The only coffee shop I’ve found which bobs up and down and wobbles from side to side. This is (of course) because it resides on one of Birmingham’s many canals.
The Floating Coffee Co. is a coffee-house-boat, I suppose. It is moored permanently (more or less) to Brindleyplace, adjacent to the International Convention Centre. This is one of Brum’s nicer areas, on the picturesque canal route.
This is the sort of novelty I like to see in a coffee house. It makes for a memorable experience. The coffee isn’t too bad either, although it is unlikely to impress the purist (not that I claim to be one of those). The usual range is available.
Notwithstanding the popular food menu, I’m fairly confident this is a good place to go just to sip a coffee and read the daily papers. Mind you, it’s pretty small (as you might expect) and gets busy at lunchtimes. But when we visited (10:30 am, Sunday), it was barely half full.
It has a lovely atmosphere; everyone seems to enjoy their surroundings. As you can see from the photos above and below, it’s pretty cosy, and about what you’d expect from the inside of a house boat. Also, the service is friendly, and the prices reasonable.
Don’t worry, it doesn’t wobble too much. But yes, you’ll notice the ripples in your drink – Jurassic Park-style – when larger clientelle come aboard.
It’s a smashing idea if you’re spending a day or two in Brum.
The Waters Edge,
Brindleyplace,
Birmimgham.
B1 2HL
It’s a nice little boat, but the floor manager has a major attitude problem. He fed my partner ham in a chicken & ham pie, despite not labeling it as such on the menu, merely as a chicken pie.
My partner does not eat pork. I raised this discrepancy and asked for an alternate dish, and the floor manager was absolutely incandescent. We received a replacement meal after considerable time, minus cutlery, which we then had to ask for.
When it came to settle up, he charged us for the pie and for the replacement meal. He did not furnish us with a receipt, only after we asked for it, when he turned red and started quaking.
What a shame that such a lovely and charming little restaurant is spoiled by such unwholesome behaviour on the part of it’s floor manager. I live very local to this place, but shall certainly never return, and could not recommend it to anyone.
Four of us, three adults and one 12 year old called in here on Saturday morning trying to kill an hour en-route to an event in London we thought what a beautiful and original place to have breakfast.
However a brief chat with the gent who greeted us soon changed our minds, we wanted two adult breakfasts and two children’s breakfasts (I have had stomach surgery and cannot eat large meals). The gent/manager was adamant that I could not have a child’s portion it was an adults breakfast or nothing hence it was nothing.
So The Floating Coffee Co. lost about £25-00 and The Canalside Cafe gained our custom and we left for London full and happy.