The Ship Inn

We’ve eaten at The Ship many times as locals, including two excellent parties, and even had a Christmas lunch that was worth its fairly high price. But after two meals in September 2025 fell short and things improved when the cook was replaced, the standard has dropped again. On 11th January 2026, the seasonal vegetables at Sunday lunch were undercooked and inedible. We told the waiter, who passed it on to the kitchen. We came back on 8th February expecting the usual quality, but it was worse: some food wasn’t hot, and the carrots and brussels were so hard we couldn’t get a knife or fork into them. We didn’t try to eat the meals, and the waitress took both back to the kitchen. We suspect the vegetables may be pre-packed or frozen, like those served in standard pubs, rather than fresh as we’d expect at a gastro pub. The prices at The Ship don’t reflect that kind of food. The cook seems unable to prepare vegetables properly, which undermines the excellent work of the front of house staff. That Christmas lunch was a 9/10 for us, but this Sunday roast would be 1/10. Other diners may have eaten theirs anyway, but we won’t be coming back to eat at The Ship. It’s a sad end to something that used to be a really enjoyable experience.

We had a lovely evening in the busy but comfortable restaurant, which had a nice buzz without being noisy. Dinner was delicious: the fish and chips had crunchy batter and perfect chips, and the seafood linguine came with plenty of seafood in a lovely sauce. The staff greeted us so warmly, and our room was clean, tidy, and ready earlier than planned. Thank you!!!

We were a family group of 20 and had a smashing evening. Everyone enjoyed the amazing meal, and the friendly, cheerful staff were really accommodating. They even made sorting out our separate payments easy, something other places seem to struggle with. A special mention to the young, quiet waiter who checked on us regularly. I wish we lived nearby, as we’d have become regulars. Thank you.

We made this a mini Christmas lunch with my husband, our two kids, and my mum and dad. The Christmas decorations made it feel special, and the church-like bench in the bar area worked really well for our family. Jack looked after us, and he was extremely friendly and polite. He made the kids feel welcome and included, and stayed attentive even though the place was fairly busy. The staff were lovely. Definitely recommend, and we’ll be back.