Ship Inn, Bridgnorth

Official site of Ship Inn - theshiphighley.co.uk

Official site of Ship Inn - theshiphighley.co.uk

This is a nice free house that was built around 1770 as a private house for a successful local bargeman, it is in a prime spot on the riverbank of the Severn and next to Highley station on the preserved Severn Valley steam railway line. The interior was previously very traditional and rustic but it was refurbished and slightly modernised a couple of years ago although some original features have been retained. There are two rooms with three distinct areas, a public bar at the front with a dining area called the Fisherman's Plaice in the back left corner of the main building and a second dining room called the Jolly Roger in an extension on the left of the building. The public bar is on two levels with an exposed stone dividing wall across the middle, this has a large tropical fish tank built in to it. The pine wood bar counter is across the back wall with a large inglenook fire place and timber lintel dominating the left stone wall on the higher level next to the counter, this is flanked by some rather amusing miniature brass cannons! There is also a small log burning cast stove in the right wall at the other end of the counter, there are beams across the ceiling and modern leather arm chairs. I only briefly popped my head in to the two dining areas but they were minimalist with red carpet and modern pine dining furniture. At the front of the building is a pine decked area which is raised up above the level of the riverbank, this has picnic style tables and large parasols. Regular ales are currently Marston's Pedigree, Banks's Mild, Brakspear Oxford Gold and Hobson's Town Crier with a single changing guest beer which on this occasion was Marston's English Pale Ale. I tried the Town Crier which was very good in my opinion. Bit of a shame that the owners seem to have chosen to tie the pub to Marston's brewery despite being a free house, I guess this is for convenience as Marston's do offer a fairly wide selection, but there are already many Marston's owned pubs in this part of the country already. Not so long ago they did have a house bitter called Jolly Roger Ale although it was absent on this visit. A good pub in a lovely spot where you can sit outside and watch the river slip by and glimpse the occasional steam engine through the trees up the hill behind the pub. Personally I think they are missing a trick regarding the beer selection, for me the main attraction of a free house is the potential to source unusual beers from wherever you fancy. The pub is also a Bed and Breakfast with four very nice looking rooms, there is an emphasise on food and they do a Sunday carvery. I have not eaten here but maybe one to take the family to for a bite to eat in the future, I would return.