London Shell Co. - The Prince Regent

"The London Shell Co is like meals on wheels, but with no wheels and a lot more oysters. Their Prince Regent canal boat serves a set seafood cruising menu (if you want to be on the move), while The Grand Duchess boat is a la carte (if you prefer to be stationary). Although it reads slightly novelty, this is a genuinely lovely experience. Particularly in the evening, where it feels like a romantic and very British mixture of Titanic and The Talented Mr Ripley. Only with far fewer fatalities. Touch wood." - sinead cranna

"Sure, you could eat next to water. Or, you could eat on it. The Prince Regent is a floating restaurant on the Union Canal from the London Shell Co, and it’s like meals on wheels, but with no wheels and a lot more oysters. This canal boat serves a set seafood cruising menu and though it reads slightly novelty, this is a genuinely lovely experience. Particularly in the evening, where it feels like a romantic and very British mixture of Titanic and The Talented Mr Ripley. Only with far fewer fatalities. The Grand Duchess is another Paddington canal boat restaurant from the same people—but it’s permanently moored." - jake missing, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna

"Sure, you could eat next to water. Or, you could eat on it. Not off a plate on a lilo, but on a canal boat. The Prince Regent is a floating restaurant from the London Shell Co and it’s like meals on wheels, but with no wheels and a lot more oysters. This canal boat serves a set seafood cruising menu (if you want to be on the move) or à la carte (if you prefer to be stationary). Though it reads slightly novelty, this is a genuinely lovely experience. Particularly in the evening, where it feels like a romantic and very British mixture of Titanic and The Talented Mr Ripley. Only with far fewer fatalities. Touch wood." - rianne shlebak, jake missing

"An evening gently cruising around the canals of west Paddington is one of the more unexpectedly scenic meals you can have, and London Shell Co.’s commitment to delicate, European-influenced seafood makes it all the better. You’ll pair oysters, champagne, and smoked haddock croquettes with a twinkling evening along the Regent’s Canal. Risotto is spooned and corks are popped, and, although it sounds like a novelty experience, it manages to feel totally and authentically London. They have two canal boats so if you want to be on the move, book The Prince Regent (The Grand Duchess is the static one)." - rianne shlebak, jake missing, sinead cranna

"Honestly, it doesn’t matter how many of your friends now claim to prefer podcasts over house parties and kombucha over cocktails. Stick a bunch of people on a boat and they’re going to have a laugh. Maybe it’s the motion, maybe it’s the sensation of feeling one step closer to being Jay-Z, maybe it’s the inevitable Lonely Island singalong. We don’t know. But a birthday dinner of great seafood and champagne on converted canal boat London Shell Co is definitely a unique way to ring in your birthday. It all might sound a bit novelty nightmare, but, trust us, the food’s great, and if you go for the full £50 cruising set-menu experience, you can toast to 30 whilst casually sailing past London Zoo and Regent’s Park." - heidi lauth beasley