The Ship, Dartford

Historic church laws prevented any pubs in nearby Hextable village hence the Ship is stranded just outside the parish boundary down a narrow country road in the middle of nowhere. The Public Bar is at the roadside of the pub and on my visit was inhabited by a few gobby no brainers. The bar is tatty and worn with a plain floor, 2 small fireplaces, a dartboard and trophy cabinet that has seen more fruitful days. The carpeted rear saloon bar is far more tidy, comfy and inviting with long padded pews, low plain ceiling, a couple of ship prints and old clock. The focal point is the brick fireplace next to the bar although the plasma screen above diverts the attention. There is a conservatory at the rear and a sizeable beer garden with plenty for the kids to play on. The beer selection was standard lager and keg bitter supplemented by a polypin oif Brakespear that was long past its best. If the beers weren't reason enough to move on, listening to the Darkness's Christmas Time whilst the TV was churning out Strictly Come Dancing certainly was. With its pleasant country location, the Ship could be such a terrific place but as things stand, it fails to live up to its potential.