The Ship, Dartford

The Ship Inn is a small and nice looking pub that is situated on a main road away from the middle of Dartford. Once inside there is a small oblong shaped room which runs to the rear,the floor is bare boarded and the bar is on the mid left side,the seating is bench type and chairs to the front,the rear area is up one step,this area is carpeted and has normal tables and chairs. There are loads of pictures of ships on the walls which i like to see. There were two real ales on,i had a drink of Courage Best which went down very well,the other real ale was St Austell Tribute,there was also keg Courage Mild on,which i have not seen for ages. Background music was playing. The old locals were friendly and i soon got into conversation with them and they helped me out in finding and estate pub which was a bit out of the way. I thought his was a very nice and comfortable pub to have a drink in. Pub visited 22/10/2016

Situated on the main road half way between Crayford and Dartford, this small Courage pub is one of the last in a dying breed of locals that have all but disappeared. The current building dates from 1891 but records exist of an earlier pub, intriguingly called the Jolly Lawyer although there are no apparent legal connections within the immediate area. The Ship is very much a quaint old fashioned place with little in common with its recently departed brash neighbour the Bird In Hand. Here there are no juke boxes, fruit machines, big screens or pool tables, just a a good old fashioned family feel and welcome amongst people who prefer enjoyable company and conversation to karaoke. The moment you walk through the door you will either be greeted by the landlady or more probably, the lovable dog, usually with one of its toys gripped firmly in the jaws. This is very much the sort of pub that doesn't change hands for decades. The interior is divided into 2 small bars, the front bar with its worn bare wooden floor and basic furnishings. The walls are covered with all kinds of nautical oddments – photos, clocks, charts, models etc. Even the door to the loos has a porthole and the toilets are designated as Sailors and Wrens. The private areas are labelled Captains Quarters. Beyond the bar is another small room with large rug and display case wth yet more bautical bits and pieces. The whole place is quaintly old fashioned with dated flocked wallpaper, tongue and grooved ceilings and panelling. There is not a large choice of beers and they don't always have the pump clips on even if they are available so best to ask. There were 3 pumps but I believe they only sell Courage Best albeit it was in excellent condition when I came here previouisly. They also do a draught mild which is a bit of a rarity in the area. I recall years ago playing darts here although it seems impossible given the size of the place. An absolutely charming and friendly pub that I really should have made more use of over the years.