Summer BBQ Evening Cruise

Sizzle, Sunset, and Sea Air

Combine delicious food with stunning coastal views on our Summer Evening BBQ Cruise. Setting sail from Exmouth Marina during the peak of the summer months, this popular evening excursion takes you on a relaxing voyage along the calm waters of the River Exe Estuary or East Devon coast as the sun begins to dip. Complete with a freshly prepared, mouth-watering local barbecue served on board, live background music and an onboard bar championing West Country drinks, and our signature warm hospitality, it is an exceptional, value-for-money way to spend a warm summer night with friends, family, or colleagues.

🕒 Cruise DurationApprox. 2hours 30mins

📍 Departure PointExmouth Marina

Adult Price (Over 18s)£25.00

🍔🎸Included: Hot BBQ & Live Music

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Mother's Day Cream Tea with clotted cream and jam on a Stuart Line Cruise.

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Trip Description FAQs Recent Reviews Group Bookings

Trip Description

The Ultimate Summer Evening Out

There are few better ways to embrace a warm summer night in Devon than with good food, live entertainment, great company, and panoramic views from the water. As we glide through the calm, sheltered waters of the estuary, the fading sun casts a warm golden glow across the landscape, creating a peaceful and picturesque backdrop. To complete the relaxed evening vibe, smooth background music plays throughout the voyage - frequently featuring popular local acts such as Ian Boyd - setting the perfect soundtrack for a unique date night, a catch-up with friends, or a memorable outing with family.

A Delicious Freshly Cooked Onboard Feast

The highlight of the evening is our delicious summer barbecue, served fresh on board. Our menu features quality local meats, tasty vegetarian options, and a selection of fresh salads and sides, offering something delicious for every appetite. Pair your meal with a drink from our fully licensed onboard bar, which will be open throughout the cruise. Enjoy a crisp Sandford Orchards cider, an award-winning local ale from Bays Brewery, or a chilled glass of wine served with a friendly smile by our crew.

Spacious Summer Comfort

Our flagship vessel is tailored for warm summer cruising. You can enjoy your meal and the music in the comfortable surroundings of our lower saloon before heading topside to the open-air upper deck to soak in the sea breeze, watch the golden hour unfold, and take in the panoramic views of the coast. If the evening grows cool as twilight sets in, our saloon provides a covered sanctuary so you can continue to enjoy the journey in total warmth and comfort.

Why Choose Our Summer Evening BBQ Cruise?

Delicious Local Dining: Enjoy a freshly prepared barbecue cooked and served on board as you sail.
Relaxed Onboard Atmosphere: Smooth background music - frequently featuring local musician Ian Boyd - to set the perfect summer evening mood.
Stunning Evening Views: Experience the calm waters and golden-hour light across the River Exe Estuary and coastline.
Local West Country Drinks: Pair your meal with chilled Bays Brewery ales, Sandford Orchards cider, or fine wines.
Exceptional Value for Money: A complete evening out combining scenic cruising, live background tunes, and a full barbecue dinner in one ticket.

Our Summer Evening BBQ Cruises run on selected dates during peak summer and are among our most popular special events of the year. Because capacity is strictly limited to ensure plenty of room for dining and relaxed viewing, we strongly recommend booking online in advance to secure your evening on the water.

FAQs

The BBQ Experience

Question: What is included in a Summer BBQ Cruise ticket? Answer: Your ticket includes a relaxed 2 hour 30 minute cruise along the South Devon coastline, Jurassic Coast or River Exe and a delicious, freshly prepared BBQ. We serve a variety of high-quality local meats and vegetarian/vegan alternatives, accompanied by a selection of fresh salads. Please let us know at the time of booking of any dietary requirements.

Question: What is the atmosphere like on the BBQ cruise? Answer: This is a fun, social evening cruise. With live music and the sun setting over the cliffs of the Jurassic Coast, it is the perfect way to spend a summer evening with friends or as a unique date night.

Question: How long is the Summer BBQ Evening cruise? Answer: The cruise typically lasts approximately 2 hours 30 minutes. This provides plenty of time to enjoy your food, visit the bar, and soak in the evening views as we sail the waters from Exmouth.

Booking & Dietary Requirements

Question: Do I need to book in advance for the BBQ cruise? Answer: Yes. Because we need to cater specifically for the number of passengers on board, advance booking is essential. These cruises are very popular and often sell out well in advance.

Question: Can you cater for specific dietary needs? Answer: Yes. We are happy to provide vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free BBQ options. Please ensure you specify any dietary requirements in the "notes" section during the online booking process so our catering team can prepare accordingly.

Question: Is there an age restriction for the BBQ cruise? Answer: Yes. Our Summer BBQ Cruises are designed as adult-focused social events and are strictly for those aged 18 and over. We operate a "Challenge 25" policy at our on-board bar.

Comfort & Facilities

Question: What happens if it rains? Answer: We sail rain or shine! Our vessels feature large, undercover heated lower decks with panoramic windows, so you can enjoy your BBQ in total warmth and comfort regardless of the British summer weather. If we cancel the trip, we will offer you a full refund, credit or transfer.

Question: Is the bar open for drinks? Answer: Yes. Our fully licensed bar is open throughout the evening, serving a range of local ales, chilled ciders, wines, and soft drinks to perfectly complement your BBQ.

Question: Can I pay by card on the boat? Answer: Yes, we accept card payments. However, as mobile signals can occasionally be intermittent while we are sailing along the coast, we recommend bringing some cash as a backup for any bar purchases.

Question: Are dogs allowed on the BBQ cruise? Answer: No. Due to the catered nature of this event and the layout of the social seating, we do not permit dogs on our Summer BBQ Cruises (with the exception of registered assistance dogs).

Recent Reviews

Stuart Line Cruises

4.8

Based on 560 reviews

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Patricia M.

2 months ago

This is a brilliant experience. I have booked a few outings with the Stuart line in all weathers and it's always great. The staff are amazing and the coastline/river is so different when seen from the water. And when the weather isn't cooperating properly, the boats facilities are fantastic. We always have our dog with us as well, who is made just as welcome. Highly recommend

Bob H.

2 months ago

Always try to have a trip with them, have done the jurassic coast trip, river Exe trip and did the Torquay and Brixham yesterday 28/05/26. Cant fault any of these for the money charged, we paid £16 each yesterday for a trip that lasted from 11am through to 18:30 in the evening, with 2 hours on shore in Brixham, plus the bonus of seeing dolphins on the way back, hence the later than expected arrival back in Exmouth. Crew really helpfull and knowledgeable about the area. Definitely will go again as relaxing day out.

Roo

6 months ago

Such a great day! Went on the winter birds cruise today and it was brilliant. The person doing the commentary on the birds (sorry I forgot their name) was super knowledgeable and the trip was all round fantastic, the small bar is also very reasonably priced! Saw a peregrine falcon chasing a flock of avocets - absolutely majestical! Cant recommend highly enough, the work they are doing for nature and conservation of the river mouth is really awesome. Hats off.

Mark

8 months ago

Had another fabulous BirdWatching Cruise on 02/12/25 with a day of clear blue skies and a fabulous array of wonderful wildlife on the Exe. As per previous trips the crew and guide were excellent and made for 3 hours of a thoroughly enjoyable and enriching experience. The hot chocolate and pasty was most welcome and I can’t recommend these cruises enough and they offer terrific value as well.

Mel P.

8 months ago

We had a fabulous guided bird watching trip today. The weather was superb as was The Pride of Exmouth, all the staff and our bird guider for the trip. Stuart Lines really do think of everything to make sure everyone has a great experience . 5 stars from us. Thank you

Derek M.

9 months ago

I attended an excellent Stuart Line guided bird watching cruise from Exmouth to Topsham and back. The Pride of Exmouth was in superb condition, the ornithologist's commentary and interaction with visitors was great, the crew members were helpful and friendly, the range of refreshments was excellent and the bathroom facilities were better than any I've seen on similar boats. Exmouth and the River Exe are beautiful places to visit at any time, but the thousands of migratory birds (and a few seals) are an added attraction always worth seeing over the winter. The cruise was not expensive and better than good value for money.

I have no hesitation in recommending a trip with Stuart Line Cruises if you want to enjoy a relaxing experience in beautiful surroundings.

Michael C.

9 months ago

Had a wonderful cruise down the river Exe today on the Pride Of Exmouth which is run by Stuart Line Cruises.
Very lucky to find something to do that's open or still operating in the winter. Adult price was less than £10 absolute bargain. The cruise itself was around one and half hours.
On board there is a heated cabin and an open air deck above. Toilets are also on board as is a little gift section by the cafe which has a licenced bar.
As its winter we indulged in a hot mince pie and mulled wine. A big thankyou to all the great staff and the captain. All in all great value for money with an outstanding professional company.

Henry J.

10 months ago

Stuart Line were absolutely fantastic! From the moment we contacted the office to the actual event, the team could not have done any more for us. Amanda in the office is an absolute gem to work with.
On the day, the boats arrived for our wedding on time, they were clean and the staff were impeccable! They were playing the music we'd requested and the whole journey was seamless. Our guests had a fabulous time and very much enjoyed the prosecco we purchased through Stuart Line.
The bees knees of wedding transport! I would give more stars if I could!

Elaine H.

10 months ago

We booked a short trip on the Tudor Rose to scatter my husband's ashes at sea, and his mum's ashes too. We were well looked after by Will and Kev who made sure we knew what we were doing and were so friendly. We had 4 small children with us, who loved the trip and it was so much nicer than an ordinary funeral. We scattered the ashes with petals and roses and the children blew bubbles - a lovely way for them to say goodbye to their grandad who loved the sea and boats and especially Budleigh Salterton. We then raised a glass to Geoff and Buddy and the children had ice-cream. We were lucky with the weather too, a great tribute and fitting way to remember them both.
Thank you Will and Kev, and Amanda who helped us to make the arrangements. I can't recommend Stuart Line Cruises highly enough.

David P.

11 months ago

Had a wonderful cruise along the coast complete with cream tea. Scones were already loaded with cream and jam yes, but I can,t see how you could do it yourself on bouncing boat at sea. Very informative commentary. All crew were very happy and helpful. Can,t wait to visit again for another trip. Thanks for a lovely afternoon! I even got a September sun tan

Georgina C.

11 months ago

Second time we did a trip and it was as good as the first.
Very easy to book and very organised. The captain gave us a good commentary on the way out. The facilities on board are good. There is a bar serving hot and cold drinks and snacks (crisps/choc bars). You can go and get them yourselves or wait for someone to come and take your order.
We were on the upper deck which was outside and were given blankets and umbrellas as the weather was a bit changeable. You could also go inside where it was dry and warmer.
I really recommend them for a lovely day out.

Joanne R.

1 year ago

We booked a private Cruise for the Exetraordinary Women WI Summer Party and had the most amazing evening. The booking process with Amanda was so smooth and professional and nothing was too much trouble. The catering options were very good and we went for the BBQ. It was all cooked fresh on the boat and was excellent with great quality burger, sausage and salad. There were even leftovers so people could have seconds. The vegetarian option was just as good and everyone was so pleased for the price. The bar staff were very efficient and the bottles of wine came out chilled all night - perfect.
Overall we had an amazing night and are looking to book next year as it was such a success and would certainly recommend them for a great evening cruise.

Group Bookings

Stuart Line Cruises would like to extend a very warm welcome to group organisers, tour operators and couriers. Allow us to share with you some fantastic excursion ideas, which are specially designed for groups of 15 people or more with suggested itineraries at special discounted rates.

Stuart Line Cruises is an award-winning, family-run business, operating on the River Exe and along the East Coast and South Devon coastlines, from the traditional seaside town of Exmouth, in Devon.

Now running over 50 years, we passionately believe that the River Exe and nearby coastlines of the Jurassic Coast and English Riviera are unrivaled in terms of history, beauty and wildlife and cannot wait to share them with you.

If you are interested in taking this cruise as part of a group, please contact us. We look forward to welcoming you.