The Ship Inn in North Dorset

I was met with a warm and friendly welcome as soon as I stepped into the pub not only by the staff but also the friendly locals, for a Saturday evening it was the in place to be with an array of different drinks on offer to suit everyone's taste, great atmosphere and fantastic staff, I'm now planning my second visit.

Friendly local free house pub. Nice staff, large beer garden. A bit awkward for wheelchair users because of steps, but staff will help if asked. Often crowded on Sundays, so booking is advised. Car park is on opposite side of road, so you need to be careful when crossing.

Nice pub, I didn't have food here. Feels a bit run down and the pool queues were all wonky. Overall had a nice time

Dirty rancid dilapidated stinking poor excuse for a ‘traditional’ pub that hasn’t the wherewithal to deliver anything more than rip-off rude miserable attitude if you are not an alcoholic to be easily preyed upon.

Enjoyed a lunch time pint or three. Good beers. Well worth a visit.

Drink only at this pub, apparently the landlady doesn't need to serve food. Greated by growling little dog may have put some customers off but was told it's okay just don't put your hands down to her. Good selection of food tidy looking large pub with TV for football matches ext

Passing through for work, stopped here for a quick pint, friendly enough people in a quaint little pub, young lady behind the bar served with a very pleasant attitude. 👍

Always great food,fish dishes amazing

Delicious pie enjoyed by all. Very friendly staff too.

Great small place and really cheap

A proper pub. And that is the highest praise I can give. Good value, traditional look, decent beers, good snacks, cosy, regular clientele. Not many of these places left.

Cosy pub with nice staff , a bit crowded around the bar with regulars sitting at bar .

Best local pub in Shaftesbury, very old with loads of history and the views from the garden wow !! 😀😀 Otter ale is definitely worth a try.

A real old fashioned pub! Great to see that there are still some about! Good selection of beers and wines at really good prices. A pool table and a jukebox in the back bar!

Love it here. Always friendly staff with a great atmosphere.

Friendly atmosphere aswell as bar staff

Pleasant central pub with multiple rooms serving Butcombe and Otter bitters

Very historic pub with great atmosphere, friendly staff and excellent beer. I always stop here for a pint when I'm passing by.

Very nice, small traditional old pub. Friendly staff and locals. Excellent pints.

Fantastic local pub. Free Pool on Sundays! Adorable doggos roam around 🐶

We had a stoll around, visiting four pubs in town tonight. This is defenetly our favourite! No wonder lokals like it...

Friendly welcoming staff big 👍👍 all round

A very good pub, excellent real ales, especially the otter ale, one of our favourite beers.

Great pub with nice staff and good food

Great owners and staff, good prices and good TV to watch the rugby.

Land ladies are awesome. Top afternoon/evening as always 🙂

Nice pub ... good selection of real ales and some nice keg Gritchie session beer. Only 4 stars because its hard to get in.. customers standing at the bar block the entrance. Plenty of room inside though.

I love a little old pub and this was definatley that absolutley beautiful pub from outside, amazing views from outdoor area, great atmosphere inside.

A very traditional pub. Good range of real ales.

Nice friendly locals pub .Good view from beer garden.great beer.friendly place.

Traditional Pub - very welcoming

Small friendly hostelry with CAMRA awards, good beers and a very traditional feel. Cosy and comfortable

Very attractive old world exterior on the far east of the sea front next to the Barnes Wallis statue. The interior is more bistro than pub. Very popular with the locals as we hadn't booked so could only stay for one drink. Not my choice but others will think it a great place.

Glad to be visiting the pub again. Just a proper good old fashioned boozer.

Dog friendly and the staff and lovely

Proper English pub open fire & a warm welcome from the staff, lovely evening thank you. 😎

Fabulous proper pub with good range of local beers. Gorgeous view from garden. Small and interesting.

Friendly, nice beer, good conversation.

Small great little old fashion pub, love it

A proper pub, reminded me of a pub when I was a kid

Lovely old fashion place, friendly atmosphere and nice ale.

Good beers nice and friendly locals good landlord Becky my traditional country pub Kevin and jill

Great pub as it should be, good choice of beer and larger and good prices

Good beer! Great pub! What more could you want!

Lovely staff and a friendly atmosphere

The best pub...in the...Wessex...ok it's good, beer really good, locals friendly, no complaints.

A proper pub with numerous closed off rooms

Good pub, good beer, local camra pub of the year. Has quite a few screens for sport

Friendly local pub , great jukebox

Best pub in Shaftesbury without a doubt. Staff are lovely and friendly. Great drink selection. Pool table and jukebox for general entertainment and they also host bands on occasion. Definitely more of a 'locals' feel to the place however everyone is so lovely and welcoming to any newbies.

Great traditional pub witha a wide selection of real ales. Great atmosphere.

Proper pub. Superb pint of Flack Catcher.

Great Pub, fantastic ales, friendly, sky sports showing all big games/Cricket/Rugby/Football etc...

Good friendly staff local ales and a loverly old pub.

This is a proper pub how all pubs used to be

Great welcome, great food, great range of beverages

Great pub, great food good atmosphere, shame don't have more time to go more often.

Shared plenty of copse house moments™️ here!

Nice beer choice, friendly people

Really nice old pub with a good selection of Real Ale

Lovely pub friendly locals good pint all across the bar . Watch out for the small dog it will bare its teeth a bit.

Old stone pub with unspoilt interior with eood panelling. Separate irregularly shaped rooms, enhanced the character. Felt like a proper pub beloved by locals. Its not far from town centre and opposite a pay and display. Had 4 real ales on offer. Small outside seating area to one side

This is where time stood still as long as it could. If you are looking for an old fashioned looking typical ale house, this is it. Yes the new pumps & fridges, but the low ceilings small rooms & benches give that rustic feel. Good craft ales, good lagers & ciders. The house wine goes down well and a good selection of wines to select from. The normal hard liquors & friendly staff to greet you. The five stars for being just what it says it is: A Pub

Fantastic old pub with great beer & cyder

Nice little pub, landlady is great!

Very friendly. Love the dog sleeping on her chair!

I've been living in Shaftesbury for nearly 4 years now and the ship has been my regular spot for a brew for almost all of that time. Doesn't do food, just snacks, but it has good beer and good people, and that's what's important. Proper old school boozer, full of charm. And the best spot in town to catch the game. Come on down.

Great little traditional pub.Typical warm atmosphere, with friendly locals. Tip...Pool is free on Sunday's. Great selection of beers, ales and ciders. Sky TV for those Sports nights.

Best ales in the area, plenty space and popular.

Old fashioned and popular with a regular crowd. Friendly. Pool table and outdoor area. Historical building. Central.

Great old traditional pub. Like a pub should be.

Good welcome to all including the dogs. Pity that food isn't served.

Large selection of beers, ciders and spirits. Cracking little pub

Really nice happy atmosphere good beer

Propper pub! Nice to have darts and a Poole table.

Warm, friendly inviting pub. Open fires, welcoming and informative staff. Good clean real ale and good friendly company, staff and locals alike. Sports, juke box, pool and a 'free house' range of Alcohol, satisfied......See you again. 👍👍🍺🍺

Buen sitio para tomarse una pinta, tiene billar

10/10 would drink coke again. Bare dank. Top notch bantz with the locals. Papa bless.

Been here a couple of times. Good beer, well looked after cellar. Nice n friendly locals, a true old school pub! Recommended!

A very rare pub....a true "local" where the locals actually include you in their conversation! A real pub as opposed to a restaurant that most pubs of today are!

Working in shaftsbury for a few days and like a real ale , called into the ship sound 5 ish. They advertised 3 real ales and we Sampled 2 really good brews , quiet place , few chaps in and a couple of resident dogs , very nice