Canal Pub
The Fazeley Inn
4 Coleshill St, Fazeley, Tamworth B78 3RA.
Canal Pub
#41 Rated Eating and Drinking on the Midland & South Wales Canals
Eating and Drinking on the Midland & South Wales Canals
The canals, rivers, and waterways of the Midlands and South Wales played an important role in Britain’s industrial development. Major waterways such as the River Severn and the River Wye were used to transport goods like coal, iron, and timber between towns and ports. During the Industrial Revolution, a network of canals was built to improve trade and travel, including important routes such as the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, the Worcester and Birmingham Canal, and the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. These waterways connected factories, mines, and cities, helping industries grow and making transport cheaper and more efficient. Today, many of these canals and rivers are used mainly for leisure activities such as boating, fishing, and walking, but they remain an important part of the region’s history and landscape.
Eating and drinking by UK canals is a classic British pleasure, blending scenic views with great food. Towpaths along 2,000 miles of waterways are lined with historic pubs—many once serving boatmen—offering hearty meals, Sunday roasts, and local ales, with moorings for narrowboats. The waterways now also feature independent cafés, tea rooms, and restaurants in converted warehouses, especially in areas like London’s Grand Union Canal and the Kennet & Avon Canal. Popular venues such as The Rowbarge at Woolhampton and The Dundas Arms at Kintbury attract visitors with outdoor terraces, seasonal menus, and regular events. Whether stopping during a towpath walk or arriving by boat, canalside eateries provide a peaceful setting to enjoy local flavors, wildlife, and Britain’s waterway heritage.
Midland & South Wales Canals's Best Eating and Drinking in 2026