please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Presently closed for refurbishment and the old carpet is gone.
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My wife and I popped in here today, a freezing thursday. It was quite busy, with most people eating meals. I had a pint of Maldon gold, which was pleasant. The other ale on was Greene King IPA. It was reasonably priced. The staff were friendly enough. We shared a basket of chips, which were very good. I cannot understand the comment about the place being dirty. It looked alright to me.
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Very popular with Dutch sailors and they tell me they enjoy the beer and the food and knowing the Dutch that is praise indeed.
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Filthy place. Just don't know how the management are allowed to serve the public! Couldn't bring myself to drink the cup of coffee I bought. (It tasted like basic instant coffee, but couldn't stomach the dirty carpet). The brass foot rest at the bar was disgusting, some of the glasses left on the bar were "milky" - and the loo was awful, I opened and closed the door with my elbow! It doesn't matter how "brilliant" some people rate the food, if the bar & loo areas are filthy, what is the kitchen like??????
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I recently visited Heybridge Basin and had a very pleasant day. It was the day of the Regatta, on the 7th July so pretty busy. Checked out both pubs but found the Jolly Sailor a bit pretentious, and very expensive, so made a beeline for the Old Ship. I felt very comfortable as soon as I walked in. The staff were busy getting the pub ready for the celebrations but I was spotted immediately and greeted with a, "Good morning Sir, what can I get you?". Nice! I didn't eat there but did see lots of other people diong so. The meals were well presented and the portions looked quite generous, plus, it smelt good! Despite it being quite busy, I never had to wait more than a couple of minutes to get served and the staff seemed alert and attentive. As the day went on my recolections of events becomes a little vague, but I do remember having trouble getting a cab to take me to the station. One of the staff from the pub rang the cab company for me and within 5 minutes I was on my way. I would certainly recomend this establishment to anyone looking for a proper pub atmosphere and a very professional and polite group of young people doing a very difficult job.
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Went to the Old Ship at lunchtime on the 20th December 2011, The pub was not crowded, however the barmaid was as cold as the weather outside. She made it quite plain she didn't want my group of 8 there and she didn't want to be there either. The whole ordering process at the bar was done very grudgingly.
The beer was O.K. and the bar snacks passable, the food came up reasonably quickly but as I said the pub was not busy.
For a frosty reception and a mediocre pub the Old Ship is your place.
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Visited over the week-end and had a pint of Maldon gold at 280p in good condition.Other beer was Broadside.
The Jolly Sailor is 50 yards away if you want a quiet drink without the kids running about.
Service was good and the staff friendly.
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We wondered why the cafe just round the corner was always busy and this pub was usually empty. Now we know. Stopped for breakfast today as the cafe was full. A beautiful mid morning, but no menu's outside. Had to check they were open and then ask for a menu. Not sure of the people were people were staff or owners; either way, I seemed to be interrupting them. They seemed not to want to serve. Eventually placed an order, but they could not alter the menu - we wanted toast instead of fried bread - simple? - no. Had to ask for a dog bowl to be filled with water. They put about an inch in - is water that expensive? Filled it properly on the toilet. Had to get our own cutlery and condiments. Coffee and tea were not to usual quality. A round of toast was 1 slice and 1 small butter - all very mean and no interest in customer satisfaction, which was a shame as the breakfast itself was good. Good chef; bad owners/staff. Will rather queue at the cafe or starve than eat here again.
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Service is pretty bad...seem to be run by a bunch of Kids in jeans and t-shirts - You could not tell the waiters from the punters !!, no management direction. During my visit the bar seemed to never be cleaned, allways full of glasses, tables in poor condition, and took ages to get ours cleard. We were told about a 30 min wait on food...took about 45 min to arrive, not bad considering how busy it was. Food was very good..If you don't mind waiting then I recommend it. Portions good and prices ok for the food quality, but did not reflect in the service.
Roast diner very good although priced a bit to high compared to a lot of places these days. Overal: Food 10/10, Service 5/10, Prices 8/10
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Service is still a bit of a problem here with a lack of direction and sometimes too many people faffing over food ideas and no one serving drinks! But I had a pint of Maldon Gold sitting by the lock which cost just �2.70 - nice to find that despite its location, the pub doesn't rip you off (probably due to competition from next door). Food is averagely good, not exactly a bargain but fair enough.
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Went to this pub for lunch. Beautiful day so very busy. Ordered food and looking forward to it while having a pleasant drink by the lock. 40 minutes later still no food so enquired at the bar and was told it was just being served. 15 minutes later cancelled the meal and was told it was just being served!!! Said I was going somewhere else and got my money back. Real shame because it's good food and I was really hungry. Went to Tolleshunt D'arcy to the Queens head and had a great meal with excellent service.
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There at lunchtime today - they had two ales on, I plumped for the LocAle Maldon Gold - served OK, nothing special though. Had the Steak & Ale pie, it was homemade and good. This place appears to put most emphasis on food.
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10 of us (aged 8 to 82) visited for my parents' golden wedding lunch. Food, service and drinks were all excellent. The location is lovely with all the boats passing through the lock & nice walks afterwards. The staff couldn't do enough for us & went to so much trouble decorating the table beautifully. Great home-cooked food & a really friendly atmosphere. Also very reasonable prices. Our party had dishes including lasagne, steak & ale pie, salmon, mackerel, plaice and everyone enjoyed their choice. The desserts were also highly praised and we could not fault the attentive service. I'll definitely return.
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Well said, that man!
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Here we go again... purple-sprouting-broccoli-in-the-sodding-evening.com. What's the beer like for Christ's sake you numb-nuts! Who the f**k gives a toss about bleedin' fish and chips? You can buy that CRAP anywhere.
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Having heard the pub is now under new management, my family and I decided to go here for lunch over the weekend. We hadn't reserved a table, but it wasn't a problem. To get straight to the point I was pleasantly surprised with the decent, full-portioned homemade food!! We each had a wonderful meal (would highly recommend the homemade steak & ale pie and the treacle tart for dessert) and our waitress was attentive and polite. This is my first time back in a while, but it sure wont be the last.
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Nice for a pint & a plate of whitebait watchng the boats - maldon Gold & broadside on tap . Dog & family frindly.
Haven't had a full meal there for about a year but was a bit dissappointed last time - even choosing the most basic menu choices (fish fingers for kids etc) it was a bit naff (very cheap fish fingers). They do get really busy & I've a suspicion that what the previous people said about management might be right (although not sure when it changed hands last - probably several times over last 10 years)
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Reserved a table for 1400 hours. Arrived at 1350 hours, the table was empty and was told it would be relaid. After asking for it to be relaid on two occasions after initially arriving, at 1430 we got fed up and left. The bar staff were like headless chickens, working hard but there was nobody directing them. A customer complained that he his party had been waiting one and a quarter hours for their meal.
Obviously a pub managed by someone that relies upon its location for its business as opposed to giving a satisfactory service or concern being shown for the customers.
The manager/owner deserves to fail and I hope that he/she does as it appears he/she is totally incompetent in managing a premises such as this.
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Apparently this has changed hands recently - shame as current managers obviously didn't deserve the reputation it had built.
We went with a large group for a Sunday lunch birthday celebration. Given table in very nice dining room upstairs but it was freezing cold - asked them to put heating on but they wouldn't. Served very disproportionate meals - you can't give one person four roast potatoes and another just two, and then be rude when asked to even things up.
Can't catalogue all complaints but worst point was the fact that the manager wouldn't discuss them face to face but kept a conversation going through a poor girl on the bar running backwards and forwards to kitchen. A manager who won't talk to customers!!! Gives you an idea of the quality.
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Pub in a great setting overlooking the Blackwater estuary. Ideal for watching the boats as thay travel between the estuary and into the Maldon canal at hightide. Good food in plentiful portions and six real ales from Adnams, Mighty Oak and shepherd Neame breweries all well kept. Well worth a visit
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