Part of our Best Pubs in London microsite. Is your local listed?
Welcome to the London pub with the narrowest entrance. That's our reckoning, if you approach this Hackney mainstay from Mare Street. The easily-missed archway leads into a long, vibrantly painted tunnel and thence the pub proper.
The Ship's been here forever, but the main bar looks very 'now', with its mismatched furniture and distressed tiling. The huge plate-glass windows at the rear cast the room in a welcoming light so different to expectation if you came in from the other end.
There's a bit of everything here: stonking burgers, a range of local ales, cocktails, live sport, dart board... they even have boutique hotel rooms upstairs. And a shout out to the barman, who was one of the most friendly we've ever encountered. Great place.
