The Old Ship, Hammersmith, W6

Visited 14/01/25 Cask offering in this Youngs venue of five hand pumps amounted to just two offering Special on my visit. How disappointing. Keg offering was usual extensive but predictable range of Steady Rolling Man and Magazine Cover from Deya, Aspall, Peroni, Pravha, Estrella, Jubel peach lager, Neck Oil and Camden Hells. Another pub on this stretch of the Thames Path. Expected outside seating and inside was a bare boarded affair to the tiled area in front of the bar servery along the back wall, with its green painted timber front. A few areas to sit in this section of the pub, to the right of the entrance in a mixture of tables and seating arrangements. The Captain's Table had no privacy for such an exalted claim or position! There was a conservatory dining area, laid for diners that wasn't in play on my visit and potentially some prime upstairs seating areas also not in play. Outside there was some seating that I was not alone in rejecting despite the interior options not being that great. Another disappointing venue in prime riverside pub territory.

This pub has existed in some form since 1722 but was apparently rebuilt in the mid-19th century. Apart from the ground floor windows and shutters, nothing here appears to be of any age at all, right down to the modern bare bricks to the bar back and wood panelling. There's a scull and blades hanging from the ceiling, barge lamps to the walls and chandeliers covered with rope; it's all a bit Captain Pugwash. In addition there are exposed air conditioning units, spot lamps, muted music and a large semi-open kitchen. I think there may be a dedicated dining room to the side, but I wouldn't really call the main area a gastropub. Ales: just Young's Special, Bitter and Twickenham Brewery's Naked Ladies which cost £2.35 a half and wasn't at all good - if this were my local, I'd have sent it back. In all, the whole thing looks like a modern river-themed restaurant where you can have a drink. I don't think I'll be back any time soon - I'd give this 3.5 rather than three, but I'm feeling generous.

Old Ship page at the Youngs site - www.youngs.co.uk

Old Ship page at the Youngs site - www.youngs.co.uk

The fact that this advertises itself as ‘Pub and Dining ‘ should be a clue that you will be entering one of Young’s made over Gastro pubs. I first visited here many years ago when it was a nautical themed traditional pub set up with old boatyard junk and multiple teles for the sky sports. But that’s all gone now and in its place is a fairly sterile interior of very clean lines and brown leather comfortable seating. There is still a plazma screen and a boat theme ( or to be precise rowing) still remains, with a full size rowing boat suspended from the ceiling and very clean looking nautical memorabilia kept in glass cases. It does focus on food, but is still a decent place for a beer, especially if you can get a seat on either the ground floor terrace area or even better the upstairs balcony, where you can enjoy the excellent views of the river. And another plus is that, although a Youngs pub, this one does have guests and as well as Youngs Bitter the three handpumps were dispensing OSH and a particularly fine pint of Bath Ales Gem.