 The Baguette Barge 
Fab Baguettes in Stratford-upon-Avon
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Recommendation added: 02/08/2007 01:31
By: dewberry (YSUK rating +825)dewberry has been thanked 3 times for this contribution
"On Saturday Mark and I made an impromptu visit to Stratford-upon-Avon, planning to find a nice pub in which to have some lunch before travelling back to Birmingham. Best laid plans and all that, Mark went to the ATM to withdraw some cash and the bloomin' machine decided to swallow his cash point card meaning our big lunch date had to be kept to the maximum value of £19.17, which was the sum total of cash we had on us.
Well, that kind of money doesn't really buy you anything in such an expensive part of the country so Mark headed off to McDonalds and I resigned myself to dining on a pre-packed sandwich from the garage on the way home. That was until I spotted The Baguette Barge, a floating take-away situated on the bank of the River Avon in Bancroft Gardens.
The Baguette Barge is basically a custom built narrow boat which serves a range of hot and cold baguettes, sandwiches and snacks. The menu and prices are listed on a chalkboard next to where the barge is moored so you can decide what you want before you get to the counter to order. You can't actually go inside the barge to sit and eat your food, but the riverside area of Stratford-upon-Avon is so beautiful at this time of year that it would be sacrilege to sit inside when it's sunny!
It took me agggggggges to decide what to have. I knew I wanted a baguette but couldn't quite make my mind up whether I'd like something meaty or a cheese filling. Towards the bottom of the chalkboard, however, was the answer – Ham & French Brie. I adore brie (and quite like ham, but only when it's combined with some exotic ingredient or other) so this seemed the obvious choice for me.
The Baguette Barge bakes their baguettes throughout the day so not only does the general area smell delicious, but you know your bread is wonderfully fresh. I was definitely impressed with my Ham & French Brie baguette; every aspect of it was perfect, from the thick slices of a gammon type ham to the slabs of rich and creamy brie. The baguette had a deliciously crisp crust but was soft and doughy inside; from the first bite to the last it tasted freshly baked with not a hint of 'crustiness' anywhere. Considering this was an ultra busy Saturday afternoon (the fact that the annual Global Gathering was taking place nearby meant there were even more tourists than usual!) I was surprised at how fresh and carefully made my baguette was.
The choice of baguette fillings is varied and interesting. I could have chosen Turkey & Cheddar Cheese, Crispy BLT, hot Bacon & Brie, or a freshly cooked Breakfast Baguette which consisted of hot sausage, bacon and fried free-range eggs. The menu choice is huge for what looks like a very small kitchen area, but those are the few I can remember off the top of my head. Most of the baguette fillings are also available on thickly sliced white bread, although some hot fillings can only be ordered in a baguette. I can, of course, only comment on my baguette but I found the quantity of the filling to be generous and the baguette was definitely longer (and fresher) than those served in my usual sandwich bar.
Salad and a range of sauces are available free of charge for your baguette, or a small selection of home made relishes and pickles can be added for a small charge per serving. I added cranberry sauce to my baguette and it was deliciously tangy and rich – I have no idea if this was home made but if it wasn't then it was of an excellent quality.
Baguettes cost between £2.40 for a basic salad filling, up to £3.60 for the Ham & French Brie which I chose (of course, the most expensive thing on the menu!). These prices leave The Baguette Barge on a par with the trendier sandwich shops in Birmingham; you get the novelty of ordering your lunch from a narrow boat, a fantastic baguette and a very reasonable price – can't go wrong really, can you?! Also, if you decide to visit The Baguette Barge do try a piece of their wickedly chocolaty Fridge Cake… wow… A thinnish slice costs just 60p but it's so deliciously rich with chocolate and pieces of biscuit that you probably wouldn't get a bigger piece of this cake down you – especially after a baguette!
On a more ethical note, The Baguette Barge is a locally owned and run business whose owners actively source local produce and use free-range eggs – this not only helps the local community but ensures the customers money is really buying them the best possible.
Both members of staff I saw on Saturday were friendly and helpful when it came to me ordering my baguette, I asked for a very thin scraping of butter and when my baguette arrived five minutes later there was the briefest shine of butter on the inside which is just how I like it! Service is very quick considering how busy the Barge was when I visited, I waited just under five minutes for my baguette to be served wrapped in its napkin and greaseproof bag. The Baguette Barge is nicely situated just off the main waterside paved area so is nicely local to the shops of Stratford-upon-Avon, but just far enough away to be enclosed by the beautiful greenness that is Bancroft Gardens. We sat down by the water, Mark with his boring McDonalds and me with my gorgeous baguette, soaking up the lovely sun after a miserable period of rain.
The Baguette Barge is moored up more or less directly outside The Royal Shakespeare Theatre within Bancroft Gardens. You can't miss it, as soon as you see the River Avon from the main street in Stratford-upon-Avon you'll be able to see the Barge – it's the blue one you can see with people all around munching great long baguettes! Parking is at a premium in all areas of Stratford, so don't expect to be able to park anywhere near The Baguette Barge. Seriously. We were parked roughly a mile away and only found the Barge by chance, so if you're planning a visit to Stratford just to sample a wonderful Ham & Brie baguette (ha!) then be prepared to walk for your lunch!
Telephone orders are, apparently, welcome – you phone your order through and collect at a pre-arranged time so your food will be fresh whatever time you take your lunch break. To contact The Baguette Barge you need to call 07963 956720 or email info@thebaguettebarge.com – I know it seems weird having to call a mobile number, but… well… can narrow boats be fitted with landlines?"
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