The Ship, Croydon

I hadn't been to Croydon for years so while staying there on business recently I thought I'd revisit a few old haunts and try some new ones. I went straight to the Ship as I'd heard the food there was Vegan. I'm afraid I have to agree with Jazz Messenger on this one. Truly awful. When I arrived at 4pm it was shut! I later found out it opens at 5pm. I can't imagine they have much of a loyal regulars base. On returning later in the evening I was in for a few (unpleasant) surprises. The first thing that hits you is the smell, a heady mixture of body odour, stale beer and drains. I remember coming here years back for the live music and was dismayed to find that there is none now. What was the stage is now a tatty sort of DJ box which blocks all daylight, making what was always a dark and dingy place even more dingy. There was a scattering of strange types dotted around the place and I was informed by the young barmaid that "they only come in for the cheap offers". Indeed the place seems to be built around cheap promotions which always worries me. A good pub doesn't need to be a cheap pub. A quick look at the menu and I decided to give the food a skip. Beef and Scampi are not Vegan! Again the rather personable young barmaid informed me that the landlords were vegan but are not now and now sell anything they can. I settled for a couple of bottles of lager having watched two customers return their pints and got chatting to a chap near the bar who told me the place had gone "right downhill" as the "guvner was likely to leg it any day" A quick visit to the toilet before leaving was all I needed to convince me never to come here again. The stench and state of it was shall we say, memorable!

3 Jun 2014 16:36