The Old Ship, Limehouse, E14

A nice and proper looking old pub, presumably gay friendly going by the rainbow flag above the door and regular Drag Queen entertainment advertised within.It's basically a long single room inside but divided into two areas. A cask beer choice of either Doom Bar or Landlord was on offer along with a more or less standard keg range. A friendly old school landlady is always good to see as was the filled rolls for sale behind the bar at £2.50 a go. The punters were predictably made up of locals and the place had a good feel about it.

Proper East End boozer, and about the only one still open in this whole area away from the riverfront. Simple, traditional furniture and generally dark inside, but noticeably cool on a sweltering hot summer day. Very compact patio yard at the back. Surprisingly had three real ales on the handpumps: Greene King IPA, Doom Bar and (thankfully) Landlord (£4.00). Basic filled rolls £2.00. With a friendly welcome, I enjoyed my brief stop here rather more than I expected.

Unsurprisingly this was originally just the Ship, the ‘Old’ adjective arriving I know not when, to a pub which dates from around 1851, still sporting its Watney Combe Reid roundel to the first floor. As is the way, this area would have been a sea of pubs until fairly recently, the Queen’s Head across the square having recently closed. Inside and it’s very plain with a modern floor, floral wallpaper with a white ceiling, striped swag curtains, louvre blinds, a varnished bare brick bar front, mirrored bar back with a great number of bottles on optics, masses of rainbow flags, a large collection of helium filled naff mylar balloons floating above the bar (one, the head of Mickey Mouse), a DJ pulpit to the right, a raised carpeted area to the rear with games machine, a TV showing the news with the sound off, annoying aural entertainment coming courtesy of Heart FM. Furniture comprises conventional furniture, all jammed up against the front wall. Décor amounted to just a few framed prints, then masses of dreary flyers advertising drinks’ promotions. Younger and possibly heterosexual customers seemed to be occupying most of the pavement seats, what few customers indoors seemingly gravitating towards the ‘gay bear’ end of the spectrum; Ian McKellen features on the website, perhaps on the way to his Grapes down the road. Ales amounted to one unused pump, one for Doom, a third dispensing Landlord (£2.45 a half), served by a grumpy Brummie landlord and not great (Landlord and landlord). This is a surprisingly dull pub, though perhaps it perks up come Friday or Saturday nights, but as things stand, despite the lack of real ale, there’s much more fun to be had at the Prince Regent up the road.

My review is from a Saturday evening in late August with the Ship being the first pub of 3 visited in the area. Upon entering and ordering a beer I had no idea that this was a gay pub and neither did my drinking partner…well he said he had no idea but had visited before  3 ales on the hand pumps not a great deal of choice but the Old Golden Hen from Greene King was more than drinkable. Music playing from the DJ based near to the bar, the pub has wooden flooring at the bar & then a carpeted seating area up a small step towards the rear. Half empty inside with a few more punters sat the front. Nice enough pub but not for me so I doubt very much I will ever return.

Although this is not a Greene King pub, it had on GKIPA (£1.65 a half) and Old Golden Hen. I didn't see a menu, but under a clear plastic container behind the bar was a selection of rolls - I recognised cheese and beef. Classic 70s - you don't see that sort of thing very often (at least not in London). The main room as you enter is bare-boarded with what look like original boards, has an exposed brickwork faced bar counter, and of course there are model ships all over the place. They clearly don't believe in chairs here, as the only seating seems to be stools; tall ones at the bar, and small round ones everywhere else. Not good for anyone with a dodgy back. There's a small carpetted room up a step on the left, with more stools and standard tables, as well as a bit of outside seating out at the front on the pavement. Free wi-fi is advertised, plus the Old Ship "cabaret", featuring such appealing and magnificently named acts as Maisie Trollette and Saucy Sophie. Sounds great fun! I also saw a sign advertising something called "open mic night", which I suppose must be a bit like karaoke.

The Old Ship is a nice looking pub that is on the opposite corner of a small square to the Queens Head. Once inside there is a single room which is oblong in shape and fairly small,this room runs the width of the pub,the floor is bare boarded and the seating was small round tables and stools,there was a small area up a slight step to the left,this area had a couple of fruit machines and a table and stools. There was a local radio on for backgrond music,but it was a talk in during my visit. There were two real ales on the bar,i had a drink of GK IPA which was a decent enough drink,the other beer was Gk Old Golden Hen. A pool table is avertised both insdide and outside the pub,but i did not see it. I quite liked this pub. Pub visited 19/2/2014

The Old Ship official site - www.oldship.net

The Old Ship official site - www.oldship.net