please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Well worth seeking out down one of the backstreets of Deal!
A traditional, old fashioned pub with plenty of historical maritime memorabilia on the walls.
Broadly split into 3 sections plus a small garden. The back room or snug was sunny and warm on my visit though I could imagine it being a lot darker in Winter months.
This is a cosy, comfortable place with friendly staff and clientele- most of my fellow drinkers were on the elderly side.
There was a very good selection of real ales Two Dark Star ales, two Gadd's and a Caledonian Edinburgh Castle.
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Best pub I’ve been to in Deal, and when the sun streams into the back room it just looks terrific, but got to say bitter wasn't in top notch condition when I last went 2 weeks ago.. so will be keeping an eye on that...
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CJG's review is spot on. I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed it here; indeed, of the Berry, The Just Reproach and The Ship I thought this was the best all-rounder for quality of beer (even if the range on offer was a little less imaginative), cosiness, atmosphere and friendliness on my recent trip to the area.
Strolling away after a couple here a few days before Christmas, buffeted from the high winds coming over the town by the achingly gorgeous properties that line Middle Street, was a highlight of 2013 for me.
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Cracking pub. Gets very crowded at weekends, great beer, good atmosphere.
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A classic pub that just gets better. On my recent visit between Christmas and New Year the dim cosiness of the Ship was just what this Doctor required to fend off the bracing, bitter winds whipped up by the Goodwin Sands and whipping across the seafront. Middle Street is the perfect wind barrier to the sea - stout, resolute, certain - and the Ship its most welcoming point. The beer was superb, a fine selection of Gadds' ever-improving ales. In particular, the Dark Conspiracy was superb. The pub was surprisingly busy given the obscure time of day and the atmosphere perfect. One of my favourite pubs anywhere in the UK.
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One of Deals finest, hidden away pubs - so cosey, so gorgeous - many a great night spent here
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Gorgeous pub with a lovely interior and a great atmosphere. Definitely the best pub in Deal. Cahrles Hawtrey, of Carry On! fame, used to live just down the road, wonder how many times he was barred?
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A true locals pub as many others have said but as i was only in there for one i cant complain.... apart from gettin hassled by a random woman wearing a flower on her head called precious, it seemed like a fairly decent boozer...
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We are all regular locals at this fine pub and we would be sunk without it.
We look forward to visiting especially the regular Thursday night.
The staff are friendly and the locals are great.
What would be even better is a chocolate bar with my pint.
Thanks Ray and Penny
Signed ???
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One of my favourite pubs in the whole country. Always a relaxing and friendly atmosphere, always great beers, always feels 'just right'. It can be hard getting to the bar if the locals are sat round it, but they'll happily let you in and, if you can get a seat there yourself then you'll soon be one of them.
Great pub!
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I was amazed to read Southsidestick's comments - so unlike the pub I know and love! This is one of my favourite pubs in the world, a real treasure. The beer is always good, the interior is my ideal of what a pub should be, and most of the time the staff is terrific (many people still sigh for lovely Carol, the best barmaid on the world ....)
The landlady and landlord of this fine old boozer work very hard, and it shows - they are part of what makes the Ship such a nice place to meet your friends. They have recently upgraded the beer garden for those people who still insist on smoking, so that they can do it in a cosy, attractive shelter.
It's very hard to choose between the Ship and the Albert (a couple of 100 yards away in Middle Street), so many people go from one to the other.
If you want to drink good beer in a really great old boozer, soaked in history and with a friendly atmosphere, you can hardly do better than go to the Ship. Buy me a pint while you're there!
anonymous - 12 Sep 2007 16:22 |
Avoid.
We drove around Deal and decided upon this place as it was tucked away, looked inviting with the feel of a good local pub.
Unfortunately it was a good "locals" pub. My girlfriend ordered white wine - it came from 2 litre bottle and was undrinkable. But the landlord and his lackey steadfastly refused to change it.
This is even after the landlord had tasted the wine and grimaced. His reason? He'd just brushed his teeth!
And this after charging �7.20 for the glass and a pint of bitter....
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A lovely pub serving a good selection of ales. Felt a bit of an outsider though with all the locals monopolising the rather small bar area.
Floyd - 28 Apr 2007 20:53 |
A little corker tucked away in the grid of narrow unspoilt streets of Deal. It doesn't surprise me that this gets busy. A cracking selection of mainly local ales all perfectly served enhances a very traditional, organic local atmosphere that makes all welcoming. I agree that it is a bit "folksey", but that fits right in with the general feel of the area and is a rare characteristic even of traditional pubs these days.
Although it does stick to a clearly nautical "theme", to say that this is a "themed" pub would be a complete anachronism. Everything here is genuine and that's what makes a boozer like this so special. It's a shame I can't get to Deal more often.
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One small point, "robnest". I think you'll find the Happy Hour is, in fact, 30 minutes and yes, The Ship does fill up very quickly within that period.
Having said that, on a recent visit, the abbreviated Happy Hour had passed, and I was more than happy to spend another hour and a half there sampling the wares of the house.
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Favourite pub in East Kent. Five excellent ales including Gadds Number 7 ('the local'). The landlord and landlady have kept this fine house for 18 years or more. Friendly staff and customers and Biff the labrador. In house band. Altogether very folksie and drink orientated.
Tip: Happy hour starts at 5.30 and the place quickly fills up.
My kind of place so an easy 9.
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This pub never fails to impress! All five engines running, offering "Summer Lightning", Eddie Gadd's "No3" & "No7", Deuchars "I.P.A." and Shep's "Master Brew". The "Summer Lightning" was on fine form, as are all the beers served here.
Service was prompt, efficient and with a smile. Again it's a local's pub, and the clientele are nice and friendly.
A well maintained 7/10.
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Pub has the most amazing interior with a 1940's Naval/Nautical theme (obviously). Beer's decent; three real ales, though none particularly adventurous.
Only downside, the pub was quite empty when I visited [8pm on a Wednesday]. They were also playing some really naff disco music quite loadly, which really didn't help.
Would return just to revisit the interior. 7/10
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Friendly back-street local, serving excellent real ales. It used to be Charles Hawtrey's local.
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Authentic 200+ year old pub in middle of Deal's conservation area. Good range of ales and lager. Friendly, warm atmosphere.
Adrian - 3 Nov 2004 17:23 |
