The Ship Tavern is a classic British tavern with first floor dining room situated on the edge of the tranquil Lincoln's Inn Fields. The Ship is steeped in history, and has been part of the Holborn scene since 1549. Offering great British pub classics paired with quaffable real ales and a wide variety of gins as well as daily specials from market suppliers.
With its mahogany walls draped in candlelight and a flickering open fireplace the tranquil first-floor dining room oozes Dickensian warmth and charm. The gin cabinet proudly boasts over 60 gins from around the globe. We feature a daily gin special board as well as monthly guest gins. Relax with GIN & JAZZ every Sunday from 5pm with David Chandler and guests after feasting on our sumptuous Sunday lunch menu in our first floor Oak Room.
With its mahogany walls draped in candlelight and a flickering open fireplace the tranquil first-floor dining room oozes Dickensian warmth and charm. The gin cabinet proudly boasts over 60 gins from around the globe. We feature a daily gin special board as well as monthly guest gins. Relax with GIN & JAZZ every Sunday from 5pm with David Chandler and guests after feasting on our sumptuous Sunday lunch menu in our first floor Oak Room.
Services
The Ship Tavern was established in 1549 and has been at the heart of Holborn's social scene for nearly 500 years. The original Tavern was then only half the size as it is today and constructed mostly from timber. Its main purpose was to quench the thirst of exhausted labourers who were tending to the nearby fields, now partly Lincoln's Inn Fields.
The first floor 'Oak Room' exudes charm and warmth. Surrounded by antique paintings, books and trinkets adorn the candle draped mahogany walls, a crackling open fire (for those chilly winter evenings) and private dining booths create the perfect 'Dickensian style' dining environment. The menu proudly showcases many great British culinary classics and features a daily specials board from our market suppliers.
The main bar, complete with its stripped oak floors & cosy booths, is the perfect place to wind down and relax after work with a pewter of real ale and good company. Boasting six 'Cask Marque' accredited real ales, with two rotating on a weekly basis, there are lagers from around the globe as well as offering a comprehensive wine list (created with our friends at Bibendum).
Reviews (20)
Nigel Scarff-Dewitt
Oct 09, 2021
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Suzanne E.
Feb 03, 2020
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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.
Jon D.
Jan 19, 2020
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Adam R.
Oct 16, 2019
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Melodee T.
Aug 12, 2019
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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.
Tony Y.
Jul 07, 2019
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Alex F.
Jul 06, 2019
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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
Janet S.
Jun 14, 2019
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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.
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.
Mj S.
Jan 31, 2019
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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
Herbie H.
Dec 16, 2018
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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
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
Adam B.
Dec 11, 2018
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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
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
Ada C.
Sep 29, 2018
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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.
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.
Elizabeth S.
Aug 14, 2018
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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.
Louis R.
Dec 11, 2017
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Tom B.
Sep 18, 2017
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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 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
Yvonne C.
Jun 22, 2017
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Jade P.
May 12, 2017
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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.
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.
Quinn H.
Jul 17, 2016
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Erin L.
Feb 25, 2016
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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
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
Paul M.
Apr 27, 2014
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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
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
