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Detail Pages
The Ship Inn, Chester
Handbridge
Postal town: Chester
CH4 7JE
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 4½ of 10) see review guidelines
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Ship Inn
On the far side of the River Dee away from the walled city,you might expect river views but you would be disaapointed.The frontage is the best part,the interior is a modern refurb with little original and lacking in character.This used to be a Thwaites tied house and they still carry two ales bedged as Thwaites (Original,IPA) but brewed by Marstons.The third ale as a guest was Weetwood Eastgate another low ABV malty bitter ,undistiguished NBSS2.
We ate upstairs but just with views of a childrens play area,and although the cooking from the open kitchen was fine ,the pub experience was dull.Shame because the welcome was friendly,chatty and genuine,if only they stocked some decent real ale there would be a reason to cross The Old Dee bridge.
On 12th August 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2730 recommendations about 2730 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Hunter left this review about The Ship Inn
Visited on a recent Saturday evening. Quite busy with no spare seating due to several tables being reserved for diners who had booked, however we were able to utilise a 'reserved' table where the booking was not until later on.
Four hand pulls at the bar, one was off, the others offering Thwaites IPA and Original, and Mobberley Bunji as the guest ale. The Bunji was £3.80 for a pint and disappointingly bland. Not sure if this is down to the beer, or whether it was a bit past its best.
Can't really argue with Brainy Pool in the previous review - and having experienced this establishment both in the afternoon and the evening, I definitely preferred it in the afternoon. Not somewhere that's going to set your heart racing on the ale front and there are many better options in Chester on that front, but it was busy so must be doing something right.
On 16th March 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 750 recommendations about 598 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Ship Inn
I may be the first to visit of an evening rather than afternoon but I also found it to be full of people called Julian and Emily. many with their ‘lovely doggy’ in tow. I found it to be more middle class wine bar than pub, seriously pretentious and dull. Lots of prosecco, gin and tea flying around. Thwaites Gold and Amber available if you fancy. I made a hasty departure as I was clearly hogging a table that Julian and Emily were waiting for.
On 1st February 2020
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1058 recommendations about 1023 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Hunter left this review about The Ship Inn
Visited this lunch time. Five hand pulls at the bar, though two were off, the other three offering Thwaites Gold, Thwaites Amber and Weetwood Cheshire Cat. I think there must be some kind of bylaw in Chester that says all pubs have to offer Weetwood Cheshire Cat, it just seems to be everywhere. I went for the Thwaites Amber at £1.75 for a half, which was nice enough.
The pub itself is fairly small inside but the space is well utilised with plenty of seating without feeling too crowded. A few people were in this lunch time so it felt reasonably busy and there was a pleasant atmosphere, it just felt peaceful and calm. A real fire was going in the wood burning stove. It is child and dog friendly.
Nothing to get too excited about on the beer front, but it's a nice enough place to pass some time.
On 7th January 2020
- rating: 7
[User has posted 750 recommendations about 598 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Ship Inn
Nothing has changed since ROB Camra's review. What he didn't mention was that its also expensive and, to be honest, dull.
On 7th January 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Ship Inn
Two floored pub that seems to be totally populated by people called Julian & Emily, all of whom seem to think they own the place. Who knows? maybe it's a co-operative and they all really do own it. Apparently this is the "Handbridge Set" who meet here on a Sunday lunch. There were lots of interesting things around the walls and a roaring fire going in the grate. 4 handpumps on the bar dispensing some safe nationals plus a beer from the Three Tuns brewery. I had a pint of this which was in pretty decent nick. We then sat down and listening to the posturing, braying and hooting from the perma tanned blondes and their broods. It may not be like this on any other days and for the pubs sake I hope it's not. We won't be calling on a Sunday lunchtime again.
On 22nd November 2011
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]