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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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The Ship, Leeds
Leeds
LS1 6LL
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Ship
Located down a narrow alleyway just off of the Briggate shopping area, this isn’t somewhere you’re likely to just stumble across by accident, but was nonetheless pretty much full to capacity on our recent Friday evening visit, perhaps on account of the singer that they had on who was doing a decent collection of 80’s covers.
Internally it’s one single, open plan room and furnished quite traditionally with black wooden boards on the floor and much dark wood panelling, not only on the walls but the ceiling as well, and was perhaps somewhat reminiscent of a ship’s cabin which is appropriate I suppose given the pub’s name, although what it’s nautical connections are seeing as it’s quite some way from the coast, I’m not sure. A knot display in a glass case continued the theme, whilst much of the lighting was brass fittings. A few panels of stained glass were fitted in to the wood above the bar.
Beers on tap were Timothy Taylor Landlord, Old Speckled Hen and Black Sheep Bitter, whilst three further pumps appeared to have run out. A chalkboard also listed something from Twickenham and Leeds Pale, so that was presumably two of the three that had not been crossed off. Cider choice was disappointing though with just Strongbow in the regular and Dark Fruit varieties. Overall I thought this was a pretty decent pub with a lively atmosphere, mostly due to the music, and I’d happily pop in again if in the area.
On 8th July 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2060 recommendations about 1962 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Ship
A lively alleyway pub but with the dead corporate hand of Greene King showing through. The very bogus interior is incredibly brown, both the main area near the bar and the 'dining room' up a couple of steps. It did at least offer a reasonable selection of beers, with 4 Yorkshire ales plus one from Twickenham and Old Speckled Hen.
On 28th April 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Ship
this alley pub has been Greene King-ified though without the usual heavily corporate stuff loved by that brewery. It has sadly taken to calling itself a ‘bar and kitchen’ rather than a pub serving food, something that always irrationally irritates me. Anyway it’s okay and kind of reminds me of the small back alley pubs you find in central London.
On 21st September 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1174 recommendations about 1136 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Ship
One of the pubs that are situated down an alleyway off a main shopping area. Like the others here it has a long thin bar but at one end is a wider room. The beer isn't that great but it isn't the worst. Friendly on my visit. Happily there was nobody of interest in so I can't pass on any tedious/funny anecdote.
On 16th June 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Ship
The ship is found down an alley where there are some shelves outside for pint placement. The thin bar is found immediately after entering and there was a decent local crowd in attendance during my recent Friday afternoon visit. To the right of the bar is a seating area that is accessed up three steps. This area is reserved for dining between the hours of 12:00 until 15:00.
There was some low background music playing and I spotted a plasma screen that was airing muted rolling BBC news. I do not recall any advertisements for live sports.
I didn’t get to have a look at the menu, but I did count six hand pumps in amongst some standard draught products.
I quite liked it in here and found the service to be polite meaning that I would have no problem returning.
On 17th December 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Ship
This is a decent pub ane well worth a look in. The service was good and the staff friendly. 6 ales on handpump, we went for the Copper Dragon Golden Pippin and Leeds Best.
On 23rd November 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3645 recommendations about 3645 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Ship
The Ship is a cosy, two room alley pub in the heart of Leeds’ retail district. I would agree with the previous reviewer’s observation that the pub is relatively easily found from the Briggate end of the alley, but if you’re approaching from the other end, as I was, it’s far trickier and I was much indebted to an A-board placed out on the pedestrianised street which guided me in the right direction. The interior follows the direction of the alley, with both rooms being quite wide but rather shallow. The entrance takes you straight into the main bar which sees the servery run along part of the rear wall under a nice stained glass canopy with limited seating opposite, arranged into some partitioned mini booths under the front windows. There are some large lamps to provide much needed light and on the right hand wall there is a fireplace, which would make this area very appealing on a winter’s day, assuming it ever gets used. Above the fireplace, a TV screen was showing the early evening news with the volume turned down in favour of some quiet background music. Steps lead up through an archway into a lounge with one large button backed banquette running around the back of the room and lots of low stools elsewhere. There is a smart, dark wood bookcase on the back wall with a large model ship on one shelf and a few boards games scattered between the books. The walls have been decorated with various bits of brewerania, a few decorative mirrors and some photos of yachts, whilst an attractive tile dado runs around most of the room.
There were four handpulls in action when I arrived, offering Wychwood Hobgoblin, Leeds Pale, Deuchars IPA and Copper Dragon Golden Pippen. Certainly not the most adventurous selection in the city, but the Golden Pippen was spot on and I believe the pub is in the latest edition of the Good Beer Guide.
There is something very satisfying about sitting in a pub like this, isolated from the chaos of the surrounding shopping district, but this is more than just a convenient bolt-hole for reluctant shoppers. It’s a lovely spot for a decent, peaceful pint in a pleasant, traditional pub and is well worth investigating.
On 24th October 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Ship
Slightly more obvious than the other alley pubs due to the Briggate signage, but still quite easy to miss when walking past. Anyway, once found, you will find a cosy 'L'-shaped bar with a raised lounge up three steps. Traditional furniture and decor. Four of six handpumps were in operation, offering two Little Valley beers, Greene King IPA and Kirkstall Three Swords plus Excelsior and Cascade (£3.50) from Ridgeway Brewing available on gravity. Overall, it seemed a well-run place and is certainly worth a visit if in the area.
On 11th March 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Ship
One of Leed's alley pubs and I'd agree with Mr Button that it's second only to Whitelocks of the four and a damned good pub. Obviously long and narrow, perhaps narrower than Whitelocks, it has a superb nouveaux tiled counter with brass hand and foot rails, while the walls and ceiling are mainly in tongue and groove. On entering there is the supermodel thin main bar decorated with a few old photos a number of blackboards and the big clock; then up a few steps is a sitting come dining area, wider of course as there is no counter to intrude. The beers were much the same as previously reported with Leeds Pale and Copper Dragon Golden Pippin being the well kept and very drinkable guests next to the Deuchars, Hobgoblin and Jennings Cumberland, otherwise the usual suspects keg and spirit wise. Very busy although being small that doesn't take many customers, a pretty good pub but the music was over loud for my tastes.
On 29th December 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]
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Alan Winfield left this review about The Ship
This is an alley pub off Leeds main shopping street which looks quite nice from the outside with hanging baskets.
Once inside here the main bar area is close to the door and when you walk further back there are a few steps up to a nice area at the back which has comfy seating and gives a good view looking back down the pub.
There were four real ales on here i had a drink of Leeds best bitter which was a decent drink there was also Tetley bitter and two other guest beers which i car'nt remember.
I thought this was a decent pub.
On 1st December 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]