Ship Inn in Exeter

Absolutely brilliant karaoke night with the locals at the ship thankyou

We visit friends once or twice a year and always make a point of heading here. The signature burger was amazing this time round. There are plenty of drink choices, even when they had a problem with the beer pumps.

Family gathering ..really nice place.. good food & drinks we had a good time

Whilst in Exeter for a couple of weeks, it was an absolute delight discovering the Ship Inn. The staff were always bright and friendly, greet you with a Hello and a smile, I was amazed to see the level of help given to a disabled customer by young staff meeting his needs. On a number of occasions, staff assisted new customers ordering food who had food allergies, not only by using a tablet but verbally and professionally. The bar staff and serving staff were supported by team leaders throughout my visits, who also greeted customers in a friendly manner. Although I don’t know their names, one had a lovely regional Scottish accent and the other I think was Polish. If not team leaders, they should be! Although I didn’t eat at the Ship, the food looked lovely and seems well priced. All in all a wonderful old pub with great atmosphere and brilliant service…..I’ll be back….thank you….!

Fish and chips are excellent however still missas scampi and chips no idea why it's no longer on the menu.

Lovely building with a lovely atmosphere. Staff attentive and friendly, food excellent, hot and reasonably priced. Would certainly recommend this to anyone.

Friendly pub with great food, drinks and atmosphere.

Lovely historic pub with lively crowd, great staff and very good food.

This incredible old pub could not be more English. It has a long history - apparently Sir Francis Drake frequented here! Stumbled across it on the way to the cathedral and popped in for a Guinness. They had run out of the roast so had the pie… it was excellent. A generous serving. Staff were great… really fantastic experience!

Friendly staff, good service and good traditional pub food. Will definitely return when visiting Exeter in future. Recommend.

Excellent little pub down the ally from the Cathedral. The staff were absolutely brilliant and friendly and very helpful. The food was Amazing well presented. Most Definitely go back again well Recommend. Absolutely fantastic place.

Extremely beautiful place with amazing atmosphere. Will be visiting more often.

Had an evening meal on two nights, on both nights the staff were friendly, efficient and really took an interest in what they were serving whether it be food or drink. The chicken Kyiv was wonderful. On the second night the lights went out due to an electricity short. The staff didn't panic and the situation was handled calmly by the staff. Good beer, good food, good atmosphere and Sir Francis Drake’s local to boot!

I had a really good steak and Guinness here, and the customer service - courtesy of Indi, was great!

Lovely old pub near the cathedral.

The food was great lots of selection seasoned dishes meat lovers and vegetarian too food served really hot very old timber structures

Love it here ,always pop In when I come home . Steeped in history ,how could you not love it. Huge range of beers on tap could keep you there a while. Highly recommend to visitors of Exeter.

Great atmosphere and excellent food.

Best burger I've had in a long time. We also ordered the steak and ale pie which was equally delicious. Friendly staff who were really helpful too. Had a great catch up here with friends from all over the country. We will be back again.

The Ship in was recommended about 400 years ago by Sir Francis Drake, and I agree with his good taste. Lovely ambience. Decent cider, reasonable food and sensible prices.

Great old inn with lots of character. Food was excellent - Steak and Ale pie, Eton mess. Staff were efficient and friendly.

Live music Great atmosphere. I highly recommend it

We visited on a relatively quiet Wednesday lunchtime, but there were still plenty of diners. We opted for light lunches of a rare steak on ciabatta and a chicken and bacon sandwich with a side order of thrice-cooked chips to share. Both sandwiches were extremely nice - though I'll admit I added extra mayo to mine. We were looked after by the staff who ensured our table was clean and that we were happy but weren't intrusive. The inn has a lot of history, the atmosphere had a gentle buzz and the backing track wasn't too loud and conversation was easy. The ladies' loo was clean and attractive. We agreed we'd love to come back next time we're in Exeter.

Really nice pub, unfortunately they were out of the "today's specials"!

Specials were so good they ran out of two items. Loved the grilled cabbage and shrimp burger .

Called for lunch whilst staying in Exeter and ordered our meals. We were not told there would be a delay but after not less than 30 minutes asked when we might get our food. Staff apologiesd and said we should have been told to expect a delay. About 10 minutes later our meals came which were very good. Further apologies were made and we were offered a complimentary second drink on the house. Yesterday we ate at Wetherspoons for quality food and prompt service at a much more competitive price. Greene King take note!

A very characteristic quaint pub serving good food with excellent service and a friendly, comfortable atmosphere

This is the oldest pub in Exeter hidden away down a lane near the cathedral, with excellent fish and chips and great real ale. Friendly staff and good service

This is an enchanting place to visit. Full of history dating back to Sir Francis Drake in the mid 1500s. Great food wide selection wonderful atmosphere. Highly recommended.

Went for a beer. Lovely atmosphere; very historic, good well kept cask ale. Go upstairs for even more comfort in nice leather seats. Didn't eat so can't comment on that

Nice pub, great location, loved the atmosphere

We had passed by this pub and glanced in the last time we were in Exeter. This time when we were looking to eat we saw their board on the main street and remembered our passing it. We decided to go in and see what it was like. It's beautiful, like being transported back in time. Being a Sunday, we had the option of a roast, which I took. I have to say that it was the best roast that I have ever tasted away from home. My husband chose the pie (he didn't want to be disappointed by yet another tasteless roast). He said that the pastry was sublime and everything well flavoured. My son-in-law had a burger. He said that it knocked the socks off the one he had had around the corner by the cathedral. If you are thinking of going in here, please do!

Lovely old atmospheric pub right near the cathedral. It’s everything that a tourist would hope for, with the addition of good beer and food! However, the photo below shows the state of the door to the men’s room. It is beyond disgusting. The inside of the door was much worse, but I didn’t want to be seen to be taking photos in the loo! It is disgusting to think that staff and other customers are touching this and then serving food, handling glassware etc. this door should NOT be repainted- it should be removed and burned and replaced. I visited the website of the company who own this pub but couldn’t find a mechanism to report this sickening situation. Whomever is supposed to be managing this pub - isn’t.

Great place to be. Lovely pub with excellent food and very friendly staff. Best fish and chips I had in a long time! Loved the open mic session. Will definitely come back next time we are here.

Beautiful pub, the food is also very good! Perhaps the service needs improvement, because we waited 45 minutes before eating! Slow service and you have to order from the app or go to the counter.

Super beautiful and really cute. The staff is friendly and knows a lot about the drinks. The food is plenty good and authentic for a pub..

This is a very old pub with low beams and limited space. It is down a passageway connecting the grassed area in front of Exeter Cathedral and the pedestrianised shopping area. The staff are friendly and the food is straightforward pub food. If you like old buildings this would be perfect. If you like more space perhaps you'd find it a little restricted. I enjoyed my visit to meet a friend. We had ciabatta steak sandwiches and non-alcoholic drinks but they have a good selection of beers. It would be an ideal place to have lunch or an evening meal after visiting the cathedral.

Found staff very friendly but found the pub to be too dark.

Can't comment on atmosphere service or quality of the food. By far the worst pint I have ever been served. Three attempts at a pint of cider. Three attempts at a pint of San Miguel. Never again will I darken the door. Overall abysmal avoid at all costs.

Love this little pub .. great staff

Nice little pub hidden among…. Well- Exeter 😂 this is the definition of a hidden gem. Nice atmosphere and nice to find something with heritage. Not a chance anyone in the world could bite into the burger- but tasted awesome just the same- what a beast!

Rude staff more interested in eating or playing with TV remotes than actually selling beer. I have been coming to this pub for nearly forty years and have never been treated so badly.

Indi, Jacob and Hugh were amazing, so accommodating !!!

Que la légende soit vraie ou pas, on pourra dire qu’on a dîné au même endroit que le célèbre pirate ! 400 ans plus tard il reste une ambiance taverne historique très sympa. Côté assiette, une recette de pie inédite à la viande avec chou braisé.

The atmosphere was great, food was excellent and the staff friendly

Always bustling , Friday and Saturday evenings karaoke or disco , probably the best atmosphere in Exeter. Food pretty good .

Great service,friendly staff food amazing ,the Mac n cheese and vintage burger is a must! We came ere 2 years ago and still impressed !!

Mitten in der Innenstadt befindet sich dieses typische und vor allem traditionsreiche englische Pub. Es ist sehr beliebt, daher ist eine Reservierung empfehlenswert, wenn man am Abend essen will. Die Speisen und Biere sind dem Ambiente entsprechend und haben uns von der englischen Küche (Pies bzw. Bangers&Mash) überzeugt. Ein schönes Erlebnis und guter Einblick in die lokale Gastronomie!

Didn't realise it was a Greene king pub, the pub itself was nicely kept to it's original state, the ales on tap were nice and the food was exceptionally good. Would highly recommend this pub!

Quite quiet on a Sunday . But it is so pricey

Was served by Lily and Georgia, absolutely phenomenal service! Would 100% return!

Well, what to say about this piece of history? You must visit this pub, even only for a short drink. Enjoy the old historic ambience and read something Francis Drake! Don’t miss it.

A very nice and very old pub (mediaval times) close to the cathedral. Some evenings with live music. At the first floor a beautiful and calme area for dining. The food was very good; classical pub foid, daily specials and evening roasters. Very friendly staff.

Went for a few pints and ended up with Sunday Lunch - Roast Beef & Pork Belly - was an excellent portion size, great taste and the Thatchers Haze went down far too well…

Great selection of drinks, very helpful and friendly staff, good food. I do recommend The Ship as a pleasant place to socialise with friends. BUT please, sort out the toilets. Especially the ladies. Only one was in working order and the bolt on the door on the one loo in operation needs to be dealt with.

Great staff. Lovely steak and ale pie. Beautiful little pub. Happy days.

Great little pub, great history, amazing food, proper old fashioned pub with an up to date menu and drinks 😁

Great pub to have drinks with friends and family. It is always full of happiness and it is a good pub for everyone staff are awawesome

Had a lovely steak meal with a friend

Run out of Sunday roasts. Wine was awful. Poor selection of real ales

An enjoyable pub for the most part. The food was superb although I'd say portion size wasn't as big as it could be. Staff were super friendly and helpful.

A perfect English inn to visit an have a few beers in

Great service from Aria she has a lovely smile, the food is good comes out on time. The pub is clean and tidy and the beers are always poured correctly

Always a great night out! Not even sure why it's so good! Lol

Very nice rooms and very comfortable beds can't fault the cleanliness as well I will be definitely going back. Nice friendly staff. A bit of a trek to the room but well worth it in the end

Lovely old fashioned pub, wished we'd had more time there.

Very warm welcome, caring, calm. Variety of dishes offered, of good quality.

Lovely old school booze , cracking pint and some lovely chicken wings, really friendly and helpful staff, great find, will definitely return when In the area

Bland food, tasteless fish, dry peas. Pleasant atmosphere and fast service, very pretty places, copious dishes.

Lovely old pub . Excellent value for money meal . Great staff very friendly and helpful. Our meal while it may not be haute cuisine it’s just good honest pub food , not pretentious and three times the cost . Good work keep it up .

The ambiance is just magical just like being on an old galleon. We ordered food and beers the service was top drawer. We had a starter and main and the food was excellent. It is overall very well priced and the crab stater excellent. Well done to the ship.

Beautiful old building, a classic pub that has always been a pub. The security was friendly and kind enough to give us a very interesting history lesson about the place.

First visit to the Ship as visiting for Rugby. Food was amazing and staff were above and beyond, bearing in mind it is a busy pub. I will definitively return next I am next in Exeter

Visited for a meal on a very busy Saturday night. Despite being very busy, the service was outstanding.

Cosy pub with normal British pub food.

The staff are friendly and can pour a great tasting Guinness. It’s good to still have proper pubs in Exeter. Will visit again soon.

A great old traditional pub, very welcoming and friendly. The food was wholesome and hot. I had the steak and ale pie and for desert I had a delicious frangipane. The best bit was due to the fact it was a Monday and raining I was offered a free pint. Needless to say that lifted my spirits, no end. Would definitely recommend and hope to return soon.

Excellent pre rugby meeting venue.

Well located near the cathedral, for a reasonably priced meal. There were 6 of us wanting a quick lunch and it did take longer than we had hoped to be served. Nice old pub with atmosphere and food was OK for the price: it filled us up.

Came here once to watch the open mic night, and another time to catch up with friends. The atmosphere is very homely and the barstaff are super friendly and welcoming. The only thing is that i think there should be a security guard or something as a couple of men did get rowdy and made me and my friend a little uncomfortable at one point. Other than that i couldn’t fault the place and i had a great night!

Lovely lunch after shopping for an outfit for my sons wedding.

Best pub I’ve tried in the UK. Great food.

We only stayed for a drink but will be back for a meal. Wonderful venue... so steeped in history. Very central and easy to find.

Delicious home made food, thick chips, had to ask for my steak to be put on the grill a little longer, could have done with more peppercorn sauce, waitress friendly and attentive and brought our drinks over

Such a quaint pub, steeped in history and atmosphere. It gets top marks for being dog friendly too. Came for an anniversary meal, and was not disappointed. Super food and drink, well presented and very reasonably priced. What is not to like?

Lovely bar Great staff and good selection of drinks and ales

Another great pub in the wonderful city of Exeter.

Steak was chewy. Very nice interior.

The food is absolutely impeccable, and the service is outstanding. The venue is completely secluded, tucked away from the city, boasting obsolete historical architecture, and offers an extensive selection of beers and ciders.

What a fantastic old pub, apparently haunted, worth a visit

They know how to feed and can move from country to country for you for a pre booked set menu. Real ales add to the experience.

Awesome food awesome staff and awesome atmosphere our first time here me and my bestie went for evening meal and stayed for the Karaoke it was just fantastic!

Fabulous food and amazing staff who work tirelessly under pressure to deliver great customer service. The fact that dogs are welcome and given equal service by providing treats and water is a bonus. Simply the best old pub in Exeter. Thankyou

I was in the ship and the staff are very welcoming and friendly thay have people skills which is important

One of my favourite pubs in town! The food was delicious - I had a burger and chips. Aria was so attentive and made sure we had everything we needed, including changing the sauce that came with my burger. Thank you aria! We will be back.

I booked the Ship for 3 on a Saturday night after reading the reviews and we weren’t disappointed. The venue was very busy so it is essential to book a table. What an excellent venue. Once ordered our food came quickly, you can also order from your table via the App. The beer was especially good and well kept, prices too were good value and it was a pleasure to be served by the cheerful hard working staff. Will definitely go again.

What a massive disappointment, we have been here many times before for food and it has been delicious but this visit was so disappointing as all 4 of our roast that came out looked lovely but they were all cold so we mentioned it and they replaced them but AGAIN they were all cold again which should never have happened. My daughter went to complain but was not even offered an apology and the manager didn’t seem bothered at all which was a little upsetting , if this was my business I would have been so apologetic and also given them a drink on the house .

It's a lovely pub but if your sat at a table near the men's toilet the smell is very unpleasant we sat by the machine and had to move due to the smell. Which is a real shame as its a nice place.

Found by accident, a charming old pub full of character. Sir Francis Drake apparently liked it here, if it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for me! A good selection of real ales, which always attracts me. Got there early on Sunday lunchtime before it got too busy, the food coming out looked great, but when I went past later on, it was packed in there so it’s obviously a popular pub.

We took my daughter back to Uni and stopped here for lunch at her choosing. It was a great place, decorated well with wood ceiling beams. We sat upstairs at a coffee table and needed to pull up a chair because it was busy. The food came very hot and fresh and was all delicious. I had macaroni and cheese, which was the perfect portion size and came with salad. My daughter had the soup, which was also delicious. My husband had a burger. He liked the sauce. I’d recommend the ship!