We really enjoyed this restaurant. However, there is a caveat. When we went, December 2018, they had a mouse infestation and with the restaurant full we saw a mouse running about. We talked to the manager and he confirmed the infestation issue. We had already finished eating when we saw the mouse and thought the food was good but this did color things a bit for us. They didn't have the highest sanitation rating at the time and should have tipped us off. Most of our table ordered fish and chips and found it to be really delicious. The oysters were also good. Maybe things have changed since, re mice, as the manager was suggesting it would. If so, we would definitely return. Otherwise, not so sure. read more

See all

This place was our most pleasant surprise on our trip. We were searching everywhere for a full English breakfast before departing London on an afternoon flight. In this area of the city, it was impossible to find a place that was open for sit down breakfast! It was either a hotel restaurant or fancy takeaway Pret a Manger. We spent an hour looking for a breakfast place. The only one we found had a 1 hour wait and was crammed with Japanese tourists. It was 11 a.m. so we popped into this place before heading back to The Rosewood Hotel to pack up and leave for the flight. They weren't serving breakfast but did have the full lunch menu. This place is hidden in an ally way near The Rosewood. It looks kind of dingy and grimy on first impression. We almost left because we thought it looked a bit off. However, we were running late and decided to order ... and we were so glad we did! The menu consisted of traditional British Pub Food staples ... meat pies, fish and chips, burger, etc. They also had a traditional Sunday Roast section with 4 choices of meats. I got this and wow! Everything from the veggies to the Yorkshire pudding to the beef was cooked perfectly and tasted absolutely fresh. The beef was sliced thin and dripping with au jus ... so tender and moist I could cut it with a fork, The pudding was crisp and warm ... maybe a bit less puffy than I like ... but overall very good. The veggies and potatoes were perfectly seasoned and tender while still having a firm texture. The burger was great ... a thick patty cooked well on a fresh bun with thick steak fries (chips). The price was fairly good for what you got (the roast was 15 gbp ... the burger 13 gbp) and the beers were not expensive either. The staff was pretty cold ... they pretty much lacked any kind of warmth at all and put the food down and walked away. Nobody checked up on us or smiled the whole time we were in there. However, they acted the same way to others, so I guess this is just 'English hospitality' at it's finest. Most of the other diners were locals ... so I guess they are doing something right. Make it a point to stop here if you are craving good British food. It is not a tourist trap and it has that old fashioned British Pub feel ... everything is made to look like an old fashioned ship on the inside. A little dark but worth the trip to High Holborn. read more

For our first dinner while visiting London, we came to Ship Tavern and enjoyed our meal & the cozy environment. Upstairs from the bar, the dining room is warm and has all of the dark, cozy wood and finishes you'd expect. To start, we ordered the Seared Chicken Livers, which were succulent and rich and incredibly delicious. For my main meal, I ordered the Beef & "the old usual" pie with mashed potatoes - absolutely perfect. I loved the buttery, flaky crust and the meaty filling. My husband ordered the Fish & Chips, and he liked them a lot. To end the meal, we shared the Sticky Toffee Pudding, which was exactly what we wanted - rich with caramel and dark flavors. read more

Ship Tavern - seared chicken livers - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

See all

We wandered on this pub while hankering for some down-home British meat and potatoes. This menu hit the spot. Sliced beef with Yorkshire pudding, mashed potatoes, lots of veggies and the charm of a classic setting. Really satisfying! read more

See all

Upstairs Oak Room restaurant is warm and cozy - dark wood, soft lighting, candles. If you're looking for a solid pub meal, this place is a good find close to Holborn Tube stop but nicely tucked down a small alley. On a Sunday evening after having arrived in from NY, it was exactly what I was looking for - a quiet, decent meal with a good pint of Ale (Tribute). The leg of lamb and gravy was tasty, the goose fat roasted potatoes were better than expected (something about "goose fat" didn't sound great). The pastry served with the dish was tasty, good for sopping up the gravy. Service was prompt and efficient. The Ship Tavern's Oak Room left me satisfied with a full belly and will ensure I sleep well and rid myself of any remaining jet lag. Live jazz was loud downstairs but was a nice volume in the upstairs dining room. Give this place a try; it was established in 1549, so it's a bit older than I am :) read more

See all

Great food, amazing service, classic English pub ambiance. Loved it! Would definitely recommend if you are in the area!

There are a lot of pubs in London but few with the ambiance and quality of this one. Fantastic food in a restaurant that transports you back to the 1700's- the best pub I can think of in London. read more

Pubs. If you wanna hit up a hidden gem, this is your best bet. They have loads of pint choices, a Sunday roast, tons of locals and free live jazz. It gets crowded but as with all pubs in London, just take your glass pints outside and chat. Fukin brilliant. Cheers, mate. read more

Ship Tavern - Hit it - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

We were visiting from the US. Never had Beef Wellington before and this place has set the bar high. The sticky toffee pudding was also excellent! Downstairs is more of a pub environment while upstairs is more for dining. read more

Ship Tavern - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

See all

Fantastic food in the upstairs dining room. Amazing pub downstairs. Top that with great (and fun) service from Diana and Lily, thanks! On my top 5 go-to list for must visit whenever I visit London. read more

My family and I came here tonight for Sunday roast and everything was perfect. We got here early and enjoyed beers downstairs while our table was being readied. Our gentleman came down to tell us it was ready. We asked for Scotch eggs and even though they weren't on the Sunday menu we were accommodated! They were delicious and we were served a fresh loaf of bread with butter alongside. We ordered 2 mixed roasts with all the trimmings. Were marveling at the melt in your mouth carrots and parsnips. On to the beef roast and the pork belly. Alternately tender and then crispy these meats were a revelation! Enjoyed also the mash with individual gravy boats and of course the Yorkshire puddings yum! Thank you for making our Sunday evening in London so special! We even enjoyed the piano medley playing in the background which elevated our mood. Will definitely return another time! read more

Great place for a wonderful London experience for the whole family. We would do it again and the service was amazing.

It's our 5th day visiting London and this was by far the best meal we've had on our trip. The mac and cheese with pulled pork was amazing! The beef and ale pie was also good. The ambiance is beautiful and the service is excellent. Definitely worth the visit. I thought it'd be hard to find but it was pretty easy. Also, we are still finishing our meal here but I had to stop and write this review. It was the mac and cheese that made me do it. read more

See all

I found this gem of a #tavern by happy accident. It was down the alley from where my day office was, and I stumbled on it while running some lunchtime errands, and made note of it for dinner. The Ship Tavern was founded in 1549, and features an excellent gastropub upstairs called the Oak Room. Service was friendly and excellent. We started our meal with their calamari (so light & tasty) and their oyster mushroom over brioche (earthy and creamy). I had my first Beef Wellington there, and now all others will have to measure up to it. My husband had the beef shepherd pie, and that was equally delicious. My pre-dinner beverage was a lovely non-alcoholic seedlip spice & ginger ale. So very tasty. The bar has an excellently long gin and rum list, and the small wine selection is good with generous pours. #gastropub #london #pub #tavern #foodie #dinner #foodstagram #traditionalenglishfood #pubfareelevated #dining @theshiptavern read more

See all

After visiting the Ship Tavern for the first time 5 years ago, we were so excited to return this July! We dined in the upstairs Oak Room, which is cozy and quaint (and fortunately air conditioned during a UK heatwave!). They have a great menu that combines traditional English fare and Pub classics, with some additional offerings like a Summer salad. We started with a cider and Prosecco, and the cheese board (from the dessert menu) and had Beef Wellington and Mussels as our entrees. Of course, we had to finish our meal with a Sticky Toffee Pudding, which couldn't have been tastier! We also loved the homemade bread starter on our previous visit. We had great, attentive service throughout our meal. read more

See all

One of my favourite things about living in London is its rich history. I love the fact that the barbershop down the road from my house is over 100 years old, or that the fact that I work by a 17th century galleried coaching inn, almost directly under the Shard. Tucked away in an alleyway behind the chaos of Holborn station, The Ship Tavern is a 16th century pub filled with a rich and vibrant history. It was used to shelter Catholic priests at the height of the reformation, and was also a masonic lodge at one point, too! Our important business took place in their upstairs dining room, where we got to sample some of their Valentine's Day menu. Although it was my first visit to The Ship Tavern, it wasn't my boyfriend's, who had actually arranged a welcome lunch there previously for colleagues who had just moved to the UK. I think it's a brilliant choice for taking tourists, or people from out of town. It's steeped in rich history, and the oak panelled room and decor means you can get the full pub experience without compromising on ambience or the quality of the food. We kicked the meal off with two starters - the scallops with rabbit and the deep-fried soft shell crab served with caviar. I preferred the former - the scallops were beautifully done, and the rabbit was such an unusual addition, and was really delicious. This was actually the first time I had soft shell crab dish that wasn't tempura, and while I enjoyed the combination of flavours with the caviar, I missed the light crispiness of the Japanese batter. My boyfriend went for the Beef Wellington, which came with truffle mash and kale in a red wine jus. The truffle mash was incredible - the portions were extremely generous. It was the ultimate comfort food dish for someone nursing a particularly brutal hangover! I went for the venison steak au poivre, which was served with a haggis and potato pithivier and buttered green beans. The portions were unbelievably generous, and I couldn't manage the entire thing, but the venison was perfectly cooked - just the right amount of pink. Just when we thought we couldn't possibly manage any more, the chef popped out to convince us otherwise - and a chocolate creme brulee with raspberry sorbet, and a passionfruit pannacotta magically appeared before us. Both items were part of the Valentine's menu, although I think they need to seriously consider adding the latter to the a la carte menu - pannacotta is my favourite dessert, and passionfruit is one of my favourite fruits, so I was a massive fan of this (and I'm not a dessert person usually). The service was wonderful - the staff were all very friendly and attentive in the dining room, and we had a really lovely meal. On our way out we left through the pub - which, compared to the dining room upstairs, was much more familiar. Match of the day, pints, old men - the works, but in a really charming and rustic setting. I had a really wonderful meal at The Ship Tavern. While it's a higher price point than the usual pub fare, I think you do get what you pay for regarding the atmosphere and the quality of the food. It's not necessarily a place I'd recommend to go with little kids, but for visitors to London and history buffs I would definitely recommend it. read more

Ship Tavern - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

See all

Here since 1549 whence Charles 1st was a Patron, classic old pub great bar downstairs, not many seats, upstairs dining room with booths. low lighting and stained glass. We had old peculiar steak pie which was tremendous with some lovely veggies, and a fish and chips that was mediocre at best. The highlight is the gin menu, over 60 to choose from. We tried pink pepper and Liverpool Orange something. Dont sully with tonic but sip delivately through a straw and savor the flavors. Fantasic. five pounds average for a gin. read more

Seriously, just go to the upstairs dining room (probably need reservation), get the brisket with amazing gravy, and follow it up with sticky toffee pudding and a lovely glass of port. Spectacular English meal in a charming little setting. read more

It's a charming little pub in a back street in an area too void of charming. Otherwise there's nothing earth-shattering here. They have good beers and nice staff. Simple tables and booths. Sometimes some live music. Someone else said cozy... that could be the best adjective for the Ship Tavern. read more

See all

This was the most charming pub I visited while in the U.K. It has more of a calm vibe. No screaming loud music. Just appropriate music at an appropriate volume and lively conversation in the downstairs pub area and a very lovely old world dining area upstairs. The food was surprisingly good. The people who work there are very nice as well. read more

Ship Tavern - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

The upstairs restaurant is beautifully decorated. It's a lovely setting for a meal! I met a friend for Sunday roast and we split the chicken which was fall off the bone, delicious! The rest of the trimmings were good but let's be honest, it was just mash, roast potatoes and some veg. This is comfort food at its best. Lovely, attentive service too. Definitely would come back for another meal. read more

The Ship Tavern is located less than a two minute stroll from Holborn Underground station but can be a litle tricky to find if you've not been before. It's sandwiched at the itersection of two small alleys and a back road and as such tends to attract mainly regulars who know these streets like the back of their hand. A friend of mine reccomended the place to me as a quiet, cooky and fun little hang out away from the hustle and bustle of the high street. This is exactly what you get; the atmosphere is very relaxed and cheery and the landlord goes the extra mile to make you feel welcome by actively trying to get to know you. The interior, as might be expected, is adorned with various mariner related knick-knacks and pewter pots which give this place a rustic cosy feel. During the day they offer a range of good hearty pub grub including their own home-made pies and (apparently famous) beer-battered fish and chips. For drinks they stock a good range of lagers and ales. Prices are a little steep but this is central London after all and it's a lot cheaper than many other places you can think of. All in all a lovely place, great for one-to-one chats and small groups. read more

See all

Off the beaten path but worth finding. Intimate room, excellent fish and chips. Hamburgers good as well. Good ale on draft. Our server was extremely nice, and though she was busy, she took care of us with a smile. Nice touch? Your check is brought in a vintage book, not the cliche plastic folder most restaurants use. The pub is downstairs, the Oak Room upstairs. Music piped in upstairs is at a low enough volume so you can have a conversation without shouting. If you are looking for an authentic London tavern with good pub food and old time atmosphere, you'll leave the Ship Tavern with a smile. read more

Ship Tavern - Check is brought to the table in a vintage book. Nice touch. - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

This place is part of the wonderful London pub scene and it's up there in terms of food and atmosphere. It's also tucked away on a sidestreet rather than on one of the main drags. You get a feeling of being in a special place; definitely not touristy, and a little less busy with fewer blokes spilled out into the street. We ate at the restaurant upstairs, and had to wait for a little while downstairs for a table. So we got to experience both sides of Ship Tavern. The service was simple and effective, if a little blunt at times. One person gave us a full menu downstairs and claimed we could order anything from it, but when we tried to, another person said we couldn't at the bar. Not a huge deal, but still -- like I said, a tad blunt. Upstairs the food was excellent. Amazing onion rings, and solid fish & chips. Really crispy, light batter that melts in your mouth. The onion rings in particular were spectacular. Another table saw us raving about them and immediately called a waitress to order them! I thought about returning on another day, but honestly, if you have one week in London you really shouldn't miss an opportunity to try something new with each meal. Cheers! read more

Wonderful old place, friendly staff, and great location--I arrived too early, went for a walk, and stumbled onto Gray's Inn. It was a little loud, but right before Christmas that's to be expected. We were also seated (on the second floor, in the restaurant) very close to a raucous work party, ornamented by a beautiful person wearing reindeer antlers. I'd like to come back at a quieter and less busy time and hang out. Downstairs was even louder and more crowded, with people spilling onto the streets with their post-work wine glasses. Civilized crowd, though. read more

Great tasting food. Large portions. Had the pork belly and the lamb. Both came with sweet braised cabbage, broccoli, califlower, potatoes, carrots and bread. That was the largest pork belly I have seen. They were both very hearty meals and everything was tasty. We had apple apricot crumble and it was a nice warm ending to a cold rainy day. The cocktails helped warm us too. Very close to theatre district and hotels if you're visiting as we were. read more

The beef Wellington is amazing, the service is great, and the desserts are even better!

Great beer and great Sunday roast! We came when we were just visiting London and the Sunday roast blew our minds. Definitely recommend the half chicken roast-- great flavor and great value! (They also have a great selection of beer) read more

They've got a huge selection of gin and the best fish and chips I've had in London. Highly recommended. If you want food, you need to go upstairs. Also a good idea to have a reservation. read more

See all

At last, a proper boozer within spitting distance of Holborn tube station. Stick this place in the Midlands or up North further still and they'd be dominos and card games going on every night. It's the closest I've felt to being in a proper pub in Central London, and that's a good thing. Guest real ales, a "cosy ambience" and bar staff that make you feel at home make this place a winner. If you're a tourist reading this and want to sample a "proper" British pub in Central London this is arguably as close as you'll get to the real thing without venturing outside Zone 2 on the public transport network. For Londoners looking for a new place to have a mid-week pint or unwind on a Friday night, look no further. read more

Finding a pub that is not owned by what I will term "Mega Pub Corp." is becoming a difficult task in London anymore :( Thankfully there are gems abound and this is definitely one of them. Nothing better than a cold winters' night huddled up by the fireplace upstairs having a lovely chicken, bacon and leek pie and a tankard of ale. Even better when it is a Tuesday night and it is only 10 pounds including the ale as that is pie night! Great specials, great beer, nice wines and great British food that did not arrive pre-frozen in packages from "Mega Pub Corp." read more

The Beef Wellington has made my top five best meals of all time! I have had sticky date pudding in Australia, I have had spicy spinach saute in Rome, I have had bread pudding in New Orleans, I have had Peking duck in mainland China and now Beef Wellington in London, makes 5. It is deceptively simple in appearance, but fantastic. My compliments to the chef. PS-I am from Texas, love beef and I DO NOT EAT fast food. I have eaten beef and this was marvelous. read more

Local place with a fantastic Sunday roast and 1549 Ship Tavern Ale. The dining room upstairs was a quiet unexpected respite from the London Marathon crowd. Lovely ambiance, wonderful meal and tasty ale. We recommend it! Get there early for Sunday Roast though, they sell out. read more

Ship Tavern - Sunday rib eye roast of Cumbrian beef ;) - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

The Ship Tavern is a pub downstairs and a restaurant upstairs. I haven't been to the pub but really like the upstairs dining lounge called 'The Oak Room'. The menu serves hearty English food like Fish and Chips, Pie and Mash, and Mac & Cheese. Its a perfect winter destination for lunch time with the dark wood look, these warming dishes and has a fire place. The clientele at lunch is usually the local work crowd but its not a rowdy place and is usually pretty busy. To be clear my 4 stars are for Oak Room not the pub downstairs (which owns the restaurant)! read more

We dined in the Oak Room during a recent visit to London and loved it! The pies were absolutely fantastic and the atmosphere was such a great and intimate experience. Service was great and we would definitely return again for another meal. read more

Sit-down dinner was excellent and the bar area was a fun hang out. Most of the bar food was gone by dinner time but I'd imagine that's how most pubs are in London. Whether you're sitting in the dining area for a nice meal or grabbing a pint in the pub area it's worth a stop. read more

HUGE portions, really good food...service was a bit slow but they were busy that Thursday night. Every dish was bigger than my face (yum) and the appetizers were also great. My main was the pie of the day, chicken and leek, and it was amazing. Someone ordered the chicken...and it was an entire half chicken. Dessert we got sticky toffee pudding - a little sweet but very yummy. read more

Wow, a 400/500 yrs old bar and little restaurant upstairs! Survived all times and serves great food!!!! I had great oysters!!!! Nice sea bass as well. It was a pity I was too tired to stay longer, but would have loved to try the desserts! A place to definitely come back to! read more

Traditional faire. Great food and service. Their house ale, 1549 is excellent. The Devonshire crab and fish & chips were outstanding. read more

See all

Great experience . Good service. Came upstairs close to closing time on Sunday but still got served with a smile. The food was amazing. read more