Fulham · 4 April 2026
The Best Way to Spend
Boat Race Saturday
By Manuka Kitchen · Brunch · 4 min read
Every year, one of London’s great sporting traditions rolls down the Thames — and Fulham sits right at the heart of it. This Saturday 4th April, Oxford and Cambridge battle it out on the Championship Course from Putney to Chiswick, and the crowds will be out in force. Before you find your spot on the riverbank, come and do it properly.
The Boat Race is one of those rare sporting events that turns an ordinary Saturday into something worth dressing for. Over 250,000 people line the Thames banks each year, the pubs fill up by midday, and the stretch between Putney Bridge and Hammersmith Bridge becomes one long party. But every great day out starts with a proper breakfast.
Manuka Kitchen has been on Fulham Road since 2012. We’re ten minutes from Putney Bridge, five minutes from Fulham Broadway station, and this Saturday we’re open from 9am — which means you can be fuelled up and at the riverbank with time to spare before the women’s race kicks off at 2:21pm.
“Before you find your spot on the riverbank, come and do it properly. This is Fulham — breakfast should mean something.”
What’s on the table
Our brunch menu is built around quality ingredients done simply and well. On a day like the Boat Race, you want something that’s going to last — not a limp avocado toast that leaves you hungry by the second race. Here’s what we’d recommend:
Bavette Steak & Eggs
Grass-fed bavette, two fried eggs, fresh spinach & cherry tomato salad. The proper pre-race plate.£21.00
Crispy Duck Leg & Waffles
Honey fried eggs, golden waffle, spiced honey. Our most talked-about brunch dish.£18.50
Wagyu Mince on Toast
Slow-cooked wagyu on sourdough — rich, indulgent, worth every penny.£21.00
Benedict or Royal
Smoked bacon or cured salmon, poached eggs, hollandaise on sourdough.from £13.95
Wash it down with one of our cold-pressed juices — the Immunity Booster (beetroot, ginger & apple) or the Flu Buster (orange, carrot, ginger & lemon) are both made for mornings when you need to be sharp. Or start with an Espresso Martini and a Bloody Mary. We won’t judge — it’s a Saturday.
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Your Boat Race day, planned
The race passes right through our part of London. Here’s how to make the most of it:
Saturday 4th April — Race Day Schedule
From 9amBrunch at Manuka Kitchen, 510 Fulham Road
11amHammersmith fan zone opens (Furnivall Gardens)
From 1:30pmLive coverage begins on Channel 4
2:21pmWomen’s Boat Race — Oxford vs Cambridge
3:21pmMen’s Boat Race — Oxford vs Cambridge
The best spectator spots are along the Putney Embankment, Bishops Park in Fulham (where Oxford alumni gather), and Furnivall Gardens in Hammersmith. All are walkable or a short bus ride from Fulham Broadway station. Get there early — the banks fill up fast.
Why brunch before the race?
The race course runs 4.2 miles from Putney to Chiswick, passing Craven Cottage, under Hammersmith Bridge and Barnes Bridge before finishing near Chiswick Bridge. You’re going to be on your feet. The riverside pubs will be packed by noon and food options get thin quickly once the crowds arrive.
Coming to Manuka Kitchen first means you eat well, at your own pace, in a calm setting — then head to the river refreshed and ready. We have 24 seats and it fills up, so booking ahead is wise.
Practical details
Address: 510 Fulham Road, London SW6 5NJ
Open Saturday: 9am — kitchen serving brunch until 3pm
Nearest tube: Fulham Broadway (District line) — 5 min walk
Book a table: 020 7731 0864 or online at manukakitchen.co.uk
Walk to Putney Bridge: approx. 10 minutes
Walk to Hammersmith fan zone: approx. 20 minutes or one stop on the District line
A tradition worth starting
The Boat Race has been running since 1829. Manuka Kitchen has been on Fulham Road since 2012. We’ve seen a lot of Boat Race Saturdays — the crowds building from mid-morning, the flags, the noise, the way the whole stretch of south west London comes alive for one afternoon.
If you’ve never combined the two — brunch at Manuka, then down to the river — this is the year to start. We’ll have you fed, watered, and in good spirits before the first stroke hits the water.
Light blue or dark blue, you’re welcome at our table.
Book your table this Saturday
Open from 9am · Brunch until 3pm · 510 Fulham Road SW6Reserve a table
Or call us on 020 7731 0864
Boat Race 2026 Brunch Fulham Fulham Road Oxford Cambridge Saturday Brunch Things to do Fulham London Events April 2026