The Ship & Shovell, WC2

One of London's Hall and Woodhouse pubs, this is a good choice for a pint if you find yourself at Charing Cross station, given that it is in an alleyway between the station and Embankment. The pub is actually split in two by the alleyway, effectively creating two pubs. I have only been in the larger side (the smaller room tends to be closed on weekends) which is a U-shaped room with light wooden panelling to one side of the bar and dark panels on the other. The darker side is livened up by some very impressive etched glass mirrors and it is atmospherically lit by small wall lamps. Seating is arranged around the edge of the room, with plenty of space for standing and a raised area to the rear of the room which had more comfy seating. Badger Best, Tanglefoot (£3.25) and the seasonal Lemony Cricket were the ale options, with just Peroni and Hofbrau for the lager drinker to choose from. The Tanglefoot was okay, if perhaps a little too warm, but it was one of the hottest days of the year, so that can perhaps be excused. Thankfully the room was nicely air-conditioned. A good pub all told and worthy of investigation at the very least.

Randomness Guide to London - Ship And Shovell entry

Randomness Guide to London - Ship And Shovell entry

A good reliable pub, certainly one of the best in the vicinity. Well run, and beer usually in very good shape.

This is a popular pub that most London drinkers know of due to its close proximity to Charing Cross station and the novelty of it being in two halves with the ‘public’ bar being one side of Craven Passage and the main bar the other. Being so popular it is usually very busy with the after work crowd, but there is plenty of room outside to spill out into between the bars and I’ve always found the staff to be pretty quick so there is never much queuing at the bar. The usual Hall and Woodhouse Ales and draught are available and I’ve never had a bad pint of Guinness in here. This place is well worth popping into if in the area.

I suppose to do this place properly you should have a drink in each side, but sadly not the time. The larger side has 4 pumps and a TV, the quieter opposite bar 3 pumps, all serve Hall and Woodhouse beers, not my particular favourite but ok for a bit of variety. Some nice etched glass in the larger bar, wood panelling in the neighbour, a strong naval theme throughout with pictures of ships and Admiral Cloudesley Shovell after whom the pub is named. A smaller bar upstairs is known as The Crows Nest. An ok place but I can't help but feel it is as celebrated for its quirkiness as much as any other feature.

Another good visit to this fine establishment last night. A great pub and worth searching out. Why ?. 1) Pub in two halves as described below, and each with their own character, so its like doing two pubs in one. 2) Its a Hall & Woodhouse, and there is not many of them in The City. 3) The quality of the beers and the service is always top notch in my experience. Very busy on this pre Christmas evening with standing room only. But did not mind that as the well kept Badger beers are worth it and the Tanglefoot was particularly fine.