Food

Review: The Boat Shack, County Durham

7 October 2020

By Lauren E. White

3/5

It gives me no pleasure to say it, but The Boat Shack, settled in the nest of the stunning Derwent Reservoir, was a bit of a disappointment.

The cafe-style parlour has an Instagrammable selling point: its milkshakes. Everyone from everywhere has had one (or so it seems) and they look absolutely incredible. So, on a drive to Edmundbyers we stopped at The Boat Shack and tried one.

To begin with, there’s not really that much choice. You can basically get vanilla, chocolate, a sweet-themed one, a Hershey’s Brownie or Biscoff shake. For a place so established when it comes to milkshakes, you’d think there would be more branded flavours. Who doesn’t do an Oreo milkshake?

A Hershey’s Brownie shake was nice, don’t get me wrong. There was far too much of it, though, and it got sickly basically as soon as I had eaten the cream on the top. The brownie was delicious, but the shake itself was too much in the end.

We also ordered some food at The Boat Shack, which was totally lacklustre. I got a cheeseburger and cheesy chips. It wasn’t really anything special. In fact, I didn’t really like the chips at all, to be honest. The burger was fine – just a frozen burger in a bun. I wouldn’t mind all this if you didn’t pay over a tenner for it all. The Boatshack’s prices are super expensive, and not really justifiable for what you get.

All in all, next time I visit the Derwent Reservoir I’ll be taking a picnic. It’s the only cafe in the area, so no wonder they charge above the odds. But it’s really not worth it. You’re better off going to The Great British Cupcakery.

Like this article? Please share!

  •
    Lists Top Five Tourist Attractions in the North East
    Here are five amazing places to visit in the North East, especially if you have run out of new things to do near you. There are a variety of attractions that offer different experiences. From ancient structures to physical challenges to more modern workshops, all of these locations are incredible! Alnwick Castle Alnwick Castle is […]
    Read Full Article
  • Editorials Dealing with Wanting to Drop Out
    University can be one of the most challenging times in an individual’s life. Suddenly, you’re all away from home and the friends and family you love with a bunch of people who are so utterly different from you. You might not like your course, your ‘friends’ or the city you’re in. And suddenly you find […]
    Read Full Article
  • Editorials Last minute gift ideas to save you this Christmas
    It’s best to tackle Christmas gifts early, making lists and budgeting, or even scheduling time to make homemade gifts. But if Christmas has suddenly crept up on you, no need to fear, here are some last minute gift ideas to save you some stress.  1 – Sweets or chocolates Found literally everywhere and with lots […]
    Read Full Article
  • Music Album Review: Seventeen Going Under
    Sam Fender’s second album Seventeen Going Under has a lot to live up to. From the soaring heights of the debut’s title track Hypersonic Missiles to the real groove of The Borders, the album was virtually perfect. So, how does Fender’s new record compare? With this one, we’ve had time to warm up. The lead single, where Seventeen Going […]
    Read Full Article
  • News £800k to make North East safer for women
    Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness has promised an £800,000 investment to make the North East safer for women. The funding includes extra CCTV in parks linked to control rooms, Metro safety volunteers on patrol, and an independent review of street lighting. The Safer Streets funding package is part of the Home Office’s £25m […]
    Read Full Article
  • Food Food Review: Aveika Newcastle
    Located in the heart of Newcastle’s Quayside, pre-pandemic Aveika was popular with clubbers wanting a classy, modern dine-and-drink experience. Post-pandemic, Aveika still has that nightclub vibe – just a slightly toned down version. We popped in last Sunday afternoon to sample the Japanese restaurant and mocktails (it was a Sunday, so alcoholic beverages were not […]
    Read Full Article