Already mourning the end of summer? Your favourite lakeside bar is sending it off in style

Posted on 24 February, 2025

Already mourning the end of summer? This epic summer send-off from The Boat House is the perfect way to salute the end of the season.

We can picture it now: the sun dipping below Lake Burley Griffin, a gentle breeze rolling off the water, and the outdoor bar buzzing with music, laughter, and the clink of cocktail glasses. Sounds like a slice of heaven right? That’s what The Boat House is promising as it gets ready for another epic Lake Side Sesh.

And they had us at bottomless cocktails and boat rides.

Transforming the iconic lakeside venue on Saturday 29 March, The Boat House will once again become an indoor/outdoor cocktail haven, complete with breathtaking views of Lake Burley Griffin. Promising an unforgettable evening by the water, complete with cocktails, canapes, and live music, The Boat House Owner James Souter says that this session will be a party that captures everything we love about a Canberra summer – the fresh air, the lake, amazing food and, of course, good company.

“Step onto our lawns and you’ll feel like you’ve been whisked off to a secret waterfront oasis right here in the heart of Canberra,” he says.

“There’s something about gathering by the water. We’re creating an evening that feels like a true escape – here you can savour the last light of summer.”

Not a bad way to wave goodbye to the warmer months, right?

Complete with an endless flow of craft cocktails featuring Lost Phoenix Vodka and Gin, alongside Capital Brewing Co.’s finest brews and a carefully curated selection of Collector Bubbles and Rosé, the food menu promises to be as memorable as the setting with everything from sophisticated canapés to live paella stations and an outdoor charcoal BBQ.

And as day transitions to night, Brother J will set the mood with laid-back beats that perfectly complement the waterfront ambiance. Plus, following the success of the October 2024 Lake Side Sesh, the historic MV Reliance – affectionately known as the ‘Love Boat’ – will once again be offering intimate cruises around the lake, departing from The Boat House’s private jetty. Talk about a proper summer send-off.

Sure to be an event that will be talked about long after it’s over, we predict that tickets will disappear faster than ice cream on a hot day, so you’ll want to be quick. After all, if we have to say goodbye to summer, we might as well do it with a bang (and a bottomless glass of bubbles).

Because let’s face it – there’s no better way to toast the changing of seasons.

Photography: James Souter.