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Ship, Kirby-le-Soken


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This busy, friendly free house is one of two historic pubs in an historic village, but the Ship has only been a pub since the late 18th century – having been converted from two cottages.

The original cottages were of that classic Essex rural style – a timber frame hung off a sizeable central brick stack with a boarded and rendered exterior – and the pub retains that traditional appearance today, albeit with a modern extension to provide extra dining space. Budding architectural historians can try to find the taper burns on the mantel beam in the right-hand bar.

The Ship might seem like an odd choice of name for a landlocked pub but, it is a short walk from Kirby-le-Soken's ancient quay where barges were once filled with grain. Today the pub is an ideal refuelling base for exploring the picturesque Walton Backwaters.

In addition to the two main bar areas and dining room the pub has a covered outdoor seating area and a very large beer garden with permanent marquee for functions.

The Ship has a wide selection of menus including lunch, dinner, bar menu, snacks and nibbles, and smaller main menu portions are available "for little tums". The pub also welcomes well behaved dogs.

Real ale is dispensed from handpumps on the bar and there is a beer festival in June each year with up to a dozen real ales and ten ciders on gravity in the marquee.

The Ship was awarded Tendring CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year in 2017, 2018 and 2023.

Information for this venue is provided by the Tendring Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Ship Inn
Local Authority
Tendring District
Last updated
10/03/2025
Last surveyed
26/02/2019
Leasehold owner
unknown
Freehold owner
unknown
Pub ID
TND/11017
Asset of Community Value
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Wednesday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Thursday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Friday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Saturday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Sunday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Monday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Tuesday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Wednesday
Noon - 2:30pm & 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Thursday
Noon - 2:30pm & 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Friday
Noon - 2:30pm & 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday
Noon - 9:00pm
Sunday
Noon - 5:00pm
Monday
Noon - 2:30pm & 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Tuesday
Noon - 2:30pm & 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Current beers

This Pub serves 3 changing beers (Changing beers from many different breweries have featured) and 3 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen
Adnams - Southwold Bitter
Adnams - Southwold Bitter

Session Bitter

ABV: 3.7%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No

This beer is served regularly.

Adnams - Broadside
Adnams - Broadside

Red Ale

ABV: 4.7%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No

This beer is served regularly.

Adnams - Ghost Ship
Adnams - Ghost Ship

Premium Pale Ale

ABV: 4.5%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No

This beer is served regularly.

Source: National


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Facilities
Lunchtime Meals Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals Evening Meals
Garden Garden
Family Friendly Family Friendly
Parking Parking
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Function Room Function Room
Games Games
petanque
Newspapers Newspapers
Real Fire Real Fire
Restaurant Restaurant
Separate Bar Separate Bar
Wi Fi Wi Fi
ask for key at bar
Features
Real Ale Real Ale
Real Cider Real Cider
Approx. 10 available at any given time, from places like Snailbank, Wibblers, Lilleys and many others.
Quiet Quiet
Transport
Close to bus routes
Hedingham & Chambers: 107, 98, 98A
Closest station (2000m)
Kirby Cross

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