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Ship Centurion, Whitstable
Whitstable
CT5 1BB
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about Ship Centurion
Well described by others, below, this was an enjoyable visit to a well-established pub as the first venue in a crawl. We were well looked after by the staff, and there was a good crowd in, mainly ale drinkers and refugees from the tourists which still plagued the town. Ales on were Pride, Ghost Ship, Dark Star Hophead and Gadd’s No 3, not an amazing choice but all in excellent condition. We tried them all to make sure. Nice one, Centurian.
On 5th October 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3284 recommendations about 3249 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Ship Centurion
Classic old school pub - multiple rooms surrounding a central bar - that ticks all (my) boxes.
Good atmosphere
Friendly and knowledgeable staff
Great beer (Goachers Silver Star)
Afternoon horse racing on gently in the background
Old boys with the newspapers
Good Beer Guide Entry.
Wonderful
On 19th May 2022
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Ship Centurion
Hadn't Armenius been dead for over 2000 years, he might be put out that his name has disappeared from the branding (although an image remains as a figurehead on the sign). Anyway, this is a surprisingly old-fashioned town centre boozer rather than a tourist haunt. Traditional furniture and decor throughout the 'U'-shaped interior, including some photographs of local historical interest and a Laurel & Hardy display. Five real ales on handpump: Ruddles County, two from Adnams - Southwold and Freewheel (£3.30) - Old Golden Hen and Young's Special.
On 16th September 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Ship Centurion Arminius
One of the more unusual named pubs I have been in, the origins are explained below. A carpeted room which winds around a central bar, there is a bar billiards table to the rear left where the room steps up slightly. A comfortable pub with regular seating, banquettes and Singer and Britannia tables. Some interesting décor, loads of Laurel and Hardy related items, reason unknown, pictures of local storms in 1897, model ships on the window cills and CAMRA awards above the bar. TVs muted with Sky Sports News.
A decent if not pulse racing beer selection, Adnam's Southwold Bitter, Directors, Pig and Porter Pale Ale, GK XXX Mild and also Elgood's Mild.
On 26th May 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Ship Centurion Arminius
This place is more than well described below and probably hasn't changed that much since the last review. It's still a single room carpeted throughout with an island bar and a large TV showing Sport without the sound. On my Thursday midday visit it seemed very much to be a local for the older folk of Whitstable.
The bar now has five hand pumps which had Adnam's Bitter, Ghost Ship & Lighthouse, Elgood's Black Dog Mild and Old Speckled Hen. I must have hit this on a bad day as the GBG says it normally sells a local Kent beer. I went for the Ghost Ship (£3.20) which was in excellent condition.
I thought this was a reasonable enough pub but on the day the rather mainstream beer choice let it down.
On 24th March 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Ship Centurion Arminius
Another of Whitstable’s unique and colourful pub names, in this case honouring the Germanic war chief Arminius who drove out the Romans in the Battle of Teutoburg Forest in 4AD (it won’t get you a free pint but it might impress the German owner). Most locals simply refer to it as the German Pub or the U-Boat.
Situated on the High Street, the pub is hard to miss thanks to the exterior usually being a splash of colour courtesy of the numerous flower baskets lining the façade which has won a few best pub in bloom awards.
The carpeted interior is neat and tidy with an island bar but a bit cramped around the edges, especially during busy spells. There is a conservatory style room to the rear where a seat can usually be bagged when busy. The walls are adorned with several informative local pictures, lanterns, certificates, Laurel & Hardy and a couple of clocks showing the time in Berlin and New York for those who need to know. A couple of flat screen TVs are generally tuned to sport or news. Outside is what could be the smallest enclosed beer garden in the world although is was chained shut on my recent visit.
There are usually 4 ales available, the current crop being the 2 regulars (Adnams and London Pride) and 2 guests (Black Dog Mild and Old Dairy Blue Top). There is also a good stock of bottled beers and continental lagers with a heavy Germanic influence on both the beers and the food. The pub is a regular entry in the Good Beer Guide entry and has won numerous CAMRA awards so quality is generally very high.
This is one of the few pubs we ensure we visit on our annual trip to town and its popularity is constant.
On 28th July 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Manky Badger left this review about Ship Centurion Arminius
March 2008:
Whilst obviously a “local pub for local people”, our group of four were made to feel very welcome. With four decent ales on, and a meat raffle, it's definitely a good pub.
But “Kent Pub of the Year” ? Sorry, no! It's a good pub, but I can name a dozen other pubs in Kent that are better.
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Two years later (August 2010).... an update.
This is a pub which is regularly nominated for CAMRA awards, and has been the Kent Pub of the Year before. However, despite a decent ale selection, I’ve never been impressed with it. The food menu is rather basic, and it’s clearly a “local pub for local people”. In short, no change.
On 10th August 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 155 recommendations about 154 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about Ship Centurion Arminius
A comfortable pub with friendly staff and up to 4 real ales.Worth a visit even if only to try something different from Sheps.
On 2nd April 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Raymond Hopkins left this review about Ship Centurion Arminius
Popular free house, well kept real ale + Erdinger & Bitburger from Germany
On 25th March 2007
- rating: 8
[User has posted 23 recommendations about 23 pubs]