please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
In there Saturday lunchtime. Used the smaller pub on the LH side (coming through the arches), Beer and service excellent as usual. Looking through the windows, the larger side was very busy. A truly excellent pub and one of my top 5 in London.
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A Friday night visit after an England game at Wembley. Probably more than 10 years since I’ve been here and I’ve always drank in the larger right hand pub (if coming under the arches) however on this occasion we went in the left hand bar,
Was a Harvey’s run pub on my last visit and is now owned and managed by Badger Brewery. 3 of their ales on the 4 hand pumps, I had 2 pints of First Call, both decent enough.
Busy with a wide mix of punters, no spare seats downstairs and the upstairs crow’s nest also seemed packed, this was judged by the amount of punters going up and down the stairs!
We stayed until throwing out time. Nice enough pub with decent ale.
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Decent pub down a back passage off Villiers Street. Three beers from Hall & Woodhouse plus Harvey's Sussex Best, the latter retailing at a reasonable £3.50 per pint. Surprisingly busy on a Monday evening with a mixed but mainly male crowd. Popular with office workers and MOD types. Gents is a bit cramped. One of the better pubs in the locale.
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Ship and Shovell, The Strand: A pub of two halves - quite literally. The Charing Cross side is the larger, more open and redder of the two edifices, and maybe the more sociable too. Embankment side is more intimate, riven with snugs, and has one of the smallest bars I've ever had the privilege of being served from; there is an upstairs, however, so it terms of floor-space maybe there's not so much to choose between them. And then there's the space that separates these respective enclaves – Craven Passage – a sort of physical intermediary where people gather around upended barrels to drink, talk, maybe smoke. 9/10.
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A wonderful pub. Great beer and excellent staff and service. In my view there are only two decent pubs in the Charing Cross area: The Ship and Shovell and The Harp,
Boyne - 15 Jul 2014 09:35 |
The Ship and Shovell is a lovely old boozer. It's popular with office types keen to drink their work woes away and it's a hit with tourists too - they just can't resist a traditional British pub right in the heart of London and who can blame them. Good choice of real ales such as Badger, Firkin Fox, Tanglefoot and Sussex Best. On my visit, a couple of persistant punters from Down Under were trying to charm their way into the barmaid's down under, without success. It has to be said, the staff are friendly and know their stuff. You get two pubs for the price of one with the Ship and Shovell, it's well worth a visit. Getting home should be a breeze, you can stagger to either Charing Cross station or Embankment underground.
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Nice pint of Firkin Fox. Pleasant surroundings and friendly atmosphere.
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Tanglefoot in good fettle and the food, had the fish and chips top notch.
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An unusual pub in that it is split in to two completely separate halves which is apparently unique in London according to the sign outside. Not only that, but they are not even next to each other but opposite with an alleyway in between. Apparently one has always been a pub (the one on the left, as you approach the shopping arcade under the station) whilst the other was at one time a delicatessen which the pub expanded in to when it closed.
We went in the original half, which was quite attractive with hanging baskets outside. Inside it’s more or less a reverse L-shape with the base of the “L” having a pale wood floor and a plasma up in the corner which was showing a sporting fixture, although this was not too intrusive. The remainder of the pub was carpeted and the walls were mostly dark wood panelling with plenty of large patterned mirrors and a few black and white portrait photos on. There were large windows at the front with red drape curtains and some further wood partitioning with etched glass.
The menu was a fairly decent looking “pub grub” affair with options such as Ham Egg & Chips, Fish & Chips, a couple of curries, etc., mostly priced at around the £9 - £10 mark. There were also a number of bar snacks such as Scotch Eggs and a Pork Pie. My Chicken & Coconut Curry came with lemongrass, chilli, coriander and peanuts and seemed to be a Thai Green variety in all but name and was a decent and tasty dish with a generous portion of curry and an Indian Flatbread. Slightly less successful was a rather small portion of Mozzarella Bruschetta which seemed expensive at £6.50 considering the size.
Beers on tap were all from Hall & Woodhouse with their Firkin Fox, Tanglefoot, Sussex Draught and Badger. The solitary cider was Stowford Press which makes a pleasant change from the sweeter varieties that seem to be generally served around these parts.
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Nice pleasant pub with a decent choice of ales. King & Barnes Sussex Bitter in good order. Didn't eat but food looked good. Friendly staff. Worth a visit. 7/10
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Fantastic little Hall & Woodhouse pub in a backstreet by Charing Cross station. As a rule of thumb I find pubs near stations tend to not be that great, but The Ship & Shovell is a notable exception.
The Badger First Gold was in tip top condition. Only £3.35 a pint. Tanglefoot and Pickled Partridge were on as well. Pretty busy of a Tuesday evening, but it was the week before Christmas. Famously this pub is split in two halves, but I didn't go in the smaller bit. The place just has a nice, cosy welcoming feel. There is quite a blokey, slightly middle aged sort of punter round this parts, but what's wrong with that? It's definitely one of the best pubs round these parts. 8/10
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Crackin pub, great staff and a landlady who was very much on the ball and seemed to know all her regulars and their drink, what more can you want in a city center pub.
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So, a pub of two halves. You can debate if its one or two pubs.
I believe it is one pub, split into two parts, you just have to walk across a pathway to gain access to the other side.
Only been here once for a couple of drinks, but from what I can gather, the part of the right (if approached from the passage) is theh main section, and the left one is the extra that is only open at busy times or for perhaps occasions like parties, has an upstairs, and is called 'the crows nest'
Even both these parts joiend you wouldnt get the biggest pub in London, but on a good day people can access the outside. Of course, good afternoons/evenings in London are another big rarity! (talking weather wise of course)
However it does for some reason feel like a special vibe of a pub with something a little different, so for that reason, it has kudos from me and well worth a return in the future
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Now very much open. Enjoyed a pint of Hopping Hare in there yesteday.
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We knew that this great Pub was having problems but how sad were we to find out that it has had to close for a while. We really hope that Thames Water will sort out their problem very soon. All the staff and the Landlord and Landlady must be sad as they obviously love it and it has been so busy and successful. Lets all watch this space so once it reopens we can all get back there and enjoy the fabulous Badger Ales.
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Almost two pubs and if you combine them, actually one of the better pubs in the Charing Cross area. Interior is very traditional, so don't expect acres of chrome and plastic. Hall & Woodhouse beer is okay if not everybody's favourite but palatable enough. Unsurprisingly, gets very crowded.
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As preiviously mentioned it's a pub on an alleyway leading to a pedestrain tunnel underneath Charing Cross station. It has two halves, one each side of the alleyway although apart from busy times the half on the right hand side (if you approach from the Northumberland Ave/Craven Passage end) is usually closed. It's okay as a pub but nothing special. It's a Hall & Woodhouse place and only three of their wares were on offer. Had the 'Firkin Fox which was a pretty bland tastelss brew. Can't say I'd make much of an effort to revisit the place.
anonymous - 28 Jun 2011 22:18 |
Been looking for this pub for years - quite hidden away on a passageway under Charing Cross station, and spread over both sides of the alley. Badger beers were very good and had a very enjoyable fish pie. Will go again now I know where it is!
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An unusual Pub on both sides of a narrow Footpath, ( I wonder how deliveries are made? ).
A traditional Pub with an English Landlord.
My visit was on a busy Friday Night, a mixed client�le of City types, tourists, ETC.
I reacquainted myself with Tanglefoot the first since I had an unfortunate experience with Tanglefoot when I made some new friends at the The Great Dorset Steam Fair some Years ago.
......................But that is another story.
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We were there for opening time on Saturday and were cheerfully served some fine pints of Badger ales which is always good for the "first from the pump". Reasonably priced for London as well. Quite a few more drinkers arrived before we left, so certainly a popular pub. Well worth another visit.
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Good little pub tucked away down a side passage nr to Charing Cross Station. Evening time is the best time to go, lovely atmosphere with good friendly staff :)
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A reasonable pub, and I'm prepared to believe it is one of the better ones in the area. It was crowded (Friday evening) so clearly a lot of people like it. Only Badger ales were on offer and the two I tried were fine, but it would have been nice to have had some guest beers available. Not worth going out of your way to visit from far away (unless you particularly like Badger), but good enough to take time to visit if you happen to be in the Embankment / Charing Cross area.
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Nice place, had Pickled Partridge (3.30) on draft as well as two other Badger ones. Only have three bottled Badgers additionally, bit disappointing, but might be different on the other side. Sat in the area upstairs on the smaller side of the street. Very nice, stayed for two pints and left happy.
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Visited yesterday lunchtime, tucked away under Charing cross station, this is a well presented relatively unspoilt Hall and Woodhouse pub. NIce pint of Tanglefoot, albeit at �3.40 a pint, a little steep for a lad from the shires like me. Lots of wood and brewery mirrors inside. In the GBG 2010.
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This is a great pub, which I try to visit whenever I'm in the area. The bar staff are friendly and efficient and (rare for London) even enthusiastic about the ale. The beer is nice - 3 or 4 Badgers on tap which is normally pretty good. All in all I've always got the impression that the pub is run by someone who knows what they're doing - which is all I ask for really.
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Stopped off for a pint or five last night. Went in the right-hand of the two bars (as you look down the steps) until it closed around 10pm. Quieter on that side. And perversely the beer was slightly better.
Enjoyed the always decent Lemony Cricket (�3.25) although there was also standard Champion and Tanglefoot on.
Despite previous comments about the bar staff, they were friendly and efficient, so no complaints there.
Certainly better than many other pubs in the area, and if you're killing time at Charing Cross, you're better to pop downstairs than ever venture into the horrible pub in the station.
J
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Novel place - two bars divided by a footpath! Quite characterful with a few nooks and crannies. Decent beer.
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Cant say I was that impressed - interesting venue but barmaid seemed uninterested and the place was full of Guy Richie movie extras f'ing and blinding like there was no tomorrow..........a bit of an odd crowd.............
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A real gem, a little known pub which delights on each visit. I just hope it doesnt get too popular...!
8/10
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Guv'nor used to run the now closed and much missed Archery Tavern by Lancaster Gate tube. That was an ace boozer and so's this. Best H&W beer I've had in a long while.
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Visited Saturday afternoon when it provided a welcome respite from the crowds on nearby Hungerford Bridge and the Embankment. Only the northern bar was open where there was a nice relaxed atmosphere.
There were three Badger ales on: Tanglefoot, Champion and Hopping Hare. Tried the Hare (�3.20) which in really good condition and went down a treat. The bar staff were efficient and welcoming, the pub was clean and well decorated and I would recommend it as a pub well worth visiting if you are near Charing Cross
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Decent pub with a lively but comfortable atmosphere. Both bars were open and well attended. I had a pint of hopping hare which went down well. This pubs always worth a look.
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Nice little pub, well 2 pubs really split by the passage outside. Nice place to go for a decent pint of Badger Beer and have a chat. No music, unobtrusive TV in the corner, well worth a visit if in need of a pint in the Charing Cross area.
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Nice little pub tucked up an alley where most of the tourists wouldn't think to look. Staff were friendly, beer was good and the building was really quirky. There are certainly better pubs in the area but this place is definitely worth popping into for a quick pint or two.
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Fine, welcoming pub situated at the end of Charing Cross arches off Northumberland Avenue and virtuaaly underneath the Railway Station.
It's a pub of two halves - a bar and a separate pub sign on either side of the passageway ( although the smaller bar on the south side of the passageway seems to be open only at certain times ). Older drinkers may remember when the pub was a Free House called the Ship and Shovel ( only one "l") and, what is now the south side bar was, if my memory serves me correctly, a small shop selling stamps and war related memorabilia ( badges, replica medals etc ).
It's now the Ship and Shovell ( 2 "l" s ) , acquired and reopened by Hall and Woodhouse ( Badger Ales ), many moons ago, after a period of closure. The new name relates to Admiral Shovell and a fine painting of him hangs over the fireplace on the right hand side of the north side bar. This bar ( the only half of the pub open on my recent Saturday lunchtime visit ) has a small bare boarded public bar style area on the left of the entrance and a larger, carpeted area on the right which is decorated in a faux traditional style with engraved glass, mirrors and naval pictures. Those who remember the pub in the 1970's, which it had a rather seedy lairy atmosphere, will, I suspect, be more impressed with the 2010 vintage.
The pub is listed in the 2010 GBG and, on my recent visit, the Badger Best - � 2.87p - was in good form. Other beers on were Tanglefoot, K& B Sussex and Hopping Hare, the seasonal beer.
Not a must visit pub, but worth dropping in if passing by
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As many others have already mentioned, this is a hidden gem of a pub stuck down a little back alley out of the way of the majority of the commuter class.
The pub itself is split into two with a bar in each. The service is excellent - we went in on Friday last week, and despite it being rammed the waitress still went to the trouble of bringing over some crisps to our table when they had run out at the bar.
Add to that the fact that you can drink lovely Badger beers - the Tangle Foot was very nice - and we even managed to get a table in the back, and it all adds up to one of the best pubs in London.
steej - 10 Feb 2010 16:50 |
Brilliant pub.
As the previous post states, you never have much trouble getting served, no matter how busy it gets.
Added bonus of being 1 minute walk to Gordon's Wine Bar, which is equally excellent.
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Despite always being busy I never seem to have too much trouble being served. Bar staff are very attentive. Had a couple of pints of Tanglefoot a couple of weeks ago. I generally use this pub when I'm travelling via Charing X. Now the high speed trains have started I'll be using St. Pancras more but shall still seek the S&S out.
How anyone can use the Boadicea up in Charing X station when this pub is only a couple of minutes walk away is beyond me!
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Did the touristy thing and took an old #15 routemaster towards Trafalgar Square en route to the Ship and Shovell. Hopped off the back end and strolled a block or so under the brick arch to the pub.
Very intrigued by the two pub setup; unfortunately the small one was closed. The larger pub was crowded, but easily slipped in near the bar and ordered a couple pints of Badger Bitter. Not too bad, but must come back and hit both bars.
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Another good visit to this fine establishment. Very busy on this pre Christmas evening with standing room only. But did not mind that as the well kept Badger beers are worth it and the Tanglefoot was particularly fine.
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What a hidden gem (well, 2 in fact), off the beaten path of one of the most touristey areas of London.
A terrific place to go for a quiet drink after work, friendly staff, a good choice of beers and drinks, the ladies toilet does need a bit of attention - On one side, it felt like they have crammed in another loo for the sake of having 3 tiddly loos than 2 good sized ones - I had to contort myself to get in! The other side is not as bad, mind :o)
It is well worth finding this place, as it is my little sanctuary in the middle of a very busy world.
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Am sure I posted a review about a year ago, but managed to pop into the 'snug' half of the Ship and Shovell the other night. Was surprised there was space to be honest as previously it's been packed.
A couple of pints of Pickled Partridge went down nice. Sat upstairs in a homely room. All in all, great place. Check it out if you're in the vicinity.
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Top Joint (TJ). Could offer tonic with the strong stuff however.
Poetic environment with plenty of newcomers.
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A hidden gem in near the worst tourist trap pub in the world! Ship and Shovell is on both sides of the narrow passageway. Tanglefoot was spot on. More locals than tourist makes this a nice quiet place to enjoy a pint.
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A stop-off here on a stag-related pub-crawl last Saturday, which was most welcome, not least for its double capacity on either side of the passage (an unusual and useful feature), but for its maintenance of traditional values based on good beer and good cheer. A mix of people were found already supping; the TV was on but was entirely unobtrusive. Service was speedy (in both bars), and the ale was found to be in sound form. I can confirm the Lemony Cricket is very pleasant, even though I am not a die-hard Hall & Woodhouse fan. It's more cricket than lemon. Other fellow quaffers seemed to be enjoying their Tanglefoots and First Golds too.
A pub that manages to cater for more current tastes without compromising its traditional outlook, which comes across as far more genuine than many an ersatz "olde worlde" boozer in London. Worth seeking out, tucked away just a few hundred yards from Embankment.
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This is still the best pub in the immediate area. Now in two halves � the part on the left as you come up the steps from Villiers St used to be Garvey�s sandwich bar. I remember when the original part on the right used to be a two-room pub. You can still see the original mosaic floor as you enter; turn left to the Public bar and right to the Saloon Bar. The old Public bar area to the left is nothing to write home about, but the Saloon Bar side remains very attractive with its portrait of the ill-fated Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell (after whom the pub is named) above the fireplace, and cut glass mirrors all along the back wall. But the Public Bar was one of the few places that you could get a real (Bass) back in the mid-70s.
OK, back to the present day then. This is a Hall & Woodhouse, with Badger Bitter, Tanglefoot and Lemony Cricket on. I wasn�t brave enough to venture into the unknown territory of Lemony Cricket, and went for the tried and tested Badger Bitter. Pretty good it was too, and at �2.80 a pint. This pub is definitely worth finding if you�re in the area.
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visited this excellent pub twice yesterday. Once for a business chat with a colleague over a pint at around four and then later at ten with a mate for a nightcap.
Well presented and well handled pints both times. i had the cricket, the tanglefoot and the badger. beer in top condition and the bar maid recognised me on my return and said "cricket wasn't it?" so friendly staff even if they are all students and make me feel like a very old man. Marvellous.
Plenty of room early afternoon and got a seat on entering in the evening. Having found it, and it being in a part of London I'm oftem passing through I can say with confidence I'll be back.
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Great boozer but unfortunately this pub is always seems far too crowded to me, seems that word has got out. 'Quiet drink?, you are having a giraffe. Lemony Cricket was on last time I went, goes down well. Don't recall too many pubs of two halves like this, adds a certain quaintness to it. For 35 year old drinkers and over I'd say, plus you don't seem top see too many women.
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Probably 20 years since I last visited. Popped in today, very nice pint of Badger. Friendly staff nice atmosphere, I will return
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Superb pub; hidden away from the common hordes. Great for those who want a quite drink or meet alone.
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Superb pub; hidden away from the common hordes. Get for those who want a quite drink or meet alone.
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the S and S goes from strenght to strengh, a great mix of regulars, locals and the odd tourist, great selection of ales, lagers and wines - good value considering the location - and oodles better than the pubs around it.
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Yes, it's a quirky, quaint pub in two halves, but as of Tuesday, I will remember this as the place where I probably tasted the worst pint of lager, certainly in recent years. It was how I imagined budget, alcohol free beer to taste, with a dash of meths. It was called 'export', but I can think of other names - and it wasn't cheap either!
It seems most people stand and drink outside the pub, so my tip is to buy something drinkable from Tesco Metro (for a third of the price) and consume it amongst the crowd, in the open air. Or better still, try another pub!
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I suppose to do this place properly you should have a drink in each side, but sadly not the time. The larger side has 4 pumps and a TV, the quieter opposite bar 3 pumps, all serve Hall and Woodhouse beers, not my particular favourite but ok for a bit of variety. Some nice etched glass in the larger bar, wood panelling in the neighbour, a strong naval theme throughout with pictures of ships and Admiral Cloudesley Shovell after whom the pub is named. A smaller bar upstairs is known as The Crows Nest.
An ok place but I can't help but feel it is as celebrated for its quirkiness as much as any other feature.
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It is a busy place, which is not a bad thing these days, a good chatty atmosphere. Lovely pint of Hopping Hare (one of three Badger ales on offer). Good pub (s).
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Interesting bar with good service and well-kept ale, but the crowds are overwhelming most weekdays starting late afternoon through the evening. Well worth a visit anyway.
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First time here or a number of years and it remains a superb and probably unique place being in two parts either side of Craven Passage. Dropped in earlier today (the smaller half was closed) to find a very crowded bar. Wood panelled wall and naval and military prints added to the cosy atmosphere.
Service was a bit slow which I can put down to the amount of lunch being served plus one plum who was taking orders individually from members of his round while being served - effectively acting as a messenger to the barmaid. Listen mate - get the drinks requirement first then approach the bar you dipstick.
Badger beers for the ale minded and a very clear tasting lager (can't remember the name but it was German) for the likes of me.
All in all a great place - only slight concern is I'm not sure what it's like later in the evening once Heaven gets going under the arches (if it's still open that is).
There are many crappy places in the West End but still a few gems of which the Ship and Shovel is one.
Well worth a visit.
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I originally saw this pub on this website - I hadn't seen it before. Over the weekend I was fortunate enough to find it (just down an alleyway from the tourist trap oub The Sherlock Holmes. Having the pub split in two and on opposite sides of the alleyway is a novelty. One side was busy so we opted for the other. Got a nice pint of Thirsty Ferret ale. Nice decor, quite laid back and quiet for a chat with the missus. Good.
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Have been here a few times and stopped off again the other night before embarking on a small crawl up to The Harp via The Nell Gwynne. Can't fault the beer here. Had a different one in each half of the pub (so that we could claim two stops on the Crawl ) and the Sussex and Tanglefoot were on top form.
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Will always hold a place in my heart as it is where I watched England win the Ashes in 2005. A gem in that it has Hall and Woodhouse beers. On the downside it is pricey.
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Famous pub of two halves underneath Charing Cross Station Platform. We decided to use the left hand side as you approach from the station. After arriving I realised I had visited once before, before I owned a GBG. That will teach me for not reading the review before deciding. Never mind it is certainly worth another visit. This is one of the nine Hall & Woodhouse pubs in London. Three hand pumps on yesterday Badger, Tanglefoot and Fursty Ferret. I can't say I am their biggest fan but the Tanglefoot was ok. I like the pub and how small it is with the intimate little snug at the back. One of my mates felt hot in the pub and suggested we drink out in the passage between the pubs. An upturned barrel worked well as our table. There were not any other drinkers outside as it was drizzling a bit. Whilst we were there a largish group of good natured crawlers with pirate shirts with nick names on the back left the other side. They took the banter well when they soon all returned again. A good pub that broke up our journey between GBBF at Earls Court and Liverpool Street.
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Warming to this pub. I am such a fan of the nearby Harp, but when there is a crowd this is probably better for standing outside. My memories of ten years ago of incredibly smoky bars now gone. Beers good, and not too expensive and friendly staff
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I liked it in this pub as it was a bit different standing outside between the two bars. I had a couple of pints from each side and they were all very good. The staff were also very friendly and I was served by a very posh sounding barman in the main bar.
I�d make a minor detour to have another few beers in here if I was in the locality.
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DATE OF VISIT: 21/05/08
First impressions were that it was decorated in a traditional way and seemed quite welcoming though I never went to both parts of the pub. Good choice of ales. I opted for the Hopping Hare (�3 a pint) and had the stake & ale pie which was very nice. Toilets were clean and the staff friendly. It seems to me that it's mainly frequented by city-types who just want a quick pint during a lunch break. It's not the sort of place I'd go to to spend an evening there but if you're waiting for a train or just passing by then that's fine but otherwise I wouldn't make a beeline to go there.
7/10
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A rare outlet for Hall & Woodhouse Badger beers in London and a short walk from Trafalgar Square. Unusually consists of two separate bars either side of a passageway. One side features some fine cut glasswork whilst the other has some nice wood-panelled booths. Both have the Badger range. A must for the beer aware tourist.
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good range of ales,well kept bar and friendly customers.
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Not to worry "Aleking" there is a good cross section of the food chain you have mentioned so everything should balance out ok
Good pub though,even if you would prefer to have a beer without the free animal show going on!
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I've not seen mice in the Sherlock Holmes, Gordon's Wine Bar, Motion et al. In fact, I've never seen a mouse in a pub, whether near a river or not.
Oh well, I guess I am in the minority. Perhaps if they had cockroaches, maggots or pigeons running around too then that would add even more character to the place.
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aleKing below is prob way too young to remember 'under the arches' here at Charing x the way it was before it was tidied up, with pret etc moved into Villiers St so that nowadays it is pretty much sanitised. Still a few great oddities along the passage leading to the S&S and a mild flavour of an older, messier London.
The Ship & Shovel is doing a great job not being 'updated' but keeping its many after office hours crowd and others happy. Always look in when passing. Re mice; its right by the river - all along these parts the basements and cellars run deep. Mice are an ever present problem for all establishments with sub-level areas along here and always have been. Part of city life to deal with them on an ongoing basis.
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Great little poky pub just off the Strand. Very unusual in that it is split in half by a street! Both sides nice.
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I"m with chrisF as they have"nt got a "pub dog" surely the next best thing is the old pub mice
I"m sure a lot of pubs in London have unwanted guests frequenting their establishments!!(personally i"d rather deal with a mouse!)
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UPDATE to my last review.
I am having a fantastic pint of Hoppy Hare when a mouse...yes, you heard me A BLOODY MOUSE...runs across the pub floor and nestles under a table.
Totally shocked, I approach the barmaid to point out that there are rodents scurrying around their pub. To which she replied, even more shockingly, they've known for the last few days and are trying to sort it out.
Sort it out? I'm not expert, but surely if food and drink are being served in a place where mice are running around freely, that must cause some issues with health and satfey legislaton.
We left very quickly after seeing the rodent.
Do not go here unless you like a nice pint of vermin faeces...
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A fantastic traditional English pub, serving the full range of Hall and Woodhouse beers including one of my top 5, Tanglefoot. Food adequate but not great. Generally standing-room only early evening and full of tossers in suits, but the beer is so good that this is usually tolerable. One half is cosy and with a dartboard upstairs (they have a team in the Trafalgar Dart league - Google it) and the other half in spacious. Me and my partner-in-crime recently derived immense pleasure from feeding the pub mice with dry-roast peanuts, late in the evening when the pub was emptying out.
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Excellent Badgers beer here on Saturday, near perfect. It's great having the choice of sides - just wish I'd been quick enough to snag a seat in the snug! A little treasure so close to Charing Cross.
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The one side isn't always open, but you must have a drink in both halves to count as visiting. However, I don't think you need to purchase a pint in both sides. Drinking half of it in one side and half in the other should suffice.
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Nice and quiet on saturday afternoon had a couple of pints of "sussex" very good.Listening in to the barmaids conversation with the Italian gentleman! who seems to be a regular and is allowed to put his shopping basket in the cloakroom (ahh the perks of being a regular).
She was saying it was packed last night and they took over seven grand behind the bar, perhaps it"s not as well hidden as we thought!
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The only pub in London built in two halves is it�s claim but it did present us with a problem on a pub crawl a year or so ago. Much debate took place about pub crawl rules upon encountering such an establishment, does going into only one count, must we go in both or maybe splitting into two groups would be allowed. In the end we decided we would all go into the smaller pub where we all plumped for the Badgers beer. As if to emphasise the size of the pub, the snug at the rear is little more than a broom cupboard with just enough room for two chairs and two people, who have to be really close friends. Take care going down to the toilets, the stairs are a bit difficult to negotiate, especially after a few beers. I have subsequently been into the larger of the two bars which is well decorated with a lot of mirrors and etched glass. The two bars are connected by a cellar that runs under Craven Passage.
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Coming from Embankment I choose the bar that would soon appear to my left with the intent of trying its right sided cousin before the evening had expired. Unfortunately I never made the journey from one side to the other but I will do next time I am in the area, for the bar to the left was a wondrous thing. They serve HB too, a refreshing and oft reasonably priced lager.
Good for: Christmas drinking!
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The Sussex Ale is just perfect in here. A great Lunchtime (or anytime) quiet place in the middle of London but tucked away from yer amateur drinkers on the Strand. great place to chill out and talk rubbish.
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This is becoming a favourite. Lovely Badger beers. A few snugs. Central location. Great old pub feel. What's not to like?
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Came in here while waiting for a train at Charing Cross. Had the K & B Sussex and a Fursty Ferret. Tanglefoot and First Gold were also on. Not sure about Badger beers, used to really like them but they have definitely got a taste of their own and I wouldn't want to drink them all night. Perfectly acceptable pub.
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This place is a lovely, quaint, pleasant little establishment. There are two pubs, set across the alleyway from each other, rach with their own personality it seems. They have the common though, the fact that they are friendly, reasonably priced, have a good selection of ales and good wines, very nice locals and staff all of whom seem to know each other and chat easily as well as incredibly interesting ship memorabilia all over the place. There are plenty of stools and some booths around the walls as well as room both inside and out to stand. It situated conveniently close to the Strand and the Embankment to be a useful starting point for a night out, but sufficiently hidden to not be a tourist haunt. Well worth visiting. Not tried the food though but looked ok.
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Went in for the first time one lunchtime this week. Nice unique style of pub over two sides of the lane. Female bar staff not that experienced but thats common these days.
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What a great pub. The location is lovely, tucked away down a passage yet easy to get to. The Badger is always in top condition in my experience and you feel like you're in a proper pub as it should be. One of my favourite pubs.
E.S.B - 28 Sep 2007 16:25 |
I don't really care one way or the other about the smoking ban, but it's made a huge difference to this pub. The Ferret tastes so much better. Looking forward to huddling around a table this autumn.
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Nice pub.
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This is one of the best pubs I've been in (both of them!), which considering some of the great pubs around London is saying something. Fantastic location and the Badger is excellent. Obviously it's not too cheap, but you expect to part with a fair few �s in this area, and this is worth it.
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A brilliant pub. Everything appropriate has been said other than you can get Stella here as well as HB if lager is your preference, though with the ale on offer it would be a bit of a waste. If you come in the evening, don't let the crowds outside fool you, the service is excellent and you'll get served quickly. Visit this place.
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Completely oblivious to its existence prior to last Thursdays visit (14th June), I feel strongly that I have found a quite delightful hidden gem of a pub in The Ship and Shovel. The interior was warm, cosy and wonderfully maintained. For a pub that obviously gets so much use, this is only something to be admired. There was a decent array of ales on offer although I stuck to Guinness. The clientele was unsurprisingly of the suited and booted variety, though I didn�t feel out of pace in my jeans and t-shirt. The pub is uniquely split in two sections with a non-smoking section across the road, although obviously there won�t be anything too different about it come July 1st. This is a pleasant and lovingly looked after pub which I have to say is a must visit.
HTM69 - 17 Jun 2007 14:17 |
Despite working in the area for 3 years, it was only recently I found out about this place. And what a pub. Honestly, I'd say it's in my top 5 across London. Really it's two pubs connected by the same cellar, but that just adds to the charm. Lager on tap is HB, so no Fosters or Stella, and there's a good range of ales if you like that sort of thing. One side is currently non-smoking, although the tables and steps outside will surely continue to provide for smokers following the ban. Good staff, who didn't try to force us out at 11:01pm.
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went there last friday 1st june. was really crowded outside but had plenty of staff working so getting served was a plaeasure and had gorgeous pint of badger beer.
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I do like this place a lot, although the last few weekday evenings it has proven Harp-esque in it crowdedness.
However, venturing in down there on Saturday afternoon and the slightly quieter, more spaced atmosphere was a hit. The seasonal ale � Hoppy Hare � was excellent and served in very groovy glasses, although a bit of a push at �3.
Definitely worth a visit.
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Awesome pubs split in two. The only boozer I know that's on both sides of a public highway. Great Tabglefoot ale and decent HB lager.
anonymous - 15 Mar 2007 10:17 |
Had a couple of good pints here in the no smoking pub across from the smoking pub. The Badger and K&B Sussex were both good. They also offered Tanglefoot and the smoking part had a seasonal on as well.
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Great beer here. Two pubs for the price of one. If you like beer, stop in The Ship and Shovel and have some.
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A quality pint of Badger in beautiful surroundings, the etched glasswork is wonderful and the place is kept clean and well-maintained.
The staff were knowledgeable about the beer being served and there was a buzzing atmosphere, with a nice mixture of folk inside.
Would've easily been able to settle in for a session if it were not for the other pubs I had to visit with my fellow crawlees!
Highly recommended, a great place to take a foreign guest in London.
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Great little pub, excellent hall and woodhouse ales. Can get busy, it's one of those pubs you don't want to tell too many people about as it's a real gem in London!
anonymous - 22 Feb 2007 22:24 |
Missing, for some inexplicable reason, from the Good Beer Guide. I have never had a bad pint here and the Badger range makes a welcome addition to beer variety in the area. Get in early if you want a seat.
mally - 17 Feb 2007 13:51 |
Excellent little pub with two bars either side of an alleyway linked by an underground passage. Had a couple of nicely kept Tanglefoot served by a friendly barmaid. It's busy but it's busy for a good reason and will go back again soon. 8/10
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Went in here on a Saturday afternoon before christmas. The beer is top quality and the place has the feel of a real boozer where kids are not allowed. I'll be going back as soon as I can.
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Been a regular visitor to this pub for the last 40 years (except when it was closed some years ago). It is one of the best pubs in the area - the Fursty Ferret and Festive Pheasant (when on) are all top notch beers. I remember when the current large bar (on the left from Northumberland avenue) had public and saloon bars, and the current smaller bar was an extremely popular sandwich bar - owned by John Garvey who also owned the pub. One of the few places to get a pint of real ale in the early 70s, where you could get Bass in the public bar. You do get a lot of office workers in there, which is inevitable for that area, but it is still the sort of place where you can prop up the bar with a few chums. Staff are very friendly, and it is still my favourite pub for meeting chums in the Whitehall area.
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Badger, Tanglefoot and Fursty Ferret (as well as the other guest ale, which I've forgotten) were all top-drawer.
The �split� nature of the pubs is quite interesting, although space is fairly limited in both. It was pretty busy but once things filtered down we got a place in the non-smoking side.
It is just a bit further along from the Sherlock Holmes (which I need to give another go) but I certainly will return to this place. A nice alternative option to the likes of The Harp or that Samuel Smith�s pub in the Charing Cross/Embankment vicinity.
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Paid a visit to "the pub of two halves" on Friday night after having read the encouraging reviews on BITE, and wasn't disappointed.
I didn't go into the larger 'smoking' half, but the non-smoking half (on the left if you approach from Villiers St) was small but cosy, with an attentive, friendly barmaid and a decent beer selection on offer. Both the Badger and Tanglefoot went down particularly well.
There isn't a lot of seating inside (unless you know where to look), but as the pub is situated on a passage rather than a road there is plenty of standing room outside between the two halves of the pub.
Just as importantly, the clientele was also nice and mixed. This included a variety of post-work suits, casual drinkers and travellers (of the rucksack-type not the gypsy-type!).
I would definitely recommend if you are near Charing Cross or Embankment stations as this is one of the better options in the area.
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Found this pub by accident several years ago and often use it as a meeting point before a trip to the India Club in the Aldwych. The beers are invariably well kept and the bar staff friendly. It's what I call a 'normal' pub with 'normal' people as clientele (ie. not shaven-headed, tattooed oiks!) I prefer the smaller pub opposite (especially at Christmas) and have only recently discovered the upstairs part which is rather nice. A splendid pub from the same Hall & Woodhouse stable as the Shaston Arms.
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This is a bit of an odd one for me. On the one hand it can be fantastic, yet on the other can be deeply disappointing.
I can not rave about the beer, as I have found it at times variable both in quality and sometimes it is served a little too warm for my liking. The staff can also be a little disinterested and also it is always full of braying accountants!
However it is an unspoilt boozer ideally placed for the station and it does a fine pickled egg. When its on form it can't be beaten and when it's just ordinary, well its still the best of the bunch
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Although not a great fan of Hall & Woodhouse (Badger) beer, this smallish pub hidden in a passage underneath Charing Cross station is one of these best in the area. Very busy in the early evening, but they also have a separate, quieter bar on the opposite side of the passage.
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The best pub around Charing Cross. A great selection of beers, and I've always found the staff to be very friendly. Can be a little smokey, but you have the option of the no-smoking pub on the other side (on the left if coming from the arches).
Be warned: you will get no mobile phone signal... could be a good or bad thing, depends on your circumstances!
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Great pub. Good beer, service and environment. Pity I didn't discover it before visiting many truly bad pubs in that area.
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If Martins still working there ask him to make you a Mad Dog....
You wont regret it much
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A visit to London will not be comlete for me now without a stop at the Ship and Shovel... I totally enjoyed landlords, Mac and Louise (I believe that is right...I had already had a pint at that point.) I would recommend this place to any friends visiting the area. The food, the beer, the friendly atmosphere...can't be beat!
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Have only recently started going here; since the new management. Don't know what it was like before but love it now. Great atmosphere, great location,very friendly and air conditioned!
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Im glad to see the cooments of other users about the Ship... Good Luck to the new management hope you enjoy working in the Ship as much as i did....
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I can't imagine going to a better pub or pub crowd to share a pint, a story or two and many laughs. The staff is always responsive and professional but most of all, friendly. I feel like a member of the family and frequently recommend to my friends.
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I can't think of a better place to pass an evening, or better staff to make passes at. Oh, I shouldn't have written that. In any event, it will certainly be my first stop next time I'm in London.
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This is a busy but friendly pub with a good selection of beers and excellent food. The staff are friendly and knowledgable. In particular the landlord has a quip for most comments you could throw at him and a positive attitude to boot! So if you want a decent pint, good pub grub and a bit of banter mixed in look no further!!
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I've been using the Ship and Shovell since it came under new management a couple of months ago and can't imagine that Redrover was in the same pub! My experiences there are consistently great. The beer is always good - especially the Stinger! - and the atmosphere always pleasant and welcoming. This is where I bring visitors to England as it is exactly what a proper English pub should be!
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This is a great pub, with great beers and dreadful food. There are usually barmaids to drool over. Best visited during the afternoon when it is generally quite. This doesn't matter as your mobile will be 'out of range' so nobody will be able to find out where you are. I've met some amazing characters here who enjoy their pints and a chat.
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I went into the quiet no-smoking half last night and was pleasantly surprised that it was air-conditioned: a real bonus in the muggy July evenings. Also a clue for how traditional pubs in the capital will be, once the smoking ban kicks in.
It's rather quaint in there, with a tiny snug, and a tiny bar which still manages to get 3 draught ales and a couple of lagers.
Surprisingly a lot of my London based friends have never heard of it, let alone found it (a mission in itself if you're not familiar with it already). Definitely worth a visit. But remember that mobile reception esp T-mobile is non-existent in the shadow of Charing Cross... that may be a blessing in disguise for some commuters who "miss their train".....
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�3 a pint about but I like it. The 2 halves have slightly different atmospheres. Nice beer everytime I go.
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A nice Hall and Woodhouse (Badger) pub. Somewhat pricey even for this area of town, but the pub itself (in particular the non-smoking section) is very nice. It's also great to be able to drink Badger ales on druaght in the captial.
anonymous - 22 Jun 2006 19:57 |
Interesting little pub, with the two bars on either side of an alley. Good range of beers. Well worth a visit.
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I am indeed talking about the girl with black hair - well said Steve!! Perhaps I caught her on a bad (very bad) day - but she was pants when I was in there.
As for my pint - I don't remember sharing it with anyone, let alone a Monkey, but as I did leave half of it - perhaps TheBeerMonkey finished it off.
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I presume he's on about the miserable barmaid with the black hair who hasn't smiled since birth. If you read the other reviews you'll notice that quite a few people have commented on the same thing. I think it's "strange" you haven't noticed it yourself.
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Always get a good pint in here and the bar staff are usually very friendly.
Don't know what the chap below is on about. Strange man.
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Should be called the Sh*t & Shovell Worst pint I've had the misfortune to be served for many moons.
Barmaid was about as interested in changing it as Tony Blair is stepping down as PM.
Won't be going back !!
0/10
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One word awful the worst pint ive had in a long time a very rude couldnt give a sh*t girl behind the bar I will not be returning in the forseable future
juzza - 23 Apr 2006 19:55 |
Personal favourite of mine, always seem to end up there if in the area... Can be a bit cramped (they don't seem to open the left hand half often enough?) but full of character. Great beer (can't go too far wrong with Badger)
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Decent enough pub for a quick drink-well maintained beers and pleasant staff.
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Nice pub, good beer, friendly bar staff....marvellous.
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Literally a Pub of two halves , and they are both pretty nice. Tucked away down a alley this place feels secluded despite being right next to Charing cross. Does a good range of Badger beers (generally a bit hard to find)and has a nice interior. Bit smoky maybe,but otherwise a winner.
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Was in this pub last saturday... The staff seemed alrite for a change... A mate of mine said he was in here one time and the girl behind the bar was rude to him and refused to top up his pint... I think this maybe an exception as this place is always heaving during the week... All in all a nice little pub a bit outta the way...
werty - 24 Feb 2006 21:57 |
Nice little boozer, with a good selection of ales. Girl behind the bar could do with lessons on how to smile, but all in all not bad.
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Very busy place but in an ideal location for lots of West End attractions without the prats. I really like it and the staff are friendly and efficient. Very pleasant on a Saturday lunchtime.
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Couple of mates of mine have been unwell - both after drinking there, they say, but on different occasions. They both said the glasses were not very clean. An easy comment to make, and I wasn't there, so don't know.
Both now avoid it.
Suspect this was a one-off [or a mistake], unless half of the City [which seems to drink there] is going down ill.
Another mate, of course, won't drink anywhere else!
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I like this place, even though it is very smoky. We didn't try the food this time, but previously was pretty good. The beers are always in very good condition and the Tanglefoot has it's usual 'wolf in sheep's clothing' effect. Given the alternatives in the area, I would always rate this highly.
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Rather tastey beer on the pumps. Food, that was on the pumps too. Badgers - nice. Enough mirrors and great location. I agree about the temperature.
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Often extremely busy weeknights after work - especially from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. This means no tables, slow service, very smoky, etc. Curiously, also, it's uncomfortably warm immediately under the heater and uncomfortably cold near the door. Better later on - or when both 'parts' of the pub (both sides of the alley) are open to the public and not used for private parties. Didn't try the food (lunchtimes only), but enjoyed nice pints of Badgers Best and Sussex.
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Really wanted to go in, but it was closed on the Sunday! Meet me for a pint!!
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Fair few beers on offer but at �3.10 a pint it's a bit of a steep price to pay, staff were hard work....nah, won't go there again!
anonymous - 23 Oct 2005 14:37 |
A wonderful treat - wander thru the Arches and up to the pub. Liked the Fursty Ferret on offer. Busy but not overwhelmingly so. Particularly considering the masses thundering up and down Villers street. Well worth a visit.
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Must get something right - it's crowded, perhaps too crowded, almost all the time!
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Very good pub for real ale - it's a Badger pub and very un-London in many regards.
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If I'm in sore need of Tanglefoot or King & Barnes Sussex I usually end up here - where I know they serve good beer - have taken quite a few friends to it - who get a kick out of the pub being split across the passage. If I'm organising a crawl this pub normally gets on it!
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A decent london pub split into two on either side of a narrow alley. Quite unusual, good beer and food, and a cosy place to be in the winter. Best near Charing Cross for a post-work drink.
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Never had a problem with service, although it's one of the busiest pubs in the area during warm periods. You can cut the air with a knife if you're in the small bar, so unless you smoke camels you're better off in the other one.
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3 bar staff on they were chatting waited 5 mins to get served didn't left.
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This is a comment of a tourist.
There was a very nice atmosphere in this small pub and we had a really good time there, drinking very good beer. Lovely.
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This is a great place, good Badger beers and the food I had was good although sparing. Bar staff had a little difficulty understanding the orders on the day I visited.
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A bit difficult to find at first but well worth the effort.Beer is always on form and the staff friendly and polite.The smaller bar is open as well at busier times.
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Some very good beers in here. Very smoky though I noticed. A thick fog of the stuff. One summer (July I think) a few years ago they put on a Christmas special with turkey roast & all the trimmings, fake snow, gluhwein, the lot. Did they do it this year? Would love to try that in July.
Lawrence - 4 Nov 2004 13:09 |
A lasting memory of our trip to the UK will be the honesty of the staff at the Ship and Shovell - a lively London pub. It was at the Ship and Shovell where we had lunch prior to departing for Gatwick. We met a wonderful New Zealander who was working on that Saturday August 14th as well as several bar staff who were busy with drink and food orders. As we relaxed watching the sports events on the screen we left our camera draped over the back of one of the chairs. When we departed we inadvertently left the camera behind. After reaching Gatwick and discovering the camera missing, my husband returned to the Ship and Shovell Pub with little hope of finding the camera. The bar was busy when he entered but the staff motioned to the counter where our camera had safely been placed. What a wonderful end to our holiday and a great trip to London. Thank you to all who took the time for the Canadian family from Stratford, Ontario.
Ann - 24 Aug 2004 17:01 |
I love this place, an oasis for commuters bereft of trains. Managed to find the room upstairs last time I went. Smelt spookily like Grandma's house but still the beer makes up for it.
Amanda - 20 Aug 2004 11:29 |
One of central Londons little gems thanks to it being tucked away in Craven passage.
Beer usually in good nick (Badger and some nice germans stuff)
Paul - 26 Apr 2004 18:31 |
I just love this pub and visit it lunchtimes when possible and occasional evenings. Staff are always friendly and polite; beer is never disappointing and reasonably priced considering the locality. Don't understand mention
of Richard Harris. He must have strayed far from the Coal Hole.
john - 7 Jan 2004 21:36 |
A great little place! Nice atmosphere and decent beer. First time I went in there I ended up at the next urinal to a very pissed Richard Harris! He was kissing the mirror saying " Oh Dickie, Dickie, you're beautiful...". That's how pissed he was.
Bob - 20 Oct 2003 13:45 |
Great place - had a fantastic time there last night, most people spilled out into 'Cravens Passage' (fnar!) for some outside drinking. 4 pint jugs of pilsner for 7 quid - can't be bad!! No hangover either, which is quite frankly miraculous!
Pauly H - 31 Jul 2003 16:30 |
Always full of suits, but you can always get a seat upstairs in the left hand side pub (approaching from Arches). They even send your beer up in the lift!!
Arturo Bandini - 16 Jun 2003 13:05 |
I would say this is one of Londons little treats...keep quite about saturday night or everyone will know!! Badger beer is wonderful. during the week is full of Suits...
Phil Harris - 6 Jun 2003 15:21 |
one of my favourite pubs in london...a regular stop on my way back home. this place attracts a good crowd unlike many of the pubs in this area. friendly atmosphere, friendly and efficient staff.
lucaslimon - 26 May 2003 00:41 |
Terrible! staff all wearing amusing comedy ties found them so funny couldn't be bothered to serve. Beer awfull and expensive
arturo_morales - 21 Mar 2003 10:04 |
Situated up the steps at the end of the Arches, off Villiers Street, this is a nice little pub. Tucked away enough that 10 of us could get seats on a Saturday night, it was still lively with a good atmosphere. Actually has 2 small premises, one either side of the street, under the same name. Which is odd. No easy-drinking Aussie favourites on tap, but whatever we had tasted good...
Pauly H - 18 Nov 2002 11:40 |
bonus marks for Hofbrau on tap!
Darren - 11 Nov 2002 17:11 |
