CLOSED/DEMOLISHED
Opening Hours: 11:30-11 (12-10:30 Sunday)

Fuller's London Pride
Greene King IPA

An amazingly intact classic 1952 estate pub which typifies the final era of traditional English pub architecture. The public bar, complete with bar billiard table as well as pool and darts, runs from leftto-right across the main frontage, whilst the saloon occupies the right-hand end and short leg of the combined L-shape. Originally it seems there was no internal connection between the two for patrons but an arched doorway has since been cut through to link the rooms. Both bars retain their original vertical wood paneling, with that in the saloon being subtly more ornate, though the walls in the public have since succumbed to paint. Further period features include the original Formica counter top, plus a glass-bricked wall in the public and also what may have been a bell button to call for service. Other incredible survivors include a large cut-glass saloon bar mirror bearing a stylised "ship" motif, a theme also repeated in differing ways on two circular porthole-like door windows and on a side window of the saloon bar entrance. Evidence of changes of brewery ownership can be seen in the wooden bar back in both rooms, which features the pub’s name spelt out in typical 1960s illuminated Allied Brewery lettering and, outside, a plaque adjacent to the left-hand entrance makes reference to Charrington’s. The Ship was a Westerham Brewery house until 1965. Mid 2007 the pub closed, and is to be demolished for housing.

Last Updated: 21 Jun 2009