar and barbecue for those wanting a riverside view, while indoor screens will be showing all the action in case the rain arrives.
Rutland Arms
MIDWAY POINT
Like its neighbour Blue Anchor, the roomier Rutland Arms is well-placed and always very busy. Expect to find a barbecue outdoors, live music and a good view of the race, crowds permitting.
Boat Race pubs south of the river
The Boathouse
AT THE START
You can kick off the race here and stay long after it's over. The Boathouse has a sizeable terrace overlooking Putney Bridge, where they'll have a pop-up bar with a hot dog and pulled pork stand. Then once the race is over and a winner is crowned, this Putney pub will be celebrating with live music.
Star & Garter
AT THE START
With the starting line outside its front door, the Star & Garter always goes big for the Boat Race. Along with TVs and projectors screening the race, live bands and DJs will play across three floors from 1pm until the small hours of the evening. Entry is free throughout the day.
Duke's Head
AT THE START
As always, The Duke’s Head is going to town with Boat Race festivities. There will be DJs from noon and screenings across the pub’s four spaces. But it’s the Coxswain dining room that’s the hotly contested spot for views of the rowers as they commence battle.
Bull's Head
OVER HALF WAY
A very short stroll from the river (and with excellent views), this renowned jazz pub will have live music after the race. During the main event, grab grub from the pub's barbecue and take it with your pints down to the riverside. If the weather is patchy, retreat to screens back inside.
Ye White Hart
OVER HALF WAY
Capacious and perfectly located, Ye White Hart pub also gets the Boat Race thumbs up for its private balcony view. This year, the pub will be putting on a barbecue and DJs will kick off the post-race entertainment.
Read more about the Boat Race
The Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race
Join the crowds this Sunday and line the four-and-a-quarter mile course from Putney to Mortlake to catch all the Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race action.
Comments
CUT at 45 Park Lane
This swanky steakhouse at the five-star 45 Park Lane hotel comes from Wolfgang Puck, a US celeb chef who found fame with A-list haunt Spago in Beverly Hills, before cementing it with regular stints on US television. This, his first London foray, opened to much fanfare back in 2011. It's certainly an expensively-decorated room, with a dozen Damien Hirst pieces, acres of pale marble and soundproof floor-to-ceiling glass shielding diners from the Park Lane traffic outside. The food is focused on American steakhouse staples. That means USDA prime cuts alongside Australian beef from Darling Downs in Queensland and A5 Japanese wagyu Kagoshima beef from Japan. South Devon Angus features, too. Elsewhere the menu offers dishes such as steak tartar, maple-glazed pork belly with Asian spices and grilled jumbo prawns with toasted chilli oil, soy, garlic, ginger, sesame and coriander. Expect a bulbous wine list, too.
Venue says: “Indulge in a leisurely Sunday brunch in the sophisticated setting of CUT at 45 Park Lane, accompanied by live music.”
Putney Pie - best view for the start - fantastick pies !!
Watch the #2016BoatRace at Emanuel School Boat Club. Barnes Bridge - Chiswick side of river. Top spot and great food and drink. And covered if wet!
Correction The race starts at 1650 as the two women's crews battle it out on the Tideway for the first time ever and beamed to the world by the BBC. Oh, an hour later the men follow suit
@John K What time do the ladies start ?? and what about the reserves goldie etc race when does that happen? they never tell uo this stuff for those who want to watch it all.