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Detail Pages
The Ship Tavern, WC2
WC2
WC2A 3HP
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Steve of N21 left this review about The Ship Tavern
Have use the Ship on a couple of occasions in the last couple of months, due to its proximity to the Holborn Pizza Express live venue, and it has had a decent range of well-kept ales on both occasions. For my last visit five of the six pumps were badged with four ales actually available in the shape of Sharps Doombar, Black Sheep Bitter, and two from Southwark Brewing, namely their Routemaster Red Ale and a Pale Ale called Top Drop brewed for the Rugby World Cup. The fifth was badged with Theakston Old Peculiar but with the dreaded Not ready sign hanging on it.
The pub is completely unchanged from the pre Covid Pandemic reviews and would still appear to be a decent tucked away pub for a pint close to Holborn station.
On 13th October 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Ship Tavern
An atmospheric boozer in the back alleyways, difficult to tell what is original and what might be contrived but the overall effect is reasonable. Lots of dark wood gives a good feel, while outside there are some nice William Younger windows. A dining room is signed upstairs (not visited). A good range of beers also, with Windsor & Eton Conqueror, Sambrook's Junction, Deuchars IPA, Tribute and a house ale.
On 24th November 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Ship Tavern
this is not too bad a pub for central London. small and atmospheric. dining largely consigned to upstairs. Based on my visit it’s not, however, a place to escape American tourists or London prices - yikes on both counts!
On 13th May 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1058 recommendations about 1023 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Ship Tavern
A pleasant pub tucked away down a pedestrianised alleyway, but only a short distance from the hustle and bustle of nearby roads, it has quite a traditional appearance with leaded glass windows that bear the pub’s name, although unusually it appears to be constructed from some type of black granite.
Internally it has quite a traditional appearance with wood strip floor, cornice work on the ceiling, and much wood panelling on the walls, both full height in some places and on the lower half only in others. Elsewhere the colour scheme was deep red paintwork and there was also a large beer barrel for vertical drinking, a cockerel mounted on a pillar, and appropriately enough, lots of old black and white photographs of ships. One corner of the pub was quite cosy with a number of built-in bookshelves behind the seating and plenty of pictures on the walls. In contrast were a couple of TV screens stuck up on the wall, but fortunately these were not in use on our visit.
Beers on tap were Twickenham Sundancer, Wimbledon Copper Leaf Ale, Old Peculiar, Tribute, Deuchars IPA and their own 1549, perhaps a reference to when the pub first opened? The solitary cider meanwhile was Symonds Founders Reserve. Overall, an oasis of calm in the middle of London, and well worth checking out.
On 2nd February 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1949 recommendations about 1862 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Ship Tavern
Wedge shaped pub tucked away in the alleys. Dark wooden floors and leaded windows. 5 real ales and food served.
On 25th November 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Ship Tavern
Hidden away down a tiny and grotty alley, this pub dates back to 1549 and was rebuilt in 1923; the stained glass windows show that the client was Wm Younger. I came here once in mid-October 1987 so don't really remember it but I do recall the rudest landlord I've ever encountered (who's probably dead by now) and a rather manky interior that had seen far better days, but has since clearly been cleaned up.
Given the period, the interior's rather predictable with dark wood all around and partitions - all very Olde Worlde, which is probably why it was full of Americans, or perhaps they were just students from the nearby LSE.
Ales: Wadsworth's 6X, Theakston's Old Peculiar, Ship Tavern 1549, Deuchars IPA and Tribute and Elgood's Golden Newt at a very steep £2.40 a half and ok.
I'd happily come here again and would give a higher mark if the range of beers was more imaginative and not so expensive.
On 7th May 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Ship Tavern
Another one of Londons gems tucked away down a side alley around the corner from Holborn Underground Station. The pub is traditional in décor and has a warm and relaxed atmosphere to it. There were six ales on hand pump, we went for the the Ship bitter brewed by Calodonian, which was excellent. The bar staff were friendly and helpful. The pub also has a splendid restaurant upstairs.
On 5th January 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Ship Tavern
I used this pub for many years for an afterwork swill and was never very impressed but a nostalgic revisit has seen a massive improvement.The exterior is unchanged but the wedged shaped interior has been cleverly divided into booths by half height wood panelling ,bench seating and sensible sized tables.The bar runs down part of the left hand wall and beyond is a charming banquette with several circular tables and stools .The lighting is subtle,various prints of ships adorn the walls and there are pub artifacts dotted about.The wooden floor complements the look,and a jazz tape was playing at discrete background level.The flat screen was sensibly off too.
The windows carry Wm Younger insignia and this connection is maintained in the ale selection from the six handpumps with Deuchars IPA,Caledonian Dry Dock ,Ship Bitter (brewery not disclosed )as regulars and guests Butcombe Bitter and Hopback Spring Zing, in very good nick but an eye watering £4.I can see why the pub is GBG listed,and cask marque accredited .
The food maintains the premium pricing with mains £11-£15,Sandwiches and chips £7-£9 but with cheaper snack options such as a bowl of chips etc.The Oak Room upstairs is billed as Bar and Dining but I was politely advised it was for diners only,apparantly their is a real fire up there.
Busy on a Friday lunchtime,I can see it being mobbed after work but the alleyways that surround the pub can absorb any excess in good weather.The boast about being a pub since 1549 may attract tourists,but this place is well worth a visit for it's authentic London pub vibe.I liked it.
On 15th March 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2728 recommendations about 2728 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nigel Rowe left this review about The Ship Tavern
Truly magnificent! A splendid range of well-kept beers on my last visit, including Theakston's Old Peculier.
On 27th October 2012
- rating: 9
[User has posted 65 recommendations about 57 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Ship Tavern
Leaving aside the somewhat dubious date claim, the Ship Tavern has pretty much everything you would expect to find in a historic London pub - irregular shape in plan, plenty of dark wood, selection of booths and cosy corners, interior with plenty of interesting features, upstairs dining area (the Oak Room), etc. Six real ales on handpump, usually with a slightly-more-interesting-than-usual-selection-of-brews (the house 1549, Ghost Ship, Wainwright and Everards Elixir as well as Deuchars IPA and Tribute on my last visit). Overall rather good, just let down very slightly by that other well-known feature of historic London pubs namely a borderline short measure requiring a top-up to be requested (but in this case given without fuss).
On 8th April 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]