The Boot, as it is known by the locals, is a beautiful 18th century, half-timbered building in the quintessential English village of Houghton. Yes, Houghton as in the Houghton Club, the oldest and most exclusive fly fishing club in the world, founded in 1822, who own 13 miles of private fishing on the River Test. It is ranked among Country Life’s list of clubs you cannot join, and there are only 25 members, so for most of us the Boot Inn’s riverside grill, bar and beer garden is as close as we will ever come to this beautiful part of the river. This little-known gastropub serves up fabulous pub food which you can wash down with a splendid selection of local ales, and watch the fish and wildlife as the River Test ambles by your picnic table. This is the perfect Stockbridge outpost.
Well, we think the intro aptly summarises the Boot’s close proximity to great fishing, the River Test practically burbles past your feet, but such is the ethereal nature of the river, it is something of a forbidden fruit. You can look but you can’t touch! You will just have to settle for some of the finest trout fly fishing anywhere in the world within a 10 minute drive of your lunch table. As there are no rooms at the Boot, you will probably be lunching here away from the river, before returning for the afternoon and evening rise.
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