The Ship Inn in Stroud

We’ve been on the lookout for the best roast in the area and we’ve found it! Not only was the food truly delicious and completely catered to my very restricted dietary needs but the customer care was also great. I was made to feel completely at ease with the owner going above and beyond making sure I could eat a delicious roast dinner!

A well frequented pub at the bottom of Brimscombe Hill. Modest sized car park for visitors, but a friendly welcome by the hosts. There is a convivial atmosphere inside whether you are visiting for just a drink or for food. The food menu is not very extensive, however the food is of exceptional quality. Friendly staff & worth a repeat visit if passing.

Top boozer with top beers and a top interior aesthetic that stimulates feelings of warmth and a deep yearning to sink pints.

Cracking atmosphere and the staff were extremely helpful despite it being so busy. I can thoroughly recommend the trout stuffed with walnuts and spinach- absolutely delicious. It's worth mentioning that the toilets were spotlessly clean which is another bonus point. Looking forward to my next visit already

Would be nice to see some vegetarian options as opposed to meet/fish or vegan

Fantastic food and service. HUGE Sunday roasts. We'll certainly be coming back!

Amazing food, nice quick service, noisy in a good way, as very busy

Amazing food and a great selection of beers. Excellent friendly service

Eating at The Ship is always brilliant - really amazing food and lovely atmosphere - but I think this occasion deserves a special mention as we had the most wonderful evening despite a local power cut (where pretty much every other business had to close). The Ship staff were determined to go ahead and, after phoning to give us a heads up, provided a perfect candlelight atmosphere and and even more perfect food (somehow without electricity!) The Christmas menu was every bit as amazing as we had hoped. The staff coped amazingly with the lack of power and large amount of guests, all of whom seemed to be having a brilliant time. A really special Christmas evening with friends. Thank you.

Loverly roast lamb dinner, meat cooked very well, just fell apart. A good portion as well, enough room left if you wanted a pudding. We didn't have one as going home for Birthday cake 😀

Good looking food came out while we were there, looked and smelt gorgeous, service quick and pleasant

Wonderful outside area, fresh and clean with room to take a group of friends, dogs and children. Looking forward to going back to try more of the food.

Always enjoy a visit to The Ship Inn. Great food and atmosphere. I can see why it's such a popular pub.

What a fantastic find with great ambience and friendly staff The food was great especially the Italian risotto. The wines were great I particularly liked the Valpolicello

One of the best Sunday roast I've had.

Absolutely the best roast, slow cooked lamb. Service was very friendly and efficient. A good selection of real ales, food exceptional.

We walked from Wallbridge along the canal towpath to The Ship Inn for Sunday lunch. We hadn't booked but there was plenty of seating in the marquee. We chose the roast chicken, pork and lamb, which were served with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes & carrots, cauliflower cheese and a selection of vegetables. Special mention goes to the tender pork loin which came with ample strips of crackling, the lamb which was melt in the mouth tender and of course the jug of tasty gravy! These were the best roast dinners that we've had for a long time. We ordered and paid at the bar, the bill for 3 roasts and 3 drinks came to £64.75. The staff were friendly and cheerful. The only downside was having to walk 2.5 miles back to Stroud....in the pouring rain.

Top shelf. Away for the weekend and thought we’d check out The Ship. Quality roast - super delicious and had all the trimmings. The bar had a good, bustling vibe for a few drinks too. Would come back!!

Attended the annual beer and music festival and it was amazing. Great live music and excellent food rounded off with good company. Many thanks again to Wes and Rosie a rich and the fabulous staff.

Popped in for a quick pint after visiting the local shop. Beers are always well kept and high quality. I've never been disappointed here

Greatly very friendly pub with lots of dogs. Lovely 'local' atmosphere with plenty of regulars.

Great Sunday Roast, I had the Lamb which was tender bits of meat from the shoulder as opposed to carved slices, it was not at all fatty and very tasty with the mint sauce and there was plenty of it.

All i can say is WOW, Sunday lunch was fantastic, Excellent service, very friendly staff and great value for money. Thoroughly enjoyable experience :)

Really lovely pub - nice vegan option on both regular menus and at events. Lovely and cosy inside with friendly staff. Dog friendly. Good vibes.

Saw fish finger sandwich on the menu . Came as a baguette with cold fish fingers in it not a sandwich as on the menu. Very different eating experiences . Could have been 5 star if it had been a sandwich.

Our first visit, went in for Sunday lunch and it was lovely. Plenty of food, I went for the roast beef and paid an extra £3 to have some chicken too, and it seemed like it was half a chicken, loads of it. All delicious and well presented, friendly service and good selection of beers. For two of us, both having roasts and a pudding, and 3 pints came to £69, which I thought was good value. Would recommend and revisit. Many thanks.

Excellent Sunday roast + desserts 😋, relax vibe, just-right hospitality, good value, will definitely be back to try other dishes.

A few drinks and dinner. The food was good when it eventually arrived as there was a long wait between the starter and main course, but it definitely was not worth the price.

We popped in for a drink walking along the canal path. Oh and how amazing the roast looked, we will be back for roast next time!

Food good and plentiful. Need bigger plates there was so much. Certainly go back.

It was lovely to pop in without reservation for lubch and have a warm welcome. I am particularly happy with the hosts and the chef accommodating my dietary requirements. I personally had a duck and asked to replace the side. It was very testy and nicely cooked meals.Thanks

Pleasant Saturday lunch visit with 6 other friends all on motorcycles visiting from a bike festival up at Ragley Hall, 2nd year in a row to visit The Ship Inn. Pleasant garden area good food and plenty of parking.

You must try the Sunday lunch it's insane, and worth every penny. Perfectly cooked rare beef and amazing lamb, all the trimmings, Yorkshire pudding, cauliflower cheese, roast potatoes, carrots, extra gravy. 10/10 A++

Amazing pub with the scrummiest Sunday roasts which I have ever had! Lovely staff and the atmosphere was lovely too. One of the best parts of my visit to that lush part of the UK! Would advise others to go and have the roast! The option to have an extra meat on your roast is the best as all of it was delicious! I had beef and chicken, my husband had pork and lamb.

A lovely pub that is light and airy with an excellent selection of beers, ales and wines. An excellent Sunday lunch beautifully served with plenty of vegetables accompanying. We had the beef and lamb with the only let down that they had run out of mint sauce which is a schoolboy error for such a well organised establishment. Great coffee and a dedicated child area and extensive gardens with great seating.

We went with a group of friends for lunch and a few drinks. The food tasted fresh and delicious. Very happy!

The best Sunday roast. We live locally to the pub and have never been in for a roast but can say we will definitely be going back. Plenty of everything which is so good great value and lovely friendly staff as usual. Highly recommend.

Always a warm welcome and a great meal here. Helen and the team provide such a great service.

Love my local. The only downside is you have to book because it's so popular!

I'd wanted to eat at The Ship for a long time, and finally made it happen. Booked it in a rush and we didn't know it was Thursday tapas night. The friend I was with was initially disappointed as he had previous bad tapas experiences, but we could not fault the food in any way. Myself a chef and my friend a critical foodie, we were both delightfully impressed. Portion size spot on, flavours on the mark and general food quality was all excellent. Relaxed atmosphere, very pleasant staff. Super value for money. I'll be back. Highly recommend.

Delightful garden to have a very nice lunch.

Best Sunday Roast in the Stroud area. Super friendly staff, fun atmosphere and a lovely old building. There's also a very nice patio area if the weather is on your side.

Best pub in Stroud. Great food, great atmosphere, and lovely pub garden! Would highly recommend.

The experience was excellent. Service was warm and friendly, the food was out of this world . Thank you to a the staff . 🙏.

Fantastic & filling Sunday roast, reasonably priced, meats cooked to perfection & served with plenty of fresh & delicious seasonal vegetables. Great service & great atmosphere. Highly recommended

Decent food and drink. Bit of a shame as they had booked tables and will prioritise the reservation who may not be there yet. Lovely atmosphere and place. Didn't see an entrance canal/lock side.

Great live music. Friendly bar staff. Lovely atmosphere.

Nice restaurant area, bar busy with locals and drinkers, food was excellent, waitress was lovely, very nice meal and surroundings, dog friendly

Family meal to celebrate Easter. We were shown to table and told she would bring us the menus. Waited at least 10 minutes, no menus so husband went and got them. Next thing waitress came to take order, explained that we had only just got menus, we had to grab her back to order some drinks! Starters came, food was delicious and well presented. Then nothing for at least 45 minutes, by this time it was 2.45! When we queried what had gone wrong we got no apologies just that there was a back up in the kitchen yet there was no one else eating in the restaurant and only a couple of people at the bar. When the food arrived, again delicious and well presented. Sadly, no time for pudding which we were looking forward to. When we paid again no apology or goodbye. We won't be returning which is such ashame as the menu and food was great.

100% the BEST Sunday roast around! We're local and like to try out all the local roasts and this one is the bees knees! Always an excellent veggie option too. The cauliflower cheese blew our minds 😄 Great service and no 'is everything ok with your food?' as you're mid-mouthful' - perfect for us. Thank you, we will be back 😀

Booked at short notice for 4 persons, not a problem. Food excellent, service with a smile, will deffo visit again. From South Wales

This is a fantastic place to eat. The food is wonderful. £17.95 for a large roast dinner..add a second meat for £3. Deserts £7.50. The panacotta was delightful. Vegetarian and vegan dishes also available. Staff all extremely pleasant and accommodating. Lovely ambient atmosphere. Would highly recommend. First discovered Birch when they delivered roast dinners during lockdown. Was good to actually eat in their current premises .

Excellent Sunday roast with the best cauliflower cheese I've had in a while.

It was absolutely the best Sunday lunch I've had for so long. Faultless.

Lovely sunday roast dinner, didn't have to wait long for the main at all, tasty, good portion size. Had to wait nearly 40 mins for our puddings which seemed strange but over all very nice meal and would recommend.

Absolutely love this place! Never had a bad meal. So lucky to have them nearby! Great prices and such a great selection! I'm a fussy eater, but I get to try so many different things I wouldnt normally pick on a menu, just because I trust them and I know it will taste good! Even when things go wrong, (hardly ever) it is put right without question. Such a fab team that make you feel valued as a customer. Thanks!

Fantastic roast dinner and good selection of drinks. Thoroughly recommended for everyone.

Went for a family birthday meal. All of our meals were really nice and the pub had a happy and welcoming atmosphere. I had a beautiful quality steak cooked to absolute perfection with a lovely peppercorn sauce. However, despite everyone's meals being really good, the service was not at all of the same standard as the food, which really did affect our experience. Our sitting was quite early and staff were not busy, yet we had to keep getting up from the table to ask if we wanted anything like drinks. Apart from taking the order and when the food came out, we felt absolutely invisible and this was really awkward. The Chef deserves much better front of house to do their food justice, which can of course be achieved with training.

A fantastic pub, lovely atmosphere and great staff!

Not the cheapest pub but you absolutely get what you pay for.

Food was very good. Staff were friendly but needed some more training. We had a lovely meal and it's a lovely setting. Thanks.

I recently went to The Ship for a pre-booked Christmas meal with friends. Before we booked the venue I contacted them to ask for a gluten free menu, and got back an annotated version of their Christmas menu - perfect! Another one of our party also did this as she had a second dietary requirement on top of needing GF, and our party organiser had also, unbeknownst to me, asked too. From seeing all 3 versions with the same things annotated as being suitable for me, I pre-ordered the fish pie (as did the other GF person in our party, although she was unable to attend on the night) and spent the next 2 weeks looking forward to it, with the scallops, prawns etc that made it sound special. However, on arrival I was told that the dish I’d pre-ordered 2 weeks before, having been told 3 times it was available gluten free, couldn’t be made gluten free after all. I was absolutely gutted - surely it’s only the sauce that needed to be made with GF flour, or cornflour - why couldn’t this have been done as standard for all fish pies? Why wasn’t I told when booking and paying my deposit that they’d made an error and couldn’t (wouldn’t) do it? Why wait 2 weeks until I actually arrived? Reluctantly I swapped to turkey, which was “GF without the stuffing”. It then arrived with stuffing, which I queried, to be told “the stuffing in the turkey is ok but not the stuffing on the side”. I wasn’t filled with confidence but thankfully wasn’t ill so it must have been fine, just not clearly explained. It was OK: the stuffing didn’t taste of anything, the gravy was watery Bisto-style (for the whole table) and having the vegetables all mixed in together wasn’t ideal as it was hard to avoid veg we didn’t like (e.g. sprouts). We also had to ask for extra veg as they only brought out 2 small bowls for 9 of us. The large pig in blanket was the saving grace and best part of the meal. I don’t think I’ll be rushing back for the food, however the service was good as they gave me my main free of charge because of their error (I didn’t ask them to do this) hence giving 3 stars rather than lower.

Went for lunch and had good food and beer! Would thoroughly recommend to anyone and are looking forward to visiting on a Sunday in the near future to try the roast dinner.

I shared a beautiful meal with my friend. I really like this pub, wonderful food and wine, great atmosphere, friendly staff team and locals are very welcoming.

6 of us came here for a roast dinner today. One of the best roasts we’ve ever had. The food was delicious! Can’t wait to come back. The desserts were yummy too.

We've been here twice for a Sunday roast and as far as the art of the roast goes, they've got everything right. Well prepared, good quality food, decent helpings of everything - you're full, and there's not much left over, nice Yorkshires and extra gravy you don't have to ask for. We had a vegetarian and a vegan with us and they were both catered for, but weren't big fans of the nut roast. However, they really liked the rest of it and will try another veggie option next time (yes, they have more than one veggie option with a roast!) Add a good selection of ale, beer and wine and quick service and you've got a great Sunday lunch - not everywhere can get this right but they have, and the puddings are lovely too. Unsurprisingly, you need to book in advance but it's worth it!

Excellent food , lots of it and tasty.

Our family lunch of 15 at The Ship Inn at brimscombe was absolutely fab. Everything....food, service, venue, the team was perfect, we all had a lovely time. It's our go to place in Stroud, whenever we want food or just meet up for drinks. Very innovative way of running a pub/catering business. Thanks for all your help and sorting the balloons and our family photo out for us... just brilliant,👍

Best roast I’ve ever had in a pub/restaurant- absolutely delicious!

Friendly pub with good selection of international beers. Nice outdoor seating area and good vibes later in the evening. Recommended!

Lovely staff and delicious Sunday lunch. 10 out of 10

Pretty decent food. Excellent staff and service

Great local pub serving amazing food with a great selection of beers. Always a smile and a friendly face waiting for you.

Would always recommend you book in advance, as they are so popular.

Great pub, good drinks selection. Big carpark and nice outside seating. Inside was quiet and lots of tables. Cosy atmosphere.

Good selection of beers and ciders. Nice little beer garden out back. Looking forward to trying food soon!

Visited the ship for dinner with my family this evening. We had an absolutely amazing time!! The food was delicious and the service was amazing

The veggie food here was absolutely incredible. Great service, dog friendly I would go back

Really good Sunday roast! Great portions, great flavours and really special to get a vegan cauliflower cheese with the vegan option as this often gets left out. Nice atmosphere, definitely book as it was busy. Would come again.

Went for a roast dinner with my wife and newborn son. Incredible food and great service.

Lovely pub, great hosts, well recommended

Excellent service, tasty food, good atmosphere. Very enjoyable, reasonable prices. Burger night this evening; great chips!

We have visited the ship twice on a Sunday evening. Only to be told abruptly that the bar is closing at 20.00 and we can’t serve you. On the first occasion it was only 19.10. If this was the advertised closing time I would still expect to be informed in a more courteous manner. As you can see on this website the closing time is clearly advertised as 22.00. I advise calling prior to visiting to check they don’t feel like closing early.

Lovely gastro pub with fabulous food which has breathed life back into this old local pub. Really busy, informal atmosphere. They accommodated our party of 12 with pre booked starters and mains. Great communication throughout. My fish and chips were the envy of the party (great batter and fish) and our party also ate burgers, venison, risotto, onion tartin and steak and desserts of panna cotta, peanut butter brownies, orange cake and pavlova.. all of which got the thumbs up. 😁 We also had prosecco, wine, beers, water, juices for the kids etc, so well watered alongside the food. It is a pub, so you can pop up the bar at any time to add drinks, but also the serving staff were very happy to get extras (e.g. ketchup) for us when asked. The carpark was full when we arrived but there was an over spill car park across the road which was handy. We also saw dogs in the bar area and there is an outdoor area too. Lovely pub, well done Wes and team, we will be back!

The ship is absolutely faultless. From walking in you are met with courteous staff and taken to your table. The atmosphere is amazing and the roast was to die for. Mum had lamb, Dad had beef and I had beef and pork. We came here for Father’s Day and it certainly didn’t disappointment. We left with full bellies. Will be back soon. Thank you for making us feel so welcome.

I didn't have any food so I can't comment. Great atmosphere friendly helpful staff.

Fantastic Sunday lunches, and recently attended a special event with BBQed south America food and wine tasting supplied by the local wine store which was really good. Great service too.

Every time I would come visit Stroud I liked The Ship . It changed ownership and I went once and was disappointed. I can say, happily now, that the new management has done it right. It is difficult to get a reservation for a Sunday dinner so book early. The food is excellent and the prices are reasonable! So glad to have The Ship back!

Excellent food and great customer service. Absolutely brilliant

Pubs always had a lovely surrounding and after having a few casual pints here decided to book for a special occasion - Booking a table for 9 was a nightmare!! they insist you can't do it on the website, so you have to ring or email. Phone rings 3 times and then goes to VM which nobody seems to check, after a week of chasing we finally had a confirmed booking through the email - which requires a deposit (more on that later) Upon arriving we learn there are no kid menus (they were made aware we had kids from the booking) starters came out within a reasonable time, mains took a long time but when they did arrive all credit to the chef to food was fantastic. Once finished nobody came to clear our table for over 45 mins, we had to go to the bar to ask them to do so and offer us a deserts menu, whilst this was going on a dog jumped up on the bar and was being played with by one of the waitresses that was handling our food. 3 of our party declined deserts after seeing that. We then paid and learnt once we got home they had not taken the deposit of the bill, after texting to advise of my bank details I had made an error mixed the last 2 digits up. When I chased up my payment some 2 weeks later I was told it was my fault as my bank details were wrong? Why didn't they tell me when they tried? Very much felt like they were trying it on. In summary - food 4/5 - fantastic and generous portions, customer service 1/5 - staff more interested in chatting, no organisation and complete unawareness of hygiene. Very disappointing.

I’ve eaten a lot of roast dinners in my time; and cooked a lot! This roast was everything you wish you’d cooked at home and more! Sublime. Amazing value and cauliflower cheese, veg, boat of gravy. All complimentary! Zara was our waitress and was so knowledgable and simultaneously hilarious.? Just sublime. Brilliant cooking….

Lovely food and great service, highly recommend!

Fantastic food, wonderful ambience and fabulous staff.

You know you’re in safe hands when you walk in and the bar and seating area outside are healthily busy with customers. Booking a spot for dinner here needs to be done a good week or more in advance. There’s a reason for that - it’s simply excellent in terms of quality, value and the whole experience. From the moment you walk in, it’s slick - staff are clearly well trained and the owner keeps a weathered but discreet eye on proceedings. Drinks order was a breeze resulting in a very quaffable bottle of Viognier for 25 quid. The food order was equally straightforward, although we weren’t aware of any specials (not a problem). Some of the best homemade focaccia I have tasted in a long time, (which goes even better with the house chilli jam) Gordal olives that melt in the mouth and a burrata and njuda pairing that leaves you wanting more. My son’s fish was chunky (like the chips) and so brilliantly white fresh when cooked, with the lightest of batters. My wife’s chicken burger came with a perfectly balanced red onion relish and slaw. The diary free and gluten free double whammy did not faze front of house or kitchen either - we were dealing with solid professionalism here and people who can cook very well. My own chicken supreme on a bed of mushroom risotto was delicious. Care had been taken to present a clean on the bone supreme. The risotto was creamy with a hint of fresh chilli. All perfectly seasoned. Even though I knew my son would go for the Winstone’s chocolate ice cream, a quick scan of the menu again suggested that next time (and there will be a next time - plenty of them subject to time and wallet) I may like to go for the raspberry cheesecake or chocolate & orange torte. I will have a go at some point! 2 starters, 3 mains, 1 bottle of Viognier, 2 apple juices, 1 bottle of sparkling water, 1 ice cream, 1 Earl Grey tea and a double shot of proper expresso saw me very willingly part with £109.80. I chose to give a 15% tip in addition, having thoroughly enjoyed both the rare family meal out on a Good Friday and the quiet confidence of this professional team. I’ve eaten Wes Birch’s food before, both in The Ship and elsewhere. He and his team are on point here and deserve recognition for their impressive pub offering. There was no hint of rising food or energy prices holding this establishment back - the place was full apart from 3 tables of 2 when we left two and a half hours later. A gentle hum of activity told me that this was business as usual. The Ship was ship-shape! This team respects the customer, executes good pub grub consistently well across a range of dishes and clearly manages its costs well as the most expensive main course was a very reasonable £19. They are still making a decent profit and will benefit from repeat custom, both local and visitors alike (the table next to us was an Anglo/US mix. The other was occupied by a young Polish/Anglo family). Lots of people enjoying time being together over Easter, as it should be. The Ship offered that convivial atmosphere to complement those gatherings. I wish Wes, his family and wider team much success after their first 2 years in situ and I sincerely hope they are here to stay. This one is highly recommended - food 9/10; service 10/10, value 9/10.

Go to The Ship once a month for the quiz. Always friendly and welcoming and a good range of beers. The quiz is well run too.

This was our second visit to the ship, first time on a Sunday. Food was exactly as good as before, but the place is let down by the service. I am unsure if staff are just not on the ball, or there isn't enough staff, but we were largely forgotten. This is exactly what happened last time. Really disappointing as the food is so good.

At long last we visited the ship for a roast dinner after hearing so many amazing reviews. It didn't disappointed. The food was amazing and the services we received from their friendly staff was first class. We will definitely be returning and will be recommending to friends and family. Thank you for an all-round great experience.

For our second year,we celebrated our Christmas party with The ship..and once again Wes and his wonderful team did us proud . The location and atmosphere is fantastic, the food as always was perfect, beautifully cooked and great portions.The service was slick and efficient, nothing was any trouble, as a Care team its the only time we can all get together and relax..and once again you made it memorable and so very special for us all...thank you! A special thanks goes to Jules for organising 30 of us and Tilly for just going above and beyond on the night..and not forgetting the wonderful chef team and waiting staff...see you next year for number 3 But of course see you throughout 2023 for smaller and quieter dining .. Happy Christmas and a wonderful New year to you and your family and all your wonderful team. With love NCL Team x

We have been vowing to visit the ship for some time now, based on all the good feedback we’ve heard. We arrived to see the pub had been tastefully modernised from the last time we had visited and were happy with the ambiance - although this could have been boosted by the candles being lit. The menu was small (which I personally take as a positive as it is generally the sign of a well run kitchen) but the menu covered a good range of items. My only quibble here would be that it may have been nice to have the option of some simple side dishes (which would mean more profit for the restaurant as well.) The food was as anticipated - great quality. We had soufflé and gnocchi starters, pork belly mains and cheesecake + brownie for dessert. The only dish that lacked the wow factor was the brownie which was nice but nothing special; everything else was spectacular. However where we felt the restaurant lacking was in the service - and left us wondering if they were short staffed for the evening. The waitress was friendly but lacked warmth and there was no confirmation of “that’s a good choice” or personal recommendations given when handed menus. 2 of us had the 3 courses and were only finished in 2 hours 40 minutes as we rushed to the bar to pay while still chewing our desserts, before we missed our transport home. We felt like we were forgotten about tucked in the corner and could have just done with a few more checkups and speedier service. I don’t like being rushed and there was nothing horrendous about the service but at the price point I just expected a little bit more and slightly quicker service - but I understand it’s a fine balancing act. It’s the first time I can remember in a very long time that I have chosen not to tip the service but I just feel like we’d not received “an experience” worthy of tipping. We will definitely be back as the food was fantastic, and to give them another try as I’m sure the service was a one off; maybe on a quieter night of the week.

Have been several times to the ship. The choice of food has been good every time with the menu not being to large. The service can be a little slow at busy times but that is ok as the food is worth the wait.