Guildford’s unique riverside restaurant set to sizzle this summer

The independently run, award-winning riverside restaurant, The Boathouse Cafe, (theboathousecafe.co.uk) has officially launched its summer menu - created by their new Head Chef, Rafal Milarski, with the restaurant now reopen for dinner. While soaking up the atmosphere from the restaurant’s riverside terrace, guests can expect to enjoy a delicious and fresh summer menu, which focuses on British fare with a twist. The new all-day menu is inspired by local, seasonal produce, offering an array of mouth watering dishes including crab and prawn plates, cod 'schnitzel', poke bowl, primavera tagliatelle, and premium 'Surrey Hills' ribeye steak.

With a career spanning top-tier establishments across Europe, new Head Chef, Rafal Milarski, brings a wealth of expertise and passion to the chic riverside restaurant. Having discovered his love for cooking at the young age of eight, when at home watching his mother in the kitchen, Rafal was educated in Poland with certificates in Culinary Arts, Professional Cooking and Baking. Rafal was previously Head Chef at The Harbour Hotel Guildford and The Drummond at Albury, and is known for his creativity, leadership, and dedication to quality.

The Boathouse Creative Director, Jessica Meins says: “We are delighted to announce Rafal Milarski has joined The Boathouse Cafe, working alongside our talented team - led by The Boathouse Cafe General Manager, Justyna Cichocka. Rafal’s impressive background and shared vision for seasonal British food makes him an exciting culinary leader to take our independent, destination restaurant into the next chapter. We look forward to welcoming all our guests dining with us this summer!”

Having opened its doors in July 2023, The Boathouse Cafe has been described as a “hidden foodie gem upon Guildford’s River Wey”. Located at the bottom of Guildford high street, the former 1960’s Boat House has been meticulously reimagined by the Meins family and now provides the perfect location for meeting friends and enjoying alfresco, riverside dining. The Boathouse Cafe maintains a unique position as one of a handful of Guildford’s remaining independent restaurants. The destination restaurant is also offering a series of events this summer, including live music nights, health and wellness events, and boat hire.

The restaurant is open for dinner Thursdays - Saturdays, as well as Tuesdays - Sundays for breakfast and lunch. More information can be found on The Boathouse Cafe website (theboathousecafe.co.uk) and Instagram channel - @theboathousecafeguildford.