The Ship Inn — Restaurant in Scotland

A bar we have been to many times, we come at least once every year. We came today with my mother-in-law Rae as she had visited Elie as a child and had always heard our stories of The Ship Inn and the fantastic food. When we arrived the beer garden was packed as there was a Cricket Match happening on the beach so we decided to go inside as my mother-in-law can’t stand too long. Once in the bar we spoke to the barman about food and were told that we couldn’t order from the bar until 5pm but food was available at the barbecue in the garden where there were no seats. So we ordered a drink and decided to just wait the hour and 15 minutes so that we could get fish and chips (and a wee veggie option for me) but we really wanted to sit outside in the sunshine so I kept popping out to see if any seats became available which eventually they did. So we headed outside and enjoyed the sunshine and cricket. At 5pm Craig headed back to the bar to order the food and was told that they didn’t do food in the bar at weekends, only the restaurant and that was full but we could order burgers and fries from the barbecue. Obviously this information would have been helpful at 3:45pm but we thought never mind, we’ll just have something from the barbecue even though we had traveled all the way here so Rae could try the fish. So Craig headed to the bar in the garden to be told, sorry we’ve stopped serving food at 5pm.

You can probably imagine the frustration, to be honest Craig and Rae were disappointed but really not that fussed. I on the other hand am absolutely fuming with the lack of customer service and care. I’ve worked in the customer service industry since leaving school 28 years ago and I would not be happy if one of my customers had had such a shawdy experience and I would want to speak to that customer to apologise and see if there was anything I could do to fix or at least help the situation.

So, I approached the bar to talk to the original barman that Craig had spoken with in the first place, I stood for a good few minutes but the bar was busy so I asked another member of staff to ask the gentleman in the black shirt to come out and have a word with me as soon as he was free and pointed to our seats, only a few feet from the bar, so she could tell him exactly where I was and gave her my name. We sat enjoying the sunshine and the cricket and finished our drinks, nobody had approached us. Craig went off to collect the car and I walked Rae over to wait for him. From this viewpoint I had full view of the bar and the barman I had asked to come over and talk to us, standing with his hands on his hips, not serving or busy doing anything in particular. Certainly not coming over to see why customers had requested to talk with him. Craig arrived with the car so we had to walk over to it as Rae can’t stand too long and I couldn’t leave her and as it’s a one way system, Craig couldn’t sit and wait for me so that I could go off and have a ‘friendly chat’ with the barman in the black shirt.

I cannot tell you how very disappointed I am with the lack of service and actually the level of misinformation we received today from ill informed staff. I sincerely hope this isn’t down to the new owners/management that has taken over the place since our last successful visit. We’re currently having dinner in another place that seems to know how to serve food to buying customers and how to provide service you expect when visiting such an establishment where I’m sure we’ll leave a...

It's a big woof from us! We recently stayed for 3 nights in the "Sir Walter Raleigh" ground floor dog friendly room. Our basset hound appreciated not having to climb any tight stairs and this room's window also faces the beer bar and in turn offered a sea view too! A separate entrance purely for guests ensured easy access and the opportunity to clean paws off before entering the room which has a neutral carpet and modern decor. Per the Ship Inn's info it might not be the biggest room but did not lack in all the amenities you'd expect and also had the benefit of a large walk in shower in the ensuite. We travel with a large dog cage for our basset to sleep in and this comfortably fitted into the corner of the room by moving the chair away to the side of the bed. The hospitality tray is well equipped and the wee shortbread circles are delicious! (Heads Up...Parking Wise...you can drop off/pack up your car by stopping directly outside for a few minutes and then park further up the street or park up in Elie village 5 mins walk away. We chose to jusr pay the £5 pay and display fee in the harbour car park which enables you to stay in the car park until midnight (not overnight) and moved our car to nearer the Inn before this deadline but you can park for free on all roads leading down to the Inn) We dined every night in the doggy friendly downstairs dining room (be sure to pre-book as dining area is very busy). And this downstairs dining room is also where you will have breakfast with your dog too. Food for both breakfast and dinner was delicious. Best fish & chips ever and liked that there were two size options for this item too with the smaller sized one with just one fillet of fish ideal if you need to leave space for a pudding! The bar area is all dog friendly and you can also eat there on a similar choice of menu if you don't want to eat in the dining room or just relax on a comfy sofa with a drink. Finally the staff....it is rare to find a hospitality establishment where every single member of staff you meet is so friendly & helpful so thank you. X And Hamish our basset made quite a lot of new friends with the staff too. We will definitely be...

Nestled along a quaint street just steps away from Elie beach rests The Ship Inn Crèche & Kennels. While initial impressions may seem promising, our experience quickly soured. Upon arrival, we encountered a delay as a fellow patron struggled with the door, accompanied by their dog. This foreshadowed the disjointed experience that followed.

Despite not having a reservation, we were accommodated upstairs. However, the service lacked warmth and finesse, surprising for seasoned industry professionals like us. Attempting to engage in friendly banter with the staff yielded only perfunctory responses.

The ambiance was further marred by unruly children weaving between tables, creating a cacophonous atmosphere. It felt as though the establishment prioritized volume over a conducive dining environment. Even the adjacent table, adorned with pretentious patrons, added to the discomfort.

Moving onto the food, the presentation fell short of expectations, with sloppy plating and lackluster execution. The starters showed promise, but the mains were disappointing, with soggy batter and bland flavors. Despite my wife's plea for restraint, I struggled to contain my frustration amidst the chaos.

Upon settling the bill, we were taken aback by the optional service charge. Given the lack of attentive service, it felt undeserved. As we made our exit, I encountered further disappointment in the restroom, with wet floors and malfunctioning facilities.

Reflecting on our experience, it's disheartening that our long-awaited holiday was marred by such a subpar dining experience. I would caution others against patronizing this establishment, as it seems geared towards a specific clientele, neglecting the needs of discerning diners.

In conclusion, The Ship Inn Crèche & Kennels failed to live up to its potential, serving as little more than a facade for privileged clientele. As we contemplate relocating to Elie, this experience certainly gives us pause, and I can't in good conscience recommend this...