London Shell Co. to open floating restaurant on Regent’s Canal

The Grand Duchess, a 40-capacity barge with outside seating, will be permanently docked next to London Shell’s cruising restaurant boat The Prince Regent on the Grand Union Canal at Paddington Central.

A private banqueting table, to be known as The Captains Table, will be located at the bow of boat and provide a secluded dining area for parties of six to 13.

Lunch and dinner menus will be available, with a range of small plates, starters, mains and sharing dishes.

Menu options will include beer battered lobster and fried curry leaves with chip shop curry sauce; monkfish and wild garlic kiev with new season lettuce, croutons and anchovies; crisp mangaliza belly with cockles and laverbread; and a surf’n’turf of 500g Dexter rib and grilled langoustines in garlic butter.

The wine list will offer 50 different sparkling wines and is designed to ‘celebrate small producers and undervalued regions’. A selection of seasonal cocktails will also be available.

Co-founders and siblings Harry & Leah Lobek say the opening has taken three years to plan.

“In our opinion, there is no more romantic or exciting setting to eat fish than on a boat,” they say.

“We have always dreamt of opening a static restaurant where you can have your Hake and eat it.”