The Ship Inn, Bristol

As described by others below, this traditional town pub is mostly used by students and hospital staff, and disappointingly doesn’t open lunchtimes. This early evening visit saw it lightly populated with students and a couple of foreign passers-by who seemed a bit lost. The front entrance was blocked by a bunch of female students ostentatiously smoking, so not the most attractive of pubs to visit. That said, the young bar staff were engaging and helpful. Only one ale on, Horizon, which was in OK condition. The other two handpumps on the bar were dry and unclipped. The keg choices were Blue Moon, Flamingo, Meantime IPA, Moretti, Neck Oil, Red Stripe, Guinness and Inch’s Cider. It’s fine for a quick one in passing, but not a good lunch or evening venue for most people.

The Ship Inn is a small L-shaped pub with beer counter on the rear wall adjacent to a dartboard to the right with an oche that runs along the right hand wall. Banquette seating is found under the front windows and seating up the left leads to a television on the left rear wall, Sky Sports is shown. The bar supports three handpumps, one of which was unused which left Sharp’s Doom Bar and Butcombe Original as the cask ale options. A standard keg range is also available alongside Amstel. Out the front are some picnic tables. This place was very busy with locals, especially for early on a Wednesday evening. I’m not entirely sure why.