The Ship Inn in Medway

I am somewhat a regular at the Ship, would go more if I lived closer. It's a nice vibe, and I always have a nice chat and laugh with friends, other customers, and also with the staff. And I usually make new friends there. I do have to knock 1 star off for 2 reasons, though: The first is purely a selfish one - it would be nicer if their events (karaoke, DJ, drag, etc) could start a bit earlier. The second, and more prominent reason, being the fact that vaping is allowed inside the venue. As a nonsmoker/vaper, it really negatively impacts my experience there. Especially as it is already a small venue, and some people seem to blow it directly over me. I know I am not the only nonsmoker/vaper there so I imagine I am not the only one it impacts. I'd love to be able to give this place a fifth star but as a nonsmoker/vaper it feels like we are not considered.

Friendly LGBT bar in Rochester. Great fun and friendly crowd. Good drinks prices and deals. Live music / drag performances several times a month. We will definitely be back

A safe space for me and my friends at weekends.Excellent staff, singers, and drag artists. Highly recommend this venue

Amazing pub, great place to drink. Staff are lovely! Some brilliant acts on great environment love drinking here, highly recommend!

Previous posts are not reviews. They are clearly personal attacks on the pub. Very similar posts stating the same thing. Not a review about their experience. This is a friendly welcoming pub and open to everyone. Good entertainment and affordable drinks. It’s the oldest gay pub in the area and still surviving. If you’re planning on coming on your own or with friends, you be made to feel at ease and no judgement made. Do not be put off by someone having a vendetta against the pub (at least make your posts not look like they’ve been written by the same person) Pop in the pub and make a decision yourself. I’m sure you’ll end up coming back.

Absolutely sh!t hole! The staff are rude ignorant morons, especially the managers! No clue on customer service how they ended up running a pub is beyond me. Absolutely zero people skills. Place needs new owners. Preferably who act like they enjoy having customers! Shame as place could be really good if some effort was put it. Won’t be going again till completely new management take over and know how to run a pub properly!

Lovely boozer. Take no notice of negative comments,they ARE intitled to their veiw(s),but hey,come down and see for yourself.. People are friendly. Peace & Love ❤️ x

The owner of the ship in was really supportive and I received great customer service

Awful. Really unfriendly. Couldn't wait to leave. There is no light in gents had to keep the cubicle door open!! Go down to Nag's Head which doesn't advertise as LGBT friendlt but is so much more welcoming. The customers talk to you.

Always feel welcome also knows what we have to drink

Ignore all negative reviews, Friendliest pub in Kent! Great service.. LGBT friendly too...can't build this pub up enough! Highly recommend 5/5! 🏳️‍🌈

It you or someone you go to Ship Inn with, has a non-visible disability, then don't go the toilet as the person with the disability will most likely be accused of drug dealing and searched if you are in there for longer than 2 minutes. The security guard even threatened me because I rolled my eyes when what they were saying was not adding up. I am sure they have a loyal customer base but not one penny of my money and 1 second of my time further will be spent here.

Fabulous place for a fun night out.

Not a nice pub. Try the rising sun, it's a better LGBTQ pub then this one. Witnessed some shocking things. Not my scene, the rising sun is friendlier, the ship is full of jerks

Great night out but the bouncer was rude to pretty much everyone. I watched a group of around 10 to 15 people get put off by his attitude. Spent more time shouting at customers than actually checking IDs

Nice place, good choice of drinks and fast service.

Great atmosphere, very friendly and very well priced

Fun and friendly pub with nice locals

Fantastic pub, great atmosphere, and incredible entertainment. Really friendly LGBTQ IA+ friendly. Snow White trash was brilliant.

Great pub with a great atmosphere karaoke nights on Thursday with the lovely Yvonne are great plus they have regular live acts. The management and staff are all great so friendly and always make time to talk to you.

Nice historic pub but not many people was there so abit dull

Love this place, used it for years and the garden is a sun trap

Fantastic time, great to catch up with some old faces from the past.

As great atompshere. And boyfriend loves to sing .

Used to be such a great place, one of the oldest gay pubs in the UK but I fear it will be gone soon if the way things are going now carry on. The current landlord has closed the garden from 9pm, I hope this doesn't carry on, such a shame as its one of its greatest assets. Apparently due to noise complaints by neighbours, there has always been complaints from miserable neighbours but until now nobody has ever backed down. I truly fear for its future.... So sad. And the new colour scheme of purple is rank! Richard had it much more tastefully decorated.

A lively pub with a good atmosphere. The DJ wasn't great. It was New Years Eve so thought he'd want to play some floor fillers but the music was hit and miss. The drag queen wasn't all that either. But had a good night

Excellent and friendly pub. Staff are all amazing.

The Strongbow cider was nice & cold at £4 a pint ... yu cant beat it. . . The toilets were very clean & smelling fresh plenty of cleaning soaps & a good drier . . It was fairly quite at the time ... friendly staff

One of my most favourite LGBTQ+ venues. Fair priced drinks, music is always playing and they have a bar area, dance area, a pool table and a nice garden. Staff are lovely and I've always had a good time there since the new management :)

Friendly staff and amazing customer service skills highly recommend this place for a drink, very fair prices for the area too which is hard to find these days.

Friendly staff & very reasonable priced.

Just walked out from there,. Some drunk person, sitting front of the bar told me: "sign in"!! So, I just turned back and left. It was warm welcome. Thanks anyway

Friendly, reasonably priced, chicken goujons were surprisingly yummy.

Staff are so lovely and they smashed the rules for Covid, I felt so safe I felt I could really relax 😊

Good people. Pool table. Large garden. Jukebox. Piano

there is no covid-19 restrictions in this pub and this pub doesn't have the NHS covid-19 check-in QR code

Always a great place to go to always made very welcome

Visited this pub very disappointed such a shame to see a pub on its last legs

Not Covid secure. Other than a few social distancing notices, some hand gel and a sign in sheet for track and trace, I did not feel especially confident as to anti-Covid precautions. No one way system marked out, on Saturday the pub was crowded with no one seeming to socially distance at all, bar service as normal, no staff wearing any PPE, and no measures to limit number of people using toilet facilities at any one time. Not advised.

Not Covid secure. Other than a few social distancing notices, some hand gel and a sign in sheet for track and trace, I did not feel especially confident as to anti-Covid precautions. No one way system marked out, on Saturday the pub was crowded with no one seeming to socially distance at all, bar service as normal, no staff wearing any PPE, and no measures to limit number of people using toilet facilities at any one time. Not advised.

friendly staff and relaxed atmosphere.

Amazing atmosphere and friendly staff

Not very comfortable and dark only one female toilet and did not feel too friendly

A really welcoming atmosphere. The staff are helpful, and the entertainment is good with frequent performances from vocalists and cabaret!

Nice lagers good prices carsberg £3.50 nice clean pub lovely manager feel safe there

A completely horrible pub. Like a frat house for immature people that you question if they are even old enough to drink by the way they act. Pub owner does absolutely nothing to stop them going crazy in the garden and often joins in with them. Witnessed some guy who was obviously over served his limit, so drunk he couldn't stand unaided and was puking violently down the side of the pub, the other customers dealt with him, pub staff turned a blind eye and did nothing. Its also hilarious as most of the reveiws on Google are 5 stars from most of the staff and the owners hahaha, give yourself a pat on the back for running it poorly oh and 5 stars lol.

I really struggle to understand the negative reviews on here. Either someone is carrying out a personal vendetta or they haven’t actually visited this place.Having frequented this pub in numerous occasions; whether for a quick pint, karaoke night or for a family lunch, I have only positive things to say. The bar staff are charming, professional and incredibly well acquainted with 5 star customer service and the locals are warm and welcoming. Richard the manager works hard to make sure that everyone feels comfortable and works his socks off to provide a fabulous atmosphere. I have been here on my own, with my partner and with my 4 year old and every visit has been a delight. In this day and age when local pubs who provide an amazing service to the community are disappearing, we should be celebrating places like The Ship Thank you to all for the great times we’ve had and the ones we’ve yet to enjoy! Wendy

It's Okay, the owner has tried to split the pub into a pub and a night club in two half's, I don't really think there is space for this so the club area is too small and the pub side is okay but in desperate need of an update to attract more of a younger clientele which is what they seem to be aiming at with the night club. The toilets are small but always clean and well presented and the staff are always very friendly. Also if you like a beer garden this place is great for you! Huge courtyard with lots of seating. Honestly I'd love to go here more but pub side is pretty didgey at the moment and seems to be mostly attracting older groups so me and my friends just go somewhere we feel more comfortable.

Happy, good atmosphere, specials on /happy hrs on beers, lagers spirits, staff happy clean n tidy 🎤🥃🍲🎉🎂🍴🍺😬🍹🥂🍻🍻🍻🍻

My partner really wanted to go here as read good reviews. so popped in before heading home today, really wish we had not bothered, The guy behind the bar was flat and made zero effort to be friendly

Has a lovely evening with friends great food and the singer was amazing just a lovely friendly atmosphere xx

Great atmosphere, staff very friendly especially Gal who made our evening. Already planning our next visit

It's a real depress pub! And staff is very rude, thats why there is not gay people in there, i have enought with just once in that hell

On a pub crawl we called in. This is a long standing gay bar nonetheless we were given a warm welcome by the staff and locals, exchanging warm hearted banter and great conversation, ok we were only passing and were here for 20 minutes but felt the place was homely, a traditional kind of place that has a separate stage area bar adjoining the main bar. I could see this place getting busy when the acts are on and so it should. Thanks for the welcome and keep it up.

Great place fantastic bar staff such a warm welcome the best pub ever

The bar man is lovely and friendly and very helpful to my disabled friend, but not one woman in sight lol

I can't believe it they have some real ales for a change including Trooper!!!

Mimi's 30th birthday a good night with my beautiful gorgeous friend 💋

Tuvimos la suerte de conseguir un almuerzo de domingo 11 de antelación. El personal era muy amable y el pub tenía un ambiente cálido y acogedor. La comida era increíble, fresco y muy sabroso como casera y buenas porciones de tamaño. Recomiendo este pub a todo el mundo. el único inconveniente es su demasiado lejos para ser mi local. Mike y Sue (West Sussex).

We have visited The Ship a few times over the last couple of years, I say a few due to the failing standards of each visit have reminded us why we should not waste our time or money there. However it is now time to give a public review on this establishment in a last ditched attempt to show the "management / owners" just how bad the venue has become. We arrived pre show starting on Saturday evening, 40 or so guests in the main bar and a further 18 in the entertainment bar, a pair of well groomed barmen looked after the locals well, after a few minuets of waiting I was nodded at and told "2 minutes" as the barman drank a shot from a plastic glass, ( he did appear to spend more time looking busy than being busy ) a few others guests arrived and stood next to the bar, again like myself they waited as the bar staff had disappeared, I picked up a few glasses from the window seal and first table and popped them on the bar, looking about the staff had clearly not had the chance to collect glasses for a while, this may have been an attempt to make the bar look busy at some point, still we waited as the act was introduced on stage to a round of applause from the returning bar team, whom continued to "strike a pose" and dance rather than serve customers, ( Maybe it was one of their birthdays ? ) now from the boredom of waiting, I started to look around the bar, no till draw in the till no ice in the bucket dirty glasses dotted about dirty tube lights behind the bar, and Chekov vodka alongside Smirnoff, no lemons only Gordons gin ! is this as a Gay venue ? another shot was consumed by the barman ( Jay ) we found out his name as a local shouted at him wanting a drink, clearly served with priority, while others where still waiting for the first drink..... my 2 minute warning had passed by almost 15 minutes when the bar man served yet another local who pointed out we had been waiting to him, he looked over and gave another 2 minute warning by which time I had given up and passed the money to a friend to stand in line thank goodness there is another bar across the road ( I understand the same owners ) I walked out crossed the road brought a drink drank it and walked back in time for the 4th song from the act on stage, ( whom was very entertaining ) on my return the drinks where now being served..... well dumped on the bar in a fashion one might expect a prison meal to be placed, Oh joy a Gin & tonic in a warm glass with nice lipstick and no ice no lemon and no smile.... the same for the vodka and coke the glass of battery acid op's wine, and the only drink palatable a foster larger, clearly the barman was good at giving head ..... a request for ice was met with shock, as was the request for a glass of sparkling water, ( designated driver etc ) needless to say the ice was plonked in the glass's and a bottle of water slammed on the bar, no glass no ice no smile.... so the lady in our party of 5 had to drink from the bottle or wait until the barman was free of self posing to serve again, to my shock he had taken to dancing with customers while collecting glasses leaving the bar unattended and customer without drinks, While we are asked to support the local venues we are customers and require service, a smile is always a bonus an acknowledgement always nice, to buy a round and be expected to drink from a bottle is not standard, to see a till with no draw make you wonder if the premisses is declaring its take to the tax man and while it is cold outside many of us like ice in our drinks, either understaffed or poorly managed it is quite remarkable the Ship has not been renamed the Titanic ... The manager was pointed out to us as we left " Richard" an older chap dressed in an off white ( cream or begging for a wash ) jumper and jeans hardly a standard to admire either way, looked over from where he was standing ( well away from the bar and not helping the trainee bar staff by collecting glasses or serving the bar punters, maybe he could not risk walking to the ice machine or slicing lemon ) his dress and general appearance showed us why the bar was in such poor condition and the staff so poorly trained in serving drinks... Will we go back and use as a local ... maybe one day when new owners / manager / trained staff are in place but until then not a hope in hell, I really do feel for the acts and the punters of the Ship that's standards are lower than the Titanic's Keel !

Lugar horrible. Barman nos ignoró totalmente mientras que sirve a sí mismo primero. Pedimos una copa dos veces por mi Coca-Cola Light, barman, me dio una mirada incrédula y totalmente ignorado el pedido (no podría beber el vaso de vino mi amigo había pagado ya que era amargo y rancio) Sucio, desagradable. Vasos más utilizada que se establecen alrededor de las mesas y en la barra de detrás. Creo que el barco es, sin duda, el peor lugar que he visitado.

Best pub iv been to every time I go had such a laugh, bar staff brilliant and join in with the banter every thing you need bar , dance floor, pool table and garden

Found this place for food as it was described as a gastropub, they don't even do food, there was a drunk at the bar and a scrote sat alone eating a takeaway he had brought in. Don't bother it was horrible.

Como los Estados Unidos de título, te recomiendo que no te molestes visitar este establecimiento. Habiendo visto otros comentarios antes, con un par de los negativos que pensamos que nos daría a este establecimiento el beneficio de la duda. Estábamos equivocados. El hombre detrás del bar era nuevo, así que tardó un poco en el pedido, que era comprensible y estaba intentando lo mejor que pudo. Nos informaron que sería una media hora de espera para la comida. Yo me preguntaba si esto significa empezar así, cosa que hizo que estaba bien. a media hora más tarde 4 de los 7 de nuestros entrantes llegamos y la camarera desapareció. Tuve que pedir el último 3, que me dijeron que sí, iré a ellos. 10 minutos más tarde, no había llegado más empezar, así que pedí un camarero que estaba charlando con otra mesa, donde estaban los otros, la respuesta fue ah, sí que se les olvidó luego me referiré en un minuto. Realmente? Los próximos las entradas llegaron, falta uno más de ellos que tuvimos que pedir otra vez. Esto había sido entonces 45/50 ya que nos colocó el orden. Después fueron liquidados, 30 minutos pasando y nuestros platos principales salió menos 1. Que salieron 5 minutos después. 2 platos principales estaban comidas calientes y que falten y uno tenía un pelo rubio en, teniendo en cuenta la comiendo era moreno. 1 comida fue enviado de vuelta y el gerente dijo que si quieres algo más. En ese momento me preguntaron hay mucho donde el servidor, entonces se rió de mí. No ofrece una comida alternativo en una sustitución rápida. En verdad, ni disculpa por toda esta comida, servicio y falta absolutamente chocante de supervisión u orientación correcta de un gerente. El "director general no valía nada" fue tener una bebida en la mesa de al lado para nosotros, mirando fijamente y darnos sucios pero no parece en realidad nos acercan durante toda la comida que disculparse por nuestra experiencia incluso a petición de un gerente. Las mesas alrededor de nosotros se quejaba y esperando años para su comida e incluso alenté a la llegada. Absolutamente chocante, no a visitarla y realmente sorprendido de ver que recibimos una EHO clasificado 4 teniendo en cuenta la falta de calidad de la comida y la comida también el hecho se servía fría que es peligrosa.Nunca más, reunirse con amigos era verdaderamente arruinó.

A lovely pub/restaurant in a beautiful location, food excellent & staff welcoming warm & friendly a perfect way to spend a sunny Friday lunch time.

very nice hotel set in the docklands, good quality of furnishings, very friendly staff, and pleasant bar with outside seating looking over the docks, when the weather permits

Yesterday I visited this place (Saturday night)

Fuimos allí tras una comida para bebidas y baile! 2 personal masculino del bar muy educado!

What a lovely pub :-) I had a burger and chips and it's got to be one of the best burgers i've ever had, also serves a lovely pint, the staff are very friendly and make you feel very welcome, keep up the good work the ship

Esta es la tercera vez que he tenido buenas raciones tamaño bien presentado y de calidad suprema el chef es un gran descubrimiento. La Bat personal son amables y sociables sin duda recomendaría este lugar

Service is great, great to see somewhere that advertises home made food and actually sticks by it.

Was pleasantly surprised at how friendly every one there mad3 me feel really welcome andbi would go back again thankyou the ship xxx

I hear the circus is coming to town...........I didn't know it had left! Roll up - roll up and get all the fun of the fair at 'The Ship Inn'. This once friendly and happy atmospheric pub has been taken over by the Adams family and run by coco the clown. The food is poor at best, everything cooked from frozen and that includes the plates.........the service was average but you can't eat that....or can you!!!!. It's the owner that steals the show for me, I watched one customer getting man-handled for buying drinks and going into the garden two minutes after the midnight curfew, on other occasions people barred for giving an honest opinion (not being unruly or using a foul language). This must be a new way to run a business. Surely the Grim Reaper can't be far from closing this show down...........very sad.

Overall it was pretty damn good and the staff were really lovely but the bar maid was really confused looking and got my order wrong. The waitress sorted it for me but it still wasn't right which really annoyed me. Other than that the food was good quality and my steak was practically fat less, boyfriend loved it and we'll definitely go again....providing the don't mess up my order....again.

Was done there for Shirley Basie tribute which was great .How ever the whole evening was spoilt when the two jupped up so called bouncers pushed one of there best coustomers out back gate for taking a drink out side at 12.02 ?I know this is a rule but for god sake please be polite .And if one customer gets excluded another 15 or so should have as well including me and my partner .As we took drinks out and nothing was said ? Very clicky pub A case of they want your money but don't have no respect Will not be going there again till it changes hand which I'm sure will be real soon Bring back Andy and James please

Excellent pub grub to a slightly higher std than the norm. Friendly staff and value for money prices. Pleasant to sit out the front in nice weather buts its a shame the view of the river is obscured though that's hardly the fault of the pub. Would recommend the specials board especially the fish dishes which are always superb

Great for light bites even better for a big dinner, food portions are enormous, good value,speedy service, we go here a lot and continue to do so.

Jon and Ange will blow you away with there Sunday Lunch and great selection of beers and wines, excellent garden with childrens toys and great views

Pub on the banks of the Medway , with great view .Thoroughly enjoyed the food in this family run friendly pub .My husband had the best steak and ale pie he had ever had ,I had a great bacon steak .large helpings , excellent chips .Toffee and chocolate lumpy bumpy are desserts ive never heard of but looked delicious , and I wish Id ordered one !Tables are pretty basic , but food is well worth visiting for

Very hot food but had the chips from the bottom of the bag the salad had very strong onions there was no menus on tables so I didn't know if they do food until I asked. Prices are reasonable but the atmosphere was cold I mean the radiators weren't on. Old pictures on walls.

Excellent service and food lovely at a very reasonable price. Presentation was very good and was very accomodating to vegetarians. Good to have an open burning fire.