The Ship in Chelmsford

No Guinness, 2 out of 3 draught beers off, no offer to put new barrels on! Peculiar service. Won't be rushing back.

Since the first time I visited this lovely pub, I have tried as much as possible to come back. We had our work Christmas lunch here and the service was less than stellar. The food was delicious and not a single plate had leftovers. My colleagues have since come back. I often go with my puppy and she is always welcomed there. I love to enjoy a meal there with my wife pup! Cannot praise this place enough.

Lovely food and wine. Great service. Good value. Unfortunately very quiet. Definitely pay this place a visit. You won't be disappointed.

The food was OK once received. However we were a large party and despite pre ordering our meals prior to arriving we had a one and a half hours delay to get our meals. It might have been even longer had we not threatened to walk out. The staff were visibly upset by the delay and very apologetic but it did put a dampener on the whole day

Visited on the off chance they had a table for 2 available on a busy Sunday. Very welcoming and they kindly squeezed us in. Service was friendly and prompt. Sunday roast chicken and lamb was lovely just right. Proper gravy and condiments offered. Found a gem and definitely recommend and will visit again. Seems like a popular place.

This pub is great! The manager Andy accommodated our large group of more than 30 at fairly short notice. We pre ordered to make things easier on the day, and the food was ready, and fresh on our arrival. Cheerful service, great food - great pub! I’d definitely recommend

I was one of the pre-booked large group on new year's day and thoroughly enjoyed the fish and chips which was delicious. Thank you to the manager and staff for excellent and friendly service .

We were part of a large party. Our food was delicious and we were served swiftly by friendly and welcoming staff. We also have young children who were made to feel very welcome and really enjoyed their food as well. Excellent pub.

My choice of the 8hr slow cooked belly pork was superb, & the dessert, Stilton & fruit cake with honey, was a winner.

16 of us had dinner on Boxing Day . Sunny was amazing from start to finish with our booking .The food was fantastic and the service was excellent from all the staff from minute we walked in . Sunny even took her time to make all the food was safe for my daughter to eat as she has a nut allergy .will definitely be back next year .

Coped with 28 of us on January 1st! Lovely food and service too 👌

Great food, all served on time for a large group booking. Excellent communication from the manager beforehand made this special occasion a happy one!

Excellent service and excellent food.All served with a cheery smile well done.

Omg what a delightful pub, beautiful decorated inside. A little gem in stock! Food was outstanding, staff were full on! A beautiful fire sets a warm welcoming with an outstanding xmas tree when you walk in. We had the salmon starter which was lovely and fresh. I had the lamb rump which was cooked to perfection loved the red cabbage. Hubby had the steak & ale pie. Sorry didn’t take photos as we was amazed by the decorations. Apparently they change them every few months for each celebrations & seasons what a wonderful idea can’t wait to go back for more on the menu. Roll on Valentine’s ❤️❤️ Hubby we need to book! Thank you all at the ship for a wonderful afternoon.

We spent just over £340 , £95 per person. We weren't seated for over 30 mins. They offered us a glass of bubbly which was the courteous thing to do. Served a amuse bouche,which was nice. Didn't get our starters for 20mins after that which was a cold starter of smoked salmon and king prawn....the rye bread was hard and dry! Waited over 30 mins for mains which was very disappointing. Steak was fine....told us no peppercorn sauce....didn't offer ketchup,we had to ask. Two mains of Shepherds pie with lamb with 3 lomp broccoli and mushy red cabbage....was tasty but underwhelming. One turkey roast dinner, not sliced and luke warm ,just a lump thrown on the dish, almost raw 2 bits of Brussel sprouts and 1 PC of parsnip that was almost raw and ,couldn't cut through! We were the last table of the day and they just didn't care! The 4 afters served were lovely. The chef come out and starting telling other patrons which was very unprofessional as we were getting funny looks. If you can't provide a good service on Christmas day then don't offer this service. £95 per head wasn't cheap fir dhat we were served!

Had Christmas dinner with some friends, and it wasn't all that for the price of 95 per head, I didn't expect to wait 30 minutes for a table that should have been ready on time. My friend's main was partially undercooked, specifically the parsnips, Brussels sprouts and carrots. When it was first brought to her, the gravy had already been added, when she'd already asked for the gravy to be separate. So she had to wait for a fresh main to be brought to her. Complaints here are fully justified, however, making a complaint wasn't met with a good response, the manager said that ours was the first and only complaint out of 109 customers today. Got £50 off the overall bill. I'll be honest. I actually liked my food. Portions could have been bigger. The starter was nice. The dessert was nice. The main was just a bit lacking. The customer service wasn't up to standard. Would we eat here again? We all agreed that no, it was a bit of an ordeal, and not worth another shot. So, I'm sorry to the staff, but you don't run as tight a Ship as you should. I appreciate the £50 back, certainly, but I still have to give an honest review here, and I give 2 stars overall, because of the wait to get seated, and then the subsequent hour long wait to finally get the main, and then one main wasn't prepared right, and then the replacement for that main was not up to par. I don't know how the star ratings work, but I assume 3 means a bit better than average, which is what I give for food, and atmosphere, the service was just ok up to a point, but I could tell that the manager was definitely getting agitated, I didn't want to get confrontational on Christmas day (let alone any day really) and it's one of those situations where we could all argue until we're blue in the face, so I just decided to pay the whole bill for everyone so we could get out of there!

Beautiful pub, affordable, good tasty food and very friendly atmosphere!

Good food here, especially like the roast dinner I had a while ago. Good range of drinks and the beer was good! Nice staff

Excellent service, great food, wonderful atmosphere - it even has a real fire. Very friendly, family run pub. Would highly recommend a visit.

A large group of us went to The Ship for a Christmas party, eating from the festive set menu. The food was fantastic - full of flavour and wonderfully cooked. Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful. It was my first time here, but I’ll definitely be back

Really friendly staff and very nice food. I love coming here!

Had a lovely lunch. Really nice cosy surroundings.

Location is excellent, the staff are very friendly and great variety on drinks

Brilliant atmosphere and really helpful staff.

One of the best roasts in the area. Excellent food and deserts (proper sticky toffee pudding). Lovely atmosphere and decor in the pub. Very friendly staff. Will definitely return.

First time visiting this pub. My husband and I visited on a Monday evening for diner. "Sunny" the only lady on duty, was really lovely, friendly and very attentive. The food was delicious, my husband had the chicken & ham pie, and I had the Chicken schnitzel... both were delicious, and unfortunately for us too filling that we didn't have room for pudding :) We will definitely be coming again and telling friends to try it out. "Sunny" you are a true asset to the pub.

Great food and service sunny was so friendly and welcoming definitely be back

Had well cooked trout and was very enjoyable service was very good as we arrived early thank you very much

Fantastic Sunday lunch. 1st time i had been. Staff were very friendly. Definitely go back

Lovely setting , very friendly service. Food took a bit longer to be served than I'd have hoped , and not cheap. Will try again.

We had a very good Sunday lunch here. Friendly service. Note that you can catch the 300 bus from Chelmsford and there is a bus stop right outside the pub. They could perhaps dispense with the tinned music which I always find irritating but maybe that’s just me!

Excellent place to spend some time with good friends

Love this pub! Only been a couple of times but each time the food has been delicious, especially the slow cooked lamb shoulder shepherds pie. The roast was also lovely (and I don’t find many pub roasts that great!). Staff are really nice and welcoming 😊

We were at the beer/music festival. Very enjoyable, but I would have liked to know there was an entry fee.

Lovely place, good vibes and good variety of drinks. Bit slow service, but worth it.

Only parked out side and took a photo. But the place did look welcoming and customers looked happy enogh.

We had a very good lunch here, nice staff and good food.

We had a lunch for 12 people at The Ship last Sunday, the whole experience was fabulous. The food was excellent and the staff could not have been more pleasant. This was my first visit but it will definitely not be my last. Well done everyone!

Had multiple lovely meals at this pub. Recently celebrated here with friends after a legal wedding ceremony and had brilliant service and delicious food. Staff were very friendly and attended to all our needs. Great experience at the ship.

Absolutely amazing service and food,the car park was full because of an event there but the staff came out and found space for us to park, we really enjoyed the food, and all the staff are so friendly and helpful, we will definitely be returning

Delicious proper pub food and wonderful service. We had a great time!

This pub looks lovely and my partner and I have wanted to visit for a while. We did tonight and were bitterly disappointed. We sat for a while in the garden at the back, which had really lovely outdoor seating. My partner ordered the terrine and thought the bread was stale or re-heated. Our mains took a bit longer to arrive but we were informed by the staff that there were only two servers on tonight so we didn't think anything of it. I had the chicken burger which was really underwhelming. It was cooked fine but the slaw/sauce distribution could have been better and it's needs a side salad or something as the plate looked half empty. My partner had the beef burger which was ok but same problem, the plate looked bare. The real issue came when we ordered dessert. My partner ordered the cheesecake and I ordered the sundae. We waited and waited and nothing came. A lady sat near us ordered crumble and coffee. She was served and left. We prompted the servers and they said it would be out "in two ticks". Ten mins later (35mins after ordering our dessert) we asked for a refund for the desserts and left. Such a shame as we are always around Hanningfield but we won't be coming back.

Food was excellent and service spot on A great selection and variety of food Would definitely return

A wonderful find! We were seated in a really lovely place in the restaurant & made to feel really welcome from the minute we arrived, smiling staff & just really accommodating for our little boy - getting him a high chair & colouring book. The food was really lovely, and staff were really attentive - when we had finished drinks coming to see if we wanted more, checking we was ok with the food when it arrived. A wonderful pub that feels like much more than that. It’s clear to see how much your staff care for the people visiting as they went above & beyond. And a huge thanks to the chef for our incredible food. We will definitely be visiting again soon.

Lovely old pub, parts of it from the 1400s as explained by our lovely host. Although we sat inside (British summer being what it is) we had a look outside and it looked really nice too with plenty of green space for kids to run. I had the double beef burger which was great and the Sticky toffee pudding which was wonderful!

Lovely place, well decorated, helpful and accommodating staff

Lovely afternoon spent at The Ship. Family Sunday dinner which was delicious. Staff are always very welcoming and didn't have to wait long for our food Never disappointed at this pub.

Love this place, the food is always amazing and never disappoints, the atmosphere and setting is always beautiful especially as it changes for different events and occasions, and the staff are so friendly and helpful nothing is to much trouble, which these days can be rare.. deffo recommend xx

Pleasantly surprised with this pub! Lovely location and parking was good. Booking was easy and the staff were very welcoming. The inside bar area has a great vibe and the outside is just as nice. We were a group of five and there were quite a variety of things on the menu to suit everyone, and some Asian-inspired dishes which I thought were a great addition. Individually on mains we had two trout, a curry, traditional fish and chips and my dish was the Korean chicken burger. This was easily the best chicken burger I've had. The coating, sauce, salad/vegetables and the chicken itself were incredible, and it was the prime reason I wanted to review. I also had pork belly bites on the side. The food came out at a decent time and everyone enjoyed their meal. The portion sizes were good value for money. The drinks selection and costs were pretty reasonable. I've eaten at more expensive places with nowhere near the same quality! So good in fact, that I forgot to take pictures. It really was the place to chill out on a warm sunny evening and I hope to return soon. Thanks again to the staff.

A very unique country pub with masses of outside space and a wigwam 🤣 Very lovely inside with lots of tables Extended outside grounds with lots of space for children to play wild Very Friendly staff (Carole and Emma) and Beautiful decor. The ship is fresh and clean throughout with very comfy seating and holds live music events and quiz nights. I Love the copper topped tables, very stylish but in keeping with building. Really nice place to eat and relax, the food coming from the kitchen looked amazing. The rear bar to the garden has a pizza oven for them hot summer weekend evenings and special functions. 😎

Fabulously delicious food with proper gravy

Lovely pub but a pint of beer, a malibu and coke and two cups of tea at £20 I thought was a tad expensive

Delicious food, well presented, good atmosphere. I particularly love the indoor tree, which is dressed depending on the season.

Birthday celebration for family great place

Booked for 6 adults and 3 babies last min and they managed to accommodate us on a Sunday lunchtime. Very nice Sunday roast, I had the beef short rib!

For a wedding function. It was the staff who made the difference. 🙏🏼

Lovely atmosphere. Friendly. Sunday roast was gorgeous. Will definitely be back

Lovely pub! Staff were so welcoming, really nice vibe inside and one of the best beer selections I’ve seen! Came back the following day to try the food and it was superb! Will be back over the summer as the garden looks great too!

Had a lovely visit, great food and really warm and welcoming atmosphere

Great pub with friendly service and atmosphere. Food was excellent and great value.

Excellent from start to the time I left staff and management so friendly nothing was to much food was excellent 5 star

Absolutely lovely restaurant /pub. The owners are so welcoming, and the foid and service are great.

Nice pies and food in general, very clean, nice atmosphere, amazing spot, original pub

Had a delicious Sunday roast here for Mother’s Day. All of the staff are so friendly. A special shoutout to Sunny, she couldn’t do enough for everyone and is absolutely lovely.

Came for Mother’s Day. Amazing food & Amazing service!! Highly recommend.

We had a loverly meal, with good service also the music was very calming and very low which we boh appreciated

Always a lovely meal here, Sunday roast today was delicious, great staff and a lovely, cosy pub

Great place to eat.Great staff.would recommend going.

Cosy pub with friendly staff. Good food and plenty of parking. A pub that has Crumble of the Day on the menu!

Fabulous food, very welcoming and friendly pub. The pie's are a must try! The valentine's special menu had great variety and the crab starter and cod main were outstanding. We will definitely return. If you're looking for a fresh, well cooked meal, friendly atmosphere and plenty of parking, this is a perfect option! Was also a nice surprise to find Cruzcampo on tap!

Lovely pub great place to relax with family

Really great pub. Warm, friendly and welcoming. Service was excellent. Only ordered chips as a snack but they were great chips and generous portions.

The Ship is a long way from water but an excellent watering hole! Good selection of ale, wines and spirits! A warming open fire welcoming you to sit and absorb the menu. Any variation on the menu easily and happily done to meet both taiste and intolerance of customers! Not too expensive either, drink, main and coffee for a touch under £25.00 in this day and age isn’t bad. Well done to staff we met and those we didn’t meet but make it all happen!

Last minute booking for Sunday lunch, we had never been before. The roast chicken was delicious, loads of gravy, followed by salted caramel profiteroles. Staff friendly and helpful. We will definitely go again.

Elegant and classic English. Very friendly staff and lovely place.

Stopped here after a afternoon out and was not disappointed. The staff made us feel very welcome and were very friendly and gave great service. Secondly the food; the food was delicious and we was not disappointed. Thankyou and we will return

Great pub, good selection of beers.

Great place to go, excellent food and good location with easy parking

Little bit expensive for a northerner, we are used to lower prices but can't fault it otherwise. Chas from Manchester.

Great food! Great staff! Have come back twice in 2 weeks!

Great Saturday morning breakfast at The Ship. There as usual art of an organised car drive out event, so not sure if breakfasts are the norm, but judging by the quality, I’d say it’s definitely one to try.

I had a good meal at the Shop, the food was good but the service was superb. An excellent time.

Our first time at this wonderful cosy pub did not disappoint. Sunday lunch was the best we had ever had. Excellent home cooked food and plenty of it. So good. The experienced staff were all very friendly, attentive and professional. The ambient atmosphere of this very old premise also has a real fire to cosy up with. The perfect Sunday lunch.

The food and atmosphere were good, but we had quite a wait for some of the courses, and the childrens starters arrived slightly later than their main courses, will give it another try soon.

We enjoyed our meal here, the staff were very pleasant and helpful. Very cosy inside, especially as it was cold outside. The food was good, although portion sizes were smaller than I would have liked. Prices are much the same as most pubs like this one, a little over priced. There was a group sitting behind us that were a little loud which made it difficult to have a conversation with our friends, but they didn't stay long. Overall though it was a good evening out.

We went here for Christmas lunch and I must say they were fantastic! We went with our dog and when I went in they knew my name and it felt so personal. It was lovely. Really loved our time here and would go again and recommend 💯

We went in tonight, what a lovely atmosphere!! Staff were so so friendly. Spotlessly clean & gleaming. Beautiful Christmas decorations, also noticed that it is dog friendly. We will definitely be returning

Hired an area of the pub for my husbands birthday. Great atmosphere, food was excellent and staff welcoming and attentive. We will definitely return.

Fifteen of us went for a family lunch this weekend (Nov ‘23) and I’m so pleased we picked this venue. The food was excellent, and good value in my opinion. The pub was decorated for Christmas and looked so beautiful and cosy. If you like traditional pubs with timber beams, log fire and relaxed atmosphere, I highly recommend The Ship. We’ll definitely be back.

Went there today with family of four had a lovely roast each and desert will be back again lovely atmosphere

Went to the ship for dinner last night with my mum and sister, had high hopes as we were met with a warm greeting. When my mum's filo pastry pie arrived, the top of the pie was very burnt. My mum expressed to the server that the pie was burnt to which they replied "it's not burnt, it's only the top!!" When my mum said that it smelt burnt, they reluctantly offered to get her a new one. It's such a shame because mine and my sister's meal was very nice and the pub itself is very cosy and inviting. Really disappointing, as it ruined our evening and could of so easily been avoided, if they had not sent out a burnt dish and also handled it very differently.

We had a fantastic meal, they were more than accommodating as I have 2 children with disabilities as well as a rumbunctious 18month year old so dining is never the easiest experience for us, but they were more than accommodating, we will joining them Christmas dinner.

I held a surprise party here in September and it was fantastic. Sue, Andy and all the staff were amazing and so welcoming, even in a heatwave! The garden is lovely and the food is delicious. Thanks again for such a lovely day ♥️

Lovely food, lovely staff, thanks guys!

We went today and were greeted instantly telling us the best place to sit with a baby in the pram. The food was fantastic. People all were nice and staff were too. Bathroom had a nice tiuch of wipes, nappies and feminine products if needed. Good quality for price too!

The food was very nice and the service was great .

Popped in on the off chance today see if we could get a Sunday lunch , what a lovely surprise beautiful pub , very friendly staff , helpful , food was the best I've had in a long time , mackerel pate was amazing , compliments to the chef would highly recommend this place

Friendly pub were you can pop in for a drink. In the summer the garden has a special bar and pizza ordering bar. The pizzas are very nice, well worth a visit.

Booked last minute for group of 13. Sunny was fantastic, lovely, friendly manner on the phone. When we arrived later in the evening , she was very welcoming and attentive. Food was great also, varied menu, piping hot and all arrived within similar time. Clearly a known favourite of the locals. Would come again. Thank you!

Excellent service can be hard to come by these days but The Ship team have nailed it. They were very accomodating to us (2 adults, 1 toddler, 1 baby and 1 small dog), the food was excellent, the staff were attentive and friendly and the halloween decorations were a great example of the team's effort to make the pub seem welcoming. We tried to come in summer but it didn't work out, I can't wait to try it out next summer. Totally recommend.