The Ship Inn — Restaurant in England

Well, let me tell you about this little gem of a place I discovered during my cycling journey – The Ship Inn in Oundle. I was on the saddle, pushing the pedals hard from Wellingborough to Peterborough, when I decided I deserved a wee bit of a break. I wasn't looking for anything fancy; just a spot to catch my breath and refresh myself. And there it was, The Ship Inn, almost as if it knew a weary traveler was in need. As I stepped in, I must admit, I was a touch self-conscious. There I was, a bit of the road clinging to me in dust and sweat, walking into what could only be described as a posh establishment. But my worries were for naught. The place had this inviting warmth to it, and I'm not just talking about the decor. The fireplace, oh, it was a sight to behold! An actual, crackling fire that seemed to say, "Come on over, sit yourself down, and warm those tired bones." It was exactly what I needed, a lovely fireplace making my break not just accommodating, but downright cozy. Now, I didn't get a chance to sample their food – this time, anyway – as I only indulged in a non-alcoholic beverage. But if the drink was anything to go by, I bet the cuisine is worth a try. The service, you ask? Spot on. Friendly and attentive without being overbearing. They treated me like I was a regular, not batting an eye at my cycling attire or the fact that I looked like I'd just emerged from a dust cloud. Despite the posh airs of the place, not once did I feel out of place. The staff and the patrons alike, they were all about the warm welcomes. I tell you, The Ship Inn is one of those places you stumble upon and immediately know you'll be coming back to – next time, perhaps, for a hearty meal after a long ride. In short, The Ship Inn in Oundle? It's a haven for the travel-weary, a spot where the fire's always burning and the welcome's always warm. I'll be sure to make it a pitstop on my future routes, and who knows, maybe next time I'll be telling you all about their culinary delights. But for now, I'll just tip my cycling cap to them for a well-deserved break on a...

2.5/5. We just moved to Oundle and first came here about 2 months after having our first viewing for what became our current house. Beautiful setting, beautiful pub, freehouse (important!) and some great beers - including Krombacher.

Since completing our move though, they seem to have got rid of a few of their beers (inc. the Krombacher, which I rarely see in pubs) and replaced them with the most generic, samey c**p beers you can literally get anywhere - San Miguel, Carslberg, Moretti, Cruzcampo, Madri, etc. The whole point of a free house is that they can stock what they want. Instead, the overwhelming majority of beers on tap is just the usual mass-produced swill, all brewed in the same facility here in the UK whilst pretending to be unique and imported. It’s a real shame that they’ve decided to go down this route. I also feel that prices have gone up.

Food is decent, but it’s lost its uniqueness I think and lost a bit of what made it the best pub in town. If the owners or current/new landlords read this - please stop stocking the same awful swill that every other pub including Wetherspoons...

Visited Oundle with a friend for a bite to eat at Lunch and decided on the Ship Inn as neither of us had visited before. I opted for the (Vegan) Chilli Con Carne (but with non-vegan cheese) with Nacho's and they were happy to accommodate and my friend ordered a steal and ale pie from the specials board. They had a large range of specials but only soup for vegetarians, so great if you eat meat but not so if you don't.

My Chilli Con Carne Nacho's were excellent, maybe too much for lunch time but that's not a critism!! Probably better as a sharing dish with a drink and it would be a perfect amount - unless you're really hungry!!!

My friend really enjoyed his pie and it did look good too.

Service was polite and professional. We sat outside as the sun was just about out and there is ample bench seating in two areas , so I imagine this is a great place to come in the summer time. There were a few flies buzzing around in doors which was a bit off putting.

I'd go back or sure. A really old quaint inn with good service and good food set at a realistic...