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Chat about:
Lancaster crawl 17th July 2026 with Bucking Fastard
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Bucking Fastard
Submitted on Saturday, 29th September 2018
With picture contributions to 1541 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (2 more images)
Detail Pages
The Ship Inn, Downham Market
Postal town: Downham Market
PE38 0PP
Served areas
Reviews of The Ship Inn (Average Rating: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Steve of N21 left this review about The Ship Inn
Yes, agree with others that the key selling point of this one is it’s fantastic riverside position at the junction where the Great Ouse and Little Ouse meet, and I can imagine that on a balmy summers day to sit on the exterior picnic tables that line the riverside edges of the pub with a pint would be a real pleasure.
Unfortunately on a wet May Day when the temperature has dropped to winter levels and you are confined to indoors then the appeal isn’t as great. Inside, the area in front of the commanding fireplace is pleasant enough but the rest of the pub is mainly for dining and doesn’t have a great deal of character. The far round table in the bay window with its view of the river was the best spot and at least has a bit of interest in the fantastic period photograph of the pub from January 7th 1928 with the rivers in full flood and shows the original single pub building in the days when it was run by Hall’s Brewery of Ely
We did stop here for lunch and I have to say the steak and ale pie we went for from the traditional pub grub menu was very good indeed and at a reasonable price point.
On the beer front only one of the hand pumps was in use with an average Greene King IPA so nothing to set the pulse racing there. But as I am guessing that most people who arrive here either by car or boat will do so intending to eat, then the quality of its food is probably more important to the pub than the quality and choice of ales it provides.
On 14th May 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2351 recommendations about 2197 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Ship Inn
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.
On 8th October 2021
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3511 recommendations about 3509 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Ship Inn
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.
On 16th September 2018
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3180 recommendations about 3180 pubs]
View more reviews of The Ship Inn (5)
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- Official site of The Ship Inn - www.theshipbrandoncreek.co.uk
- Facebook - The Ship
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Ship Inn - whatpub.com
Downham Market, 8.77 miles, 2 hr 49 min walk (show)
Shippea Hill, 8.83 miles, 2 hr 50 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 16 September 2018 by Bucking Fastard
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 16 September 2018 by Bucking Fastard
- Car Park : Yes last updated 16 September 2018 by Bucking Fastard
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 16 September 2018 by Bucking Fastard
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 16 September 2018 by Bucking Fastard
- Micropub : No last updated 08 October 2021 by Blue Scrumpy
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 09 May 2014 by Dave McNally
- Real Cider : No last updated 08 October 2021 by Blue Scrumpy
