Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Top 100 with ETA
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Old Boots
Submitted on Sunday, 22nd February 2026
With picture contributions to 3875 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (14 more images)
Detail Pages
The Ship Inn, Chester
Handbridge
Postal town: Chester
CH4 7JE
Served areas
Reviews of The Ship Inn (Average Rating: 4½ of 10) see review guidelines
Old Boots left this review about The Ship Inn
A Thwaites pub just over the bridge into Handbridge, a decent old building but the front is disfigured with clear glass windows. The horrors continue inside, a single room with odd decor and chunky furniture. More than a bit of a mish mash it looks like an apprentice interior decorator has been let loose, or a junk shop proprietor is storing stuff here. The counter is to the right with its four pulls, two working with Thwaites beers, an old style IPA, that is a standard brown bitter and served in a warm glass the other was Thwaites Gold. A quad T-Bar and three solos provide a predictable keg choice. Some remnants of an old pub survive, a couple of neat cast iron columns and part of an old fireplace. There were a few dogs in but I didn’t ask the owners names and I didn't explore upstairs. Mardy staff didn’t improve the experience.
On 22nd February 2026
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3937 recommendations about 3601 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Ship Inn
On the far side of the River Dee away from the walled city,you might expect river views but you would be disaapointed.The frontage is the best part,the interior is a modern refurb with little original and lacking in character.This used to be a Thwaites tied house and they still carry two ales bedged as Thwaites (Original,IPA) but brewed by Marstons.The third ale as a guest was Weetwood Eastgate another low ABV malty bitter ,undistiguished NBSS2.
We ate upstairs but just with views of a childrens play area,and although the cooking from the open kitchen was fine ,the pub experience was dull.Shame because the welcome was friendly,chatty and genuine,if only they stocked some decent real ale there would be a reason to cross The Old Dee bridge.
On 12th August 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3126 recommendations about 3126 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Hunter left this review about The Ship Inn
Visited on a recent Saturday evening. Quite busy with no spare seating due to several tables being reserved for diners who had booked, however we were able to utilise a 'reserved' table where the booking was not until later on.
Four hand pulls at the bar, one was off, the others offering Thwaites IPA and Original, and Mobberley Bunji as the guest ale. The Bunji was £3.80 for a pint and disappointingly bland. Not sure if this is down to the beer, or whether it was a bit past its best.
Can't really argue with Brainy Pool in the previous review - and having experienced this establishment both in the afternoon and the evening, I definitely preferred it in the afternoon. Not somewhere that's going to set your heart racing on the ale front and there are many better options in Chester on that front, but it was busy so must be doing something right.
On 16th March 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 897 recommendations about 698 pubs]
View more reviews of The Ship Inn (7)
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- Official site of The Ship Inn - shipchester.co.uk
- Twitter - The Ship Inn
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Ship Inn - whatpub.com
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 28 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 28 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 28 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 28 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- CAMRA Discount : No - Discount withdrawn - last updated 28 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Car Park : No last updated 28 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 28 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Darts : No last updated 28 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Dog Friendly : Yes - In downstairs bar only - last updated 28 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 28 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Live Music : Yes - Occasional - last updated 28 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 28 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Micropub : No last updated 28 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Pinball : No last updated 28 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Pool Table : No last updated 28 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Quiz Night : Yes last updated 28 October 2019 by Pub SignMan
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 28 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Real Cider : No last updated 28 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 28 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- WiFi : Yes last updated 28 September 2017 by ROB Camra
