The Ship, located on the water's edge at Wandsworth, is a full eight miles away from thecriticalcouple headquarters so what was it then that prompted us to make the journey to SW18 for lunch? Well, for those of you active in the world of Twitter, you might have come across @ShipWandsworth and if you have, you'll know that there's an infectious enthusiasm for what they're doing down in this historic Wandsworth pub. Following these Tweets, everything that I came to know about The Ship suggested it was a pub with a soul and that's worth travelling for.
We admit that on arrival, just viewing the outside, we both thought it needed a lick of paint to spruce things up somewhat but on venturing inside, the place offered an enveloping warmth due to both the wood fire burning in the main bar and the friendly buzz of the room.
We we're also surprised how big it is; from the outside it looked a 'normal' size but once inside it seemed to cover a much more substantial area. It maybe large but it sure wasn't empty with the pub was doing a rockin' trade across a balanced customer base which is always a good sign. What's more, given it's size, it is able to operate a distinct dining room as well as sizeable traditional pub area. We've commented before in relation to gastro-pubs like The Gun that the food orientation had become so dominant as to effectively remove the pub element from its DNA but at The Ship, with the food area occupying its own separate space, the pub element is very much alive and well.
As befits a pub, there's a good range of real beer on sale: being a Young's pub, the usual range of Young's ales were on tap but so was Bombardier as well as Wandle Ale from the local Sambrook's Brewery which I tried for the first time while there and very much enjoyed. There is if you want it a wine list with prices offered to suit most pockets but we decided to stick to bar drinks for the duration of our visit - a visit that turned out to be a much longer affair than we had originally planned.
We admit that on arrival, just viewing the outside, we both thought it needed a lick of paint to spruce things up somewhat but on venturing inside, the place offered an enveloping warmth due to both the wood fire burning in the main bar and the friendly buzz of the room.
We we're also surprised how big it is; from the outside it looked a 'normal' size but once inside it seemed to cover a much more substantial area. It maybe large but it sure wasn't empty with the pub was doing a rockin' trade across a balanced customer base which is always a good sign. What's more, given it's size, it is able to operate a distinct dining room as well as sizeable traditional pub area. We've commented before in relation to gastro-pubs like The Gun that the food orientation had become so dominant as to effectively remove the pub element from its DNA but at The Ship, with the food area occupying its own separate space, the pub element is very much alive and well.
As befits a pub, there's a good range of real beer on sale: being a Young's pub, the usual range of Young's ales were on tap but so was Bombardier as well as Wandle Ale from the local Sambrook's Brewery which I tried for the first time while there and very much enjoyed. There is if you want it a wine list with prices offered to suit most pockets but we decided to stick to bar drinks for the duration of our visit - a visit that turned out to be a much longer affair than we had originally planned.
black treacle cured organic salmon, pickled beetroot, pumpkin puree and Avruga
The dining room itself is in the traditional old London pub style with exposed brickwork, overhead beams and a wood burning stove in the centre of the room. There's an a la carte menu as well as more traditional pub fare like pies listed on the chalk board.
We took a broad selection from across the menu with the full order seen in the pictures below. The Ship looked after us with a foie gras terrine with pistachio, pear, apple and herb chutney, celery salt and walnut bread to start us off. Foie gras is always a good way to start anything really and the chutney salad added a nice lift to the gras.
We took a broad selection from across the menu with the full order seen in the pictures below. The Ship looked after us with a foie gras terrine with pistachio, pear, apple and herb chutney, celery salt and walnut bread to start us off. Foie gras is always a good way to start anything really and the chutney salad added a nice lift to the gras.
roasted pork belly, caramelised white cabbage, fondant potato, bacon dumpling, crackling and sage sauce
The home smoked duck breast, confit duck rillette and cumberland jelly was next up and this, like all the dishes today, came attractively plated suggestive of a kitchen that cares. With two 'naughty' plates to start, and it being Xmas and all that, I thought what the hell and had the roasted pork belly, caramelised white cabbage, fondant potato, bacon dumpling, crackling and sage sauce. This indulgence seemed like a second Xmas dinner and the pork belly was excellently cooked and was fatty enough for flavour without being so fatty that it leaves you wondering where the pork is as can often be the case.
For dessert, I choose the creme brulee and shortbread biscuit, while our dining companion friend , unable to decide between the sticky toffee pudding and the chocolate marquise left the decision to the kitchen and was looked after with both on his plate in tasting portions. I would have liked the creme brulee to have been a little lighter and I had not chosen the sticky toffee pudding for the very reason that I didn't think I could manage a heavy option, but overall, this was a satisfying meal. Furthermore, with a three course meal coming in comfortably under £30 it's also good value.
For dessert, I choose the creme brulee and shortbread biscuit, while our dining companion friend , unable to decide between the sticky toffee pudding and the chocolate marquise left the decision to the kitchen and was looked after with both on his plate in tasting portions. I would have liked the creme brulee to have been a little lighter and I had not chosen the sticky toffee pudding for the very reason that I didn't think I could manage a heavy option, but overall, this was a satisfying meal. Furthermore, with a three course meal coming in comfortably under £30 it's also good value.
Following the food we returned to the bar area where we would comfortably pass several more hours grouping up with a trio of young chefs who were also eating there that day. And so it was a very comfortable place to pass the day with The Ship being everything that a good pub should be. The Ship's General Manager, Oisin Rogers, also known as @Mcmoop in Twitterland was a congenial host who really looks after his guests. Sure, he knew we were bloggers but it was easy to see that every one of his guests is important to him. On The Ship's website he says 'I'm really proud of The Ship and all the crew who work with me' and that really comes across.
We would rarely travel the length of London to go to a pub unless it was somehow special but the Tweets of both @ShipWandsworth and @Mcmoop suggested The Ship might just be that. Indeed, the place is made by Oisin and the environment he's created and we had a really great day there in really great company. Now, if they'd only relocate it eight miles East we'll certainly become regulars.
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Related posts: Guinea Grill
Related posts: The Grapes
We would rarely travel the length of London to go to a pub unless it was somehow special but the Tweets of both @ShipWandsworth and @Mcmoop suggested The Ship might just be that. Indeed, the place is made by Oisin and the environment he's created and we had a really great day there in really great company. Now, if they'd only relocate it eight miles East we'll certainly become regulars.
Return to homepage
Related posts: Guinea Grill
Related posts: The Grapes
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