The Ship Inn, Downham Market

Situated right on the border with Norfolk, this riverside pub will undoubtedly be more popular in the summer months. The car park was reasonably full and I was expecting the pub to be busy. But there were just a few others dining inside. Whether all of the other punters were in the riverside garden, I'm not sure. I decided to stay inside, where there are no river views. The interior feels more like a fairly modern country lodge than a pub, but staff were friendly. They didn't appear to be enjoying the music selection being played and got Alexa to play Heart instead! The ale range would suggest that this is now a Greene King pub. Greene King IPA & Abbot & Morland Old Speckled Hen was the unappealing selection.

Official site of The Ship Inn - www.theshipbrandoncreek.co.uk

Official site of The Ship Inn - www.theshipbrandoncreek.co.uk

Set in a beautiful location at the junction of the Great Ouse and Little Ouse,the riverside garden will always be popular in good weather.The pub has quite a small interior,with a large lower level seating snug to the left with bench seating and brittania tables arranged around a large brick fireplace.Sadly the wood burner here is a coal affect gas fire.Around the bar there is some more bench seating,while to the right there is a lot of cheap looking pine furniture in what looks like a dining section.The fireplace here has a lot of food options described on chalk boards,with the food looking distictly pub grub at cheapish prices. Overloud muzak was playing just because the landlady liked the tune,I thought they were poor. Worse was to come on the ale front.There were 3 choices on my Saturday lunchtime trip namely Adnams Lighthouse,Southwold Bitter (two very low ABV choices) while the Adnams Two Bays sounded better as an oaked pale ale ,4.5%.It was flat,and had a vinegar tang. This could be a wonderful pub in a wonderful location with much more care and attention,but as things stand I can see no reason to return.

Great pub, good real ales and food, right on the junction of the Great Ouse and the Little Ouse rivers. Regular entertainment, definitely worth a visit.

Lovely pub on the Cambridge and Norfolk boarder on the A10, surrounded by water and boats.