The Ship Hotel, Newhaven

Official site of The Ship Hotel - www.shipnewhaven.co.uk

Official site of The Ship Hotel - www.shipnewhaven.co.uk

Visited 22/08/24 This place had the feel of a former hotel type public house. Two rooms - right hand side lounge bar, carpeted apart from slates around the servery with a banquette along the wall opposite the bar and tables in front thereof, with small round tables at the front with comfy armchairs. Left hand side was the public bar served by same servery. Stools at both bar counters, popular with customers and it felt like a locals place even though locals were very welcoming. Public bar was also carpeted apart from a strip of boards along bar. Tables regular and a good mix of styles. Window looking out onto High St was opened-up albeit it was a pretty rotten weather evening. Some nice wood panelling on the walls but spoiled in parts by being painted. Off the end of this side of the venue was a room with hard wood floor and a pool table and darts board. Screens showing the evening racing and test cricket. It was a pleasantly lively early evening venue. Keg choices were a fairly typical line-up of Madri, Amstel, Carlsberg, John Smiths, Cruz, Guinness, Moretti, both oft seen Strongbow tipples and Fosters. There were two cask ales, nothing fancier than Harvey's Best Bitter and London Pride. The Harvey’s was perfectly fine and the friendly manageress confirmed it poured better in the public bar. This would have been my mid choice of the three venues on the High St but would be my clear choice if I was looking for somewhere here to watch the sport offering. Would hope to find somewhere a notch or so up from the High St venues next time I am in Newhaven from the half dozen or so venues in the post code area I have yet to visit.

At some point since December 2009 The Ship Hotel has reopened which is great news as it is never good to see closed down businesses on the high street. It’s hardly a haven for ale drinkers with only two hand pumps and one of these was unused leaving Harveys Best cutting a lonely figure on the bar. There is a standard draught selection and I received a decent half of Guinness from a friendly woman behind the bar. Food is served, but I didn’t spot a menu which I’d imagine mainly consists of pub grub. The left hand side of the pub is more lounge like with seating stretching up to the rear and the ‘public bar’ right hand side has a dartboard, pool table, quiz machine and a couple of plasma screens – I’m not sure if Sky Sports is shown. There is also a jukebox which will be turned off at 20:00 every Friday evening when the karaoke machine gets rolled out. I’m not sure if there is any seating out the back, but on enquiry I was sent out the front door for a smoke. I found this place to be forgettable and would probably walk past when next in Newhaven.